Inspirational Heritage: What two missing American Jewish communities teach us – Aev philanthropy

As someone who grew up in a small town where an organized Jewish life has disappeared, I have experienced firsthand the power of deliberate heritage from Jewish communities. Two missing congregations in Ohio – B’Nai Israel from Lancaster and Beth Israel from Fremont – offer deep lessons on how predictions can ensure that Jewish values ​​and contribution continue to inspire even after physical institutions fade.

In my hometown of Lancaster, Ohio, B’nay Israel’s synagogue dissolved before I was born; Still, his leaders made a decision that would shape my life.

The Purim Party in Beth Israel from Fremont in Freemond, Ohio, around 1950, provided to the author of Dennis Newman.

Recognizing Their Congregation’s Inevitable Closure, The Final Officers of the Synagogue Establicted Three Charitable Funds Through the Columbus Jewish Found, NOW Jewish le the b’nai israel of Lancaster Jewish Book Fund Supported Expanding the Judaica Section at The Fairfield District Library of Lancaster. During his 67-year existence, B’nay Israel opened his doors to many groups, both Jewish and non-Jewish, to teach people for Judaism. The purpose of the Book Fund was simple: to ensure that Jewish education remains available in Fairfield County, even after the synagogue doors closed.

More than a decade later, during a difficult time in high school, I came across Joseph Telushkin Jewish literacy in the library. Inside the cover I noticed a small plate that identifies it as a donation from the book Fund. Although I did not have direct links to the Jewish community of Lancaster, this book became a leader, deepening my understanding of Jewish ethics and spirituality at a time when I was looking for a direction. Years after the end of the synagogue, the predicting of its leaders offered me a resource that formed my spiritual journey and ultimately inspired me to turn to Judaism.

Later, as a specialty history, I wrote about the history of the synagogue for my college Capstone Project. My curiosity about the Jewish community of Lancaster eventually expanded in the documentation of over 20 other Jewish communities in small cities, most of which have never been recorded. Parts of my research are now preserved in institutions such as US Jewish archives, the historical society of the Western Reserve in Cleveland and Rauch’s Jewish archives in Pittsburgh. This work has also inspired stories in retail outlets such as Jewish Telegraph Agency and Israeli timesS

The heritage of a synagogue in the small town breaks out in a way that its founders could never imagine.

As it turns out, the prognosis for B’Nai Israel was not unique among the small Jewish communities in Ohio. When Beth Israel Sinagoga in Fremont, Ohio, in 1980, closed her doors, her leaders also encountered the challenge of how to ensure that their values ​​and contribution would withstand. Part of the proceeds from the sale of former scholarships funded for “average” students at the local high school. This focus reflected the conviction of the Council that, although not everyone could be a star, all students, including those who represent the “average”, deserve support in the pursuit of their educational goals. This would serve in recognition that the potential exists in the whole spectrum and improving itself through education should not be just the privilege of the exceptional.

Beth Israel also took care of preserving his ritual heritage. Torah’s scrolls were donated to neighboring congregations, Yahrzeit The plaques were transferred to ensure continuous care and other sacred items were given new homes. These decisions emphasize the deliberate guide of a community, determined to meet specific needs and leave a meaningful impact.

Both B’Nai Israel and Beth Israel demonstrate how even small communities can create a lasting effect through deliberate heritage. Their actions remind us that inheritance planning is not just about maintaining physical spaces, but to maintain values, memories and traditions that can inspire future generations. Medium and larger Jewish communities in a similar way have institutionalized this approach, as seen in the work of the Youngstown Foundation. The Foundation manages about 80% of the local federation’s financial assets, with 73% targeting donors. This leadership extends beyond the local needs to support national and international causes, showing how the average Jewish communities guarantee that their impact is maintained over the generations.

Hereditary planning is not just a Jewish imperative – it is a universal act of vision and care. The stories of Lancaster and Fremont challenge us to maintain our creative values ​​and contributions to change. What legacy will we leave and how will future generations enrich?

Austin Reed is a historian and writer based in Rochester, New York, revealing the hidden stories of Jewish communities in the small town and their broader social impact. His work is presented in national publications and historical societies.