Please consider including the Brotherhood Synagogue in your estate plans and become a member of our Irving J. Block Legacy Society, named after our beloved founding rabbi. There are various – and relatively easy – ways you can make a planned gift to the Synagogue. They include:

Naming the Synagogue in your Will – This is the simplest way to make a planned gift and can be done by adding specific language for the inclusion of a bequest to the Synagogue in your will. An attorney should be consulted and involved in the preparation of your will, but language can be as simple as: “I hereby give, devise and bequeath to The Brotherhood Synagogue, a nonprofit organization located at 28 Gramercy Park South, New York, NY 10003 the sum of $___ to be used for its general charitable purposes.” Or, you may choose to designate to a specific program like Tikvah, Homeless Shelter, School Scholarships, as examples.  

Naming the Synagogue as Beneficiary of a Life Insurance Policy – By purchasing a life insurance policy and naming The Brotherhood Synagogue as its beneficiary, you pay the premiums during your lifetime and, upon your death, the Synagogue receives the policy’s proceeds. This is often a way for a donor to create a charitable gift whose value far exceeds the amount of any outright gift the donor would be capable of making during his or her lifetime.

Designate the Brotherhood Synagogue as Recipient of an IRA Distribution or a Basic Financial Account (savings, checking or brokerage) – One of the primary benefits of designating The Brotherhood Synagogue as beneficiary of your IRA, savings, checking or brokerage account is that your assets will not be taxed when they pass to the Synagogue upon your death, as 501(c)(3) organizations do not pay income tax. Another advantage is that these gifts are made outside of the probate process, and thus do not become public documents.

Please contact our Executive Director Alisha Goodman, at 212-674-5750 if you are interested in making a Planned Gift to the Synagogue or if you would like more information about planned giving options.

We strongly recommend that you consult with an attorney and/or a financial planner in drawing up any of these documents.