Beth-El Zedeck Foundation

Foundation Officers: Rebecca Geyer, Chair; Matt Burnett, Vice Chair; Amanda Siegel, Secretary; and Janice Potash, Treasurer

Foundation Board members: Jessica Feigenbaum, Dan Fox, Andie Friedman, Ellen Gabovitch, Helen Goldstein, Gale Halperin, Arnie Hanish, Todd Katz (ex-officio), Cindi Koplow, Todd Maurer (ex-officio), Larry Mitzman, Brian Nachlis, David Resnick, Karl Smith, Harry Tishler, and David Vonnegut-Gabovitch

The Beth-El Zedeck Foundation was established as a separate legal entity by the Beth-El Zedeck Board of Directors to provide funding for programs and physical property improvements at the synagogue. The Foundation is carefully managed by lay leaders and financial professionals.

In addition to its annual minimum 5% contribution, the Foundation has:

• kept our building solid by: funding roof repairs, fixing and maintaining our heating and air conditioning systems, painting walls and replacing carpeting, purchasing a new walk-in freezer for the kitchen, and so on.
• funded technological improvements throughout the synagogue, from financing our very first computer system in 1986 to a major system upgrade in 2010.
• provided $200,000 to the Roots & Wings project to expand our beautiful building.
• helped fund the Assistant Rabbi searches in 2013 and 2016 and underwritten other staff positions.

In short, if there’s a major project that needs doing at Beth-El Zedeck, the Foundation is our go-to source for funding.

Why should I support the Foundation?

Your dues alone cannot cover the expenses of running and maintaining our synagogue. So, just as the Foundation is the base of support for Beth-El Zedeck, you are the base upon which the Foundation rests.

Beth-El Zedeck is your congregational family and your spiritual home. It’s a gathering place for prayers and renewal and comfort, for teaching and learning, for festivals and meals and rejoicing. The Foundation generates and safeguards donations to be used for maintaining your spiritual home.

Supporting the Foundation means you’re connected: You’re connected to those who have come before you who planted the seeds of growth for BEZ, and you’ll be connected to those yet to come for whom you are now planting. You are creating a legacy.

Consider the impact of this legacy: You’ll be assuring that the Beth-El Zedeck you know and love will remain strong and vibrant for generations to come. The healthier the Foundation is, the more money it can give to the synagogue for projects that benefit everyone.

How is my Foundation pledge recognized?

Pledges to the Foundation are honored with an engraved plaque on the Tree of Life in the Kraft Family Sanctuary Lobby.

Small Silver Leaf $1,000 – $2,499
Small Gold Leaf $2,500 – $4,999
Medium Silver Leaf $5,000 – $9,999
Medium Gold Leaf $10,000 – $19,999
Large Silver Leaf $20,000 – $49,999
Large Gold Leaf $50,000 – $99,999
Foundation Stone $100,000 and above

Pledges are typically payable over five years, but we’re happy to customize your pledge period.

Can I make my pledge in honor or in memory of someone?

Absolutely. It’s always a perfect time to honor your family or the memory of a loved one. This is your Foundation. You should make your pledge in whatever way means the most to you.

Can I make a small one-time donation in honor or in memory of someone?

Yes! You specify the occasion and the person to whom you would like a card mailed, and we will handle the rest! Foundation donations are also listed in the synagogue’s print publication, the Besamim. To make a donation, send your check payable to Beth-El Zedeck Foundation and a note indicating any instructions to 600 West 70th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46260.

Contact Bonnie Craig at bcraig@bez613.org or 317-253-3441 if you have any questions.