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Tzedakah

Most synagogues have different tzedakah funds and CJC is no exception. At various stages of our lives we give tzedakah for different reasons. We would like you to know the root and the responsibility of our tzedakah opportunities here and respectfully ask that you consider a donation to one of these worthwhile causes at some point during the year, perhaps in addition to your regular donations, to fulfill the mitzvah of donating to charity as required by our religious beliefs.

Many of these funds were established by congregants in memory of their loved ones. Some of these congregants z”l (of blessed memory) have been gone from us awhile and are not known by the current congregation. We would like to take the opportunity to refresh your memory and ask that you consider your relationship or feeling to the cause, while we recount the memories of the people for whom the funds are named.

Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund
While this fund is not named in memory of any particular person, it was established by Rabbi Berman upon his arrival at CJC some 30+ years ago, and will be continued by Rabbi Goldstein, to assist those in need our community. Donations to this fund are disbursed at the Rabbi’s discretion to help the less fortunate in our community. This fund is an excellent way for you to make a donation in honor or memory of someone, or at a time when you or someone you know has accomplished a personal milestone.

Martin Barry Siegel Memorial Fund
A parent’s pride was evident when David and Gloria Siegel spoke of their son Martin who was the apple of their eyes. He loved baseball, sports and was a big Yankee fan. Martin lost a valiant fight to cancer at a young age, but is survived by and remembered with love by his parents and his sister Caren Suesserman.  The Siegels assist Rabbi Goldstein in deciding which synagogue projects will be funded. This fund has been used to purchase a Torah and to replace prayer books in our synagogue. A donation to this fund in honor or in memory of someone ensures that the synagogue’s extra needs are met.

Stuart Bresalier Synagogue Beautification Fund
This fund named in memory of one of the earliest CJC members, is used for beautification or maintenance of our building. Stuart owned a hardware store/home center for many years and loved to help people out with their home maintenance and beautification. This fund is administered by his widow Sandra and daughter-in-law Bonnie. This fund is a great way to honor a lifetime milestone (birth, death, marriage, graduation, etc.) with something tangible that can be seen as we enter our synagogue.

Religious School Fund
This fund, which is administered by the Religious School Director, is used to supplement the additional requirements of our school, such as arts and crafts programs, trips or holiday meals. This is a great way to honor your children’s accomplishments or milestones.

Chesed Fund
Chesed is a Hebrew word that translates to kindness. Donations to this fund, used when one of our congregants has a loss in his/her immediate family, are either used to provide a shiva luncheon or to purchase a prayer book in memory of the lost relative.

Martin and Dora Kreitzman Memorial Fund
Established by Alan and Kenneth Kreitzman in memory of their parents, this fund is used for Scholar-in-Residence programs and for Adult and Continuing Education. Dora and Martin both firmly believed that education should be life-long and this fund guarantees that CJC can fund these pursuits. Your donation supports this cause.

Jerry Goldstein Fund
Administered by our Men’s Club, this fund is used to award a scholarship bond to one or more deserving High School seniors per year. This fund was established by the Goldstein family. Jerry was a longtime member of CJC and a past Men’s Club President.

Torah Fund
This fund which is administered by our Men’s Club is used to repair our Torahs. A donation to this fund ensures that our Torahs are kept in pristine condition.