Following the funny and wonderful two shows with Comedy for Peace, I am pleased to share that our 2025 Campaign for Community Needs now stands at $1.9 million. This is an incredible achievement in only 82 days! Please join us by making your campaign commitment here (payable by December 2025).

At the same time, as 2024 draws to a close, it is the perfect time to express our gratitude for the crucial role you play in our community’s success. Because of you, our Jewish community can thrive and rise above the challenges of today and tomorrow! 

We are pleased to share with you end-of-year charitable giving strategies. This includes how gifts of appreciated stock can maximize your impact and for those over age 70½, learn about tax advantages by giving from your IRA account. (NOTE: The Jewish Federation of Greater Portland does not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. The following is for informational purposes only. You should consult your own tax, legal, and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction.)

Smart Ways to Give Before 2024 Ends

You can finish this year with a gift that maximizes your charitable impact and saves you money! Here are several smart options below:

Make an Immediate Difference:

When you support our mission by simply writing a check, you make great things happen and may receive a federal income tax charitable deduction. If you itemize, you can write off the amount you are donating, resulting in lower taxable income. Unsure of whether your gift is tax-deductible? Contact your financial advisor or tax consultant.

Your deadline: Your envelope must be postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service on or before December 31 for your donation to qualify this year.

Use Appreciated Securities:

By donating appreciated securities that you have owned for longer than one year, you receive the same income tax savings as you would by making a gift of cash. You also eliminate any tax on the appreciation.

Your deadline: If the securities are electronically transferred to us, the gift date is the day the securities enter our account, not the date you ask your broker to make the transfer.

Make a Gift from Your IRA:

If you are 70½ or older, you can give any amount up to $105,000 from your IRA directly to the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland. (Note: This amount will be higher in subsequent years to adjust for inflation.) You will not pay income taxes on the transfer. If you are required to take minimum distributions, you can use your gift to satisfy all or part of your obligation.

Your deadline: Your IRA administrator must remove the funds from your account by December 31 for your donation to qualify this year. If you have check-writing features on your IRA, your check must clear your account by December 31 to count toward your required minimum distribution for the calendar year.

Contribute to a Donor Advised Fund (DAF):

Add funds to an existing DAF or open a new one by a written agreement at the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation, Oregon Community Foundation, or another sponsoring organization.

Your deadline: You qualify for an income tax deduction when you make a gift to a DAF, without immediately having to choose the organizations you want to support. If you are ready to start making an impact with your DAF, consider recommending a grant - or recurring grants - to support the Jewish Federation. (Note: You only qualify for a tax deduction when you contribute to your fund, not when you recommend a grant - though with the latter, you get to see your gift help causes you care about.)

Our professional team at the Jewish Federation is ready to assist. Please call 503-245-6219. And, I hope you know how grateful we are for any and all of your charitable giving, whether to the Jewish Federation, within the broader Jewish community, or elsewhere.

As high school students complete their college applications, or will soon hear back from their university choices, we recognize that finding the right college can be overwhelming – especially with so many factors to consider. We are fortunate that Hillel International has tools and resources that can help with this process.

With rising rates of antisemitism on campus in the minds of so many in the Jewish community, Hillel is providing a free virtual college prep webinar for parents, “Careful Considerations: Antisemitism on Campus” on Thursday, December 5 at 9:00 a.m. This series will look beyond the headlines and provide parents and families of Jewish high school students with an up-to-date picture of the college landscape. Register here.

Sixty-one years ago today, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. I am sure many of you reading this can remember where you were.

Better yet, does anyone remember where they were 44 years ago yesterday, November 21, 1980? Well, I was attending Friday night Shabbat services at my synagogue in Orlando, Florida. I remember it clearly, because the rabbi told the congregation services would be shorter that evening. Why? So everyone could get home in time to find out “Who shot J.R.?” (The rabbi, who would not watch TV on Shabbat, did ask the congregants to let him know who at Saturday morning services. Either he really wanted to know – or – he wanted people to come back the next morning.)

That night, 83 million people in the United States - 76% of all televisions - and 350 million around the world were watching the hit show, “Dallas.” After an eight-month wait, we finally learned that Kristin, J.R.’s wife’s sister-in-law and his former mistress, was the culprit. As you can tell, we made it home from synagogue in time to watch.

With Thanksgiving next week, please know the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland has much to be grateful for in 2024…and that includes you! Thank you for being part of our community and we look forward to your continued support in the years ahead! 

Shabbat shalom.