Jewish Community Partners

In honor of the 30 year anniversary of the Jewish Foundation of Memphis, we are showcasing the Foundation’s history and impact through a content series across multiple platforms.

This will include a regular article series in the Hebrew Watchman, with each article focusing on different themes and delving into the core principles of the Foundation, including endowment building, supporting partner agencies, and promoting legacy giving.

Since its inception in 2002, the Jewish Foundation of Memphis’ B’nai Tzedek program has nurtured a new generation of young philanthropists. The initiative empowers bar and bat mitzvah students to establish their own charitable funds, laying the groundwork for a lifetime of dedicated giving.  

Aimed at instilling the values of tzedakah (righteous giving) in young people at a pivotal moment in their lives, B’nai Tzedek provides teens with the tools and knowledge to make informed philanthropic decisions, cultivating a commitment to community service.  

Two important families made this program a reality: Bobbie Shainberg first came up with the concept and seed money, and Bunny and Jeff Goldstein have been the program’s sponsors and funders.  The initiative would not be the success it is today, 23 years later, without their generous support. Susan Nieman was the staff member who first oversaw B’nai Tzedek programming.

Laura Kaplan Paller, Jewish Community Partners’ VP of Finance & Operations, was among the first participants when the program was initiated in 2002. As she recounts in the Foundation’s new donor-focused podcast, “Generations of Giving,” B’nai Tzedek sparked a passion for Jewish philanthropy that has resonated throughout her life.

“At 35, I’m now an active participant in Memphis Jewish life in so many ways – and that all stems back to when I joined B’nai Tzedek at age 12,” Kaplan Paller said. “It inspired me not only to join the Foundation’s Board as an adult, but also to dedicate my career to Jewish nonprofit leadership.”

The journey begins with each participant establishing their own individual charitable fund, endowed with a portion of their bar or bat mitzvah gifts. This act of ownership empowers them to become active stakeholders in the community’s well-being. Guided by experienced mentors, they undergo a comprehensive learning experience, exploring the diverse needs and challenges facing local organizations.

Central to the B’nai Tzedek curriculum are workshops, discussions, and site visits that provide firsthand exposure to the impact of philanthropy. Participants gain a deeper understanding of the vital work being carried out by various nonprofits, fostering empathy and a sense of shared responsibility.

During last year’s annual B’nai Tzedek Bus Tour, teens visited various partner agencies to see their impact in action. At Temple Israel, they learned about the history of Jewish Memphis from author Judy Ringel. At Hillels of Memphis, they explored Jewish life on campus and revisited the interfaith seder program they had helped fund.

In addition to the opportunity for individual philanthropy, the program brings teens together to take part in a collaborative grant-making process, where participants collectively deliberate and decide how to allocate $10,000 annually for programmatic funding throughout Jewish Memphis. Programs that have been funded in the past include Senior Hot Meals, inclusion programming at the Memphis Jewish Community Center, Creative Aging experiences at Plough Towers, and interfaith seders through Hillels of Memphis. 

The program’s impact extends far beyond the individual participants, shaping the future of the Memphis Jewish community. By empowering young people to become active philanthropists, B’nai Tzedek ensures a legacy of giving that will benefit generations to come.

“I am proud to be a member of a group that directly benefits the community,” said Wallis Rogin, a student at St. Mary’s School. “Though I am only in high school, I get to review grant applications and meet with program directors to decide which projects to fund, and I find that truly exciting.”

“B’nai Tzedek is an amazing program led by terrific people where teens get to make decisions that benefit the Memphis community,” said Jack Shanker, from Memphis University School. “It is incredibly encouraging that what we do can make such a big impact on other peoples’ lives. Also, I have made new friends through this program and strengthened the ones that I already had. I recommend every teen join B’nai Tzedek.”

To learn more about B’nai Tzedek, visit jcpmemphis.org/teen-philanthropy.