An Emergency Message to Wealthy Donors: Please Give More to Your Synagogues this Year—a Lot More

In recent days, I’ve been hearing the same message over and over again: Synagogues of all denominations are really hurting. In this horrible year of the pandemic, many members have decided not to renew their memberships, or have lowered their contributions, or have simply decided to stop giving.

For those who have been hurt financially, I can understand the reluctance to give in a year when all synagogues have been forced to close because of COVID-19. To that group, I just say: Give whatever you can, as little as you can, but just give something.

To wealthy donors who can afford more, I ask: Please go crazy. Please ask your synagogue leaders what they need and give it to them.

Why go crazy? Because this is a crazy year. Because our spiritual leaders did not cause the coronavirus. Because if our synagogue communities are going to survive, we have no choice but to step up in a big way.

If our synagogue communities are going to survive, we have no choice but to step up in a big way.

Our backs are against the wall. If there ever was a time when “Jews are responsible for one another” comes into play, it is now. It is this year. It is this moment.

I wrote about this a few weeks ago, asking Jews who could afford it to “double down” on their giving this year. Now I’m doubling down on my message.

We’ve heard the appeals during the High Holy Days. Some of them were not specific enough, which is why I’m writing again. I want to make it clear that it is Jews of “high capacity” (as we call wealthy Jews in fundraising circles) who must rise to the occasion above all others.

All the traditional giving strategies—matching funds, naming opportunities, and so on—must go out the window. These are not normal times. A catastrophe has hit the American Jewish community: Our places of worship (like all other buildings) have become danger zones. This is unthinkable. It is unimaginable.

All the traditional giving strategies—matching funds, naming opportunities, and so on—must go out the window. These are not normal times. A catastrophe has hit the American Jewish community.

Please don’t be fooled by the positive spirit our rabbis have been exhibiting during these Holy Days. They’re doing their jobs. They’re here to inspire us, strengthen us, empower us.

Now we must do our job. Remember all those times our rabbis have come to our rescue? Remember the shivahs, the brit milahs, the weddings, the b’nei mitzvahs, the calls to the sick, and on and on? They were always there to comfort us, to nourish us, to support us.

Now it’s our turn to come to the rescue, especially the fortunate ones who have the means.

We’re in the midst of a communal crisis. This calls for emergency measures. So I ask you, wealthy donors, to please open your hearts and check books like you’ve never opened them before. You have the chance to save our communities. Call your rabbis now and ask them how much they need.

I guarantee you this will be good for the Jews.