"I did not find the world desolate when I entered it. And as my parents planted for me before I was born, so do I plant for those who will come after me." -Talmud

Your commitment to the Jewish community is evident in everything you do. Now you can extend your commitment into the future by making a planned gift through the MKJF's Fund for the Future.

Your bequest or other planned gift through the Fund for the Future will keep our Wichita Jewish community strong for generations. It's an expression of your trust in future community leaders. A way for you to be there whenever help is needed. It's your sacred covenant with the Jewish people. Whether you use a will or other estate planning vehicle, your generosity can do a world of good.

Your legacy can reflect everything that is most important and meaningful to you. The legacy planning process can engender heartfelt conversations with your family and build bonds with your partners in the community.

The act of creating a legacy empowers you to complete the work of your heart, and to enjoy the peace that it brings. You are assured that your work will continue and the Jewish future will be bright.

Everyone has a unique family and financial situation. Your legacy gift of any size can be designed to match your personal circumstances. Options include:

• A simple charitable bequest
• An outright gift using appreciated assets or cash
• An IRA or pension plan
• A life insurance policy
• A charitable gift annuity
• A charitable remainder trust

For more information on "Creating a Jewish Legacy" through the MKJF's Fund for the Future please contact the MKJF office or visit the UJC page here.

Inspired and guided by our tradition of tzedakah (righteousness/charity) and tikkun olam (repairing the world), the National Women's Philanthropy of United Jewish Communities is dedicated to the continuity, connectivity and thriving future of our North American communities, Israel and the Jewish people.  We believe that the future well-being of the global Jewish community is inextricably linked to the power of women's philanthropy, the fastest growing phenomenon in fundraising today.  For more information on this national effort please visit the UJC page here.

The efforts of MKJF's Women's Division are led by our Lions of Judah ($5,000 and up donation to the Annual Campaign) and Pomegranates ($1,800 to $4,999 annual gift). Wichita currently has seven "Lions" and nine "Poms." In addition, we have five "LOJEs" (Lion of Judah endowments), women who are dedicated to making sure our Federation remains strong into the next generation!

The Maimonides Society is an honor society of Jewish healthcare professionals.  It has been formed to foster and maintain:

• Educational and cultural enrichment;
• Community leadership in ethical and moral issues;
• A focus on the Jewish perspective in matters relating to the Jewish community; and
• Support and strengthening of Jewish life through active involvement in the Mid-Kansas Jewish Federation and United Jewish Communities, the national umbrella organization of the 145 local Federations.

Each fall, the MKJF sends a New Year's greeting from the Maimonides Society to all Jewish households in Wichita, which includes an alphabetical listing of all Maimonides members.

An annual gift of $1,000 or more to MKJF's Annual Campaign entitles you to membership in the Maimonides Society and to have your name included on this card.  Membership in the Maimonides Society will also be extended to students and those in practice for three years or less who contribute at least $500 to the Federation Annual Campaign.

Our society will also sponsor at least one annual program per year.  This program will feature a speaker from the medical profession and deal with timely medical issues.  All members of the Maimonides society and their spouses are invited and welcome to the Maimonides Society events and, in the spirit of fellowship, no solicitations will take place these programs.

According to Jewish tradition, the highest form of tzedakah or charity is giving to a central campaign or community fund or kupah.

Throughout Jewish history, in small towns and large cities, within both Israel and the Diaspora, it was the custom of Jewish communities to create an address for centralized giving. This guaranteed the privacy and dignity of the poor as well as the successful maintenance of communal "agencies." Today, the kupah (literally translated as community fund) is the annual campaign of the Jewish federation.

The gift to the communal kupah, or centralized campaign, is a noble expression of devotion to the entire Jewish people. It demonstrates a love of community which is without limitation - a proud statement of commitment to our individual communities and to every individual Jew.

There are those who maintain that the most "Jewish" way to give is to bypass the centralized campaign and give directly to those in need. In fact, the Talmud insists that the contribution to the centralized fund is the highest form of tzedakah, for it is the best way of ensuring the anonymity of both donor and recipient. Moreover, the general community fund is best prepared to meet the challenges of emergency issues which require a united front, such as responding to anti-Semitism or organizing rescue missions for Jews in danger.

Tzedakah derives from the Hebrew tzedek, denoting justice or righteousness. Tzedakah is based on the sense that justice requires sharing.

Jewish Values

While a designated gift may satisfy the desires of a particular donor and the recipient agency or cause, it is the gift to the centralized campaign which works towards satisfying the needs of all-transcending specific institutions or projects. The centralized campaign is concerned with the entire community - its continued viability and vibrancy - and the dignity of all of its members, including our brothers and sisters who may live thousands of miles away, but are no less precious to us than those who live next door.

Participation in the centralized campaign is a statement about Jewish values. As Jews, we count on the ability of individuals to uplift the entire collectively, and we treasure our historic desire to be full participants in a community's welfare. A donation to the federation annual campaign is an investment by the donor in his or her community; it is a statement by the donor that he or she belongs to the Jewish people.

The Annual Campaign embodies the values and traditions of the North American Jewish community more than anything else we do. It says that we care about people, not about their politics or religious practices. It says that we will ­as a community ­address critical, often life-threatening issues.

Everything from domestic abuse to public health problems to hunger and disaster relief and more.

The impact of the continuing and unparalleled philanthropic success of the annual campaign is priceless. Millions of lives saved, cared for, reached out to and rebuilt; centuries-old Jewish traditions and values preserved for future generations.

Based on the thoughts and writings of Arna Poupko Fischer, Judaic Consultant