Dear Friends of DJCF,
Broadway has long been a haven for Jewish creativity, and Wicked, which has now been translated to film, is no exception. It’s themes – of propaganda, ostracism, of courage and hope – might have come straight from our own heritage and text.
For those who aren’t familiar with the story, the Wicked series is a spin-off of the Wizard of Oz, told first from the perspective of Elphaba, the “Wicked Witch of the West”. Elphaba, with her shocking green skin, becomes the scapegoat for all the troubles of Oz, but the persecution she faced quickly spread to other vulnerable populations: talking animals, the munchkins, and more.
Hen Mazzig wrote for The Jewish Chronicle, “When societies falter, they often seek a convenient scapegoat. And more often than not, that scapegoat has been the Jews.”
Animals in Wicked serve as a poignant metaphor for Jews in 1930s Europe. Stripped of their positions of employment and respect, silenced and violently removed from public life – Dr. Dillamond, a goat college professor’s dehumanization is met with indifference, even from his students. “Once they take your voice away, they can do anything to you,” he laments.
The shared struggles of marginalized groups, in this case Elphaba and the animals, underscores the need for solidarity in confronting hate and injustice. But in the book, as in reality, there is constant effort to pit these groups against one another. Perhaps you have heard of Firekeeper’s International, a Native American charitable organization founded by tribal and cultural ambassadors Chief Joseph and Dr. Laralyn RiverWind. One of the agency’s key projects is cultural bridge-building and support for the Jewish people and Israel’s right to exist and defend herself. The agency recently visited NYC over Thanksgiving and spoke with people on the street about the parallel indigeneity of Native Americans to North America and Jews to Israel. Sadly, many refused to even hear the facts. (Click here to learn more about Firekeepers and to support their work!)
Mazzig continues, “For Jews, this is a haunting truth. The silencing of voices is not just oppression, it is the prelude to persecution…. But Wicked does not merely chronicle the dangers of othering. It is also a call to action. Elphaba’s refusal to conform – despite ostracism and vilification – reflects a moral clarity that resonates deeply with Jewish values. Her story is a reminder: morality is not a popularity contest. This lesson is particularly urgent today. Antisemitism is resurgent, fueled by social media distortions and political opportunism.
Jews find themselves, once again, the targets of age-old lies dressed up in modern clothing. As Madame Morrible’s character warns, propaganda has the power to shape public opinion and public opinion, unchecked, can lead to exclusion, violence, and erasure.
Yet Wicked offers hope. It shows us that resistance, though isolating, is vital. Elphaba’s defiance in the face of hatred reminds us that the fight for justice is never wicked, it is essential. This is the ethos of Jewish survival: to stand firm in our values, even when the world turns against us.
The arrival of Wicked on the big screen, under the stewardship of producer Marc Platt, a proud Jew, feels almost providential. Its message, that justice requires courage and resilience, could not be more timely… So, let us take a page from her book. Be bold. Be righteous. Be unyielding in the face of lies. Because if Wicked teaches us anything, it’s this: silence is complicity. The fight for truth, though lonely, is the only fight worth having.”
As the four-book Wicked series continues (and if you’ve read them, I’d love to discuss!!) we see how the rise of fascism and authoritarianism in Oz affects the next generation of Elphaba’s family, and how ordinary citizens accomplish extraordinary feats that appear miraculous. The beginning of one of the novels has this quote attributed to Goethe, “Whatever you can do or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now!”
So, what can we begin, in Kislev, the Hebrew calendar’s month of miracles and light? The energy of Kislev is about bringing dreams and visions to life with trust and faith. It’s a time of greater clarity and courage. Few represent clarity of vision more thoroughly than David Ben-Gurion, the dreamer and founding father of Israel, whose yahrzeit falls during the month of Kislev. I recently visited with the president of Americans for Ben-Gurion University, Doug Seserman, Sissy Zoller, the University’s Director of Development, and Lt. Colonel Dr. Daniel Elbo Arama.
Dr. Daniel Elbo Arama risked everything to save lives during the Hamas attacks at the Nova Music Festival on October 7th as one of the first to arrive on the scene, while the massacre was ongoing. He shared firsthand his experience during the harrowing events of that dark day. His incredible story of courage and resilience in the face of unspeakable atrocities is a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit. His humor and grace, empathy and strength will stay with me forever. And, if he’s reading this, I must also add that he does have the most beautiful children in the world (a statement I can only make before my own kids can read 😉) One of the countless incredible moments he shared with me is that on 10.7, he received thousands of text messages and phone calls as he worked to lead more than 1,000 medical responders to scenes more horrifying than imaginable, but received only two personal calls on that day, one from his father and the other from his professor at BGU.
I learned also about some incredible work going on at BGU, creating new frontiers in the world of science and global diplomacy. The coral reefs of the Red Sea provide food and livelihood to over 28 million people (and globally, over half a billion people depend on coral reef ecosystems for food, income from tourism and fisheries, and coastal protection). The Red Sea, located at the southernmost point of the state of Israel, which shares a border with Egypt and Jordan, is also home to a BGU campus. A university research team supported by USAID-MERC (Middle East Regional Cooperation) have invented the first manmade coral that is 3D-printed, creating an artificial reef that will grow and prosper, providing food and habitats for hundreds of species, becoming as vibrant and entertaining as their natural cousins.
Whether it’s making the deserts bloom, desalinating water so it can be consumed, or risking it all to save one life in a moment of tragedy, in Israel, miracles are abundant. As the university’s namesake, and the first Prime Minister of Israel famously stated: “In order to be a realist, one must believe in miracles.”
DJCF has been generously invited by the iCenter to participate in a trip to Israel, which will take place in early February. The goal of the experience is to inspire meaningful and enduring connections to Israel for a group of 15 Dallas leaders. The iCenter’s work is to empower Israel educators in North America to teach the complexity of the current environment and provide them with the tools, resources, and opportunities to meet their changing needs. For me, this is a full-circle moment. Nearly a decade ago, Leslie and Howard Schultz (both of blessed memory) funded a program in Dallas called the Schultz Fellowship, and I was selected to participate. This enabled me to see Israel through a new lens –for the first time in person- and has led to influence in over 200 community educators and leaders, 2,000+ students from eight supplementary schools, eight synagogues, five early childhood programs, five community organizations and three Jewish day schools in Dallas. Now, in their parents’ memory, siblings Jaynie and Andy Schultz are ensuring that this family commitment that future generations will benefit from more effective Israel educational experiences can be sustained. The Schultz Program fund can be supported by anyone in our community, via a Donor-Advised Fund or check/credit card – go here to donate.
And so this December, let’s continue to be realists together, and believe in miracles. As the lyrics to Defying Gravity, the most well-known song from the Wicked soundtrack go, “it’s time to try defying gravity.”
December Nonprofit Spotlight
We will shine a light on several organizations with whom we are proud to partner – raising awareness about current needs and important work being done in our community by agencies you may not be familiar with! You can give from your fund via the DJCF Portal, or click the links below to support.
Adat Chaverim – Adat Chaverim–a transliteration of the Hebrew phrase “community of friends”–is the first Reform congregation in Collin County, Texas, serving Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Allen, and the other suburbs north and east of Dallas. Founded in early 1997, Adat Chaverim is a rapidly growing congregation, with a varied membership ranging from singles to young families to senior members of our community. They welcome interfaith couples and families. Our size provides an intimacy in worship and social activities that is unavailable in larger congregations, as well as immediate opportunities to become involved with the congregation and its leadership at all levels. Give Here: Adat Chaverim
Congregation Beth Torah – Congregation Beth Torah was founded in 1974 as an egalitarian, participatory, inclusive Conservative synagogue. Over the last five decades, they have embraced and enhanced those values, welcoming everyone into the Beth Torah family regardless of age, ethnicity, experience, sexual orientation or gender identification. They see diversity and differences as bridges, not barriers, enriching our community and fostering understanding among people of varied backgrounds who come together on our common Jewish journey. That journey includes religious and spiritual inspiration, life-cycle needs, youth and adult education, devotion and connection to Israel, celebration in good times and comfort in bad times. Give Here: Thank you for supporting Congregation Beth Torah
Jewish Children’s Regional Service – For 165 years, JCRS has served at-risk, dependent and financially challenged Jewish children and families from seven (7) Mid-South states: Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, and Tennessee by providing college scholarships, grants for Jewish summer camp experiences, special needs assistance, and other vital outreach programs that are pivotal in building one’s Jewish identity. Today, JCRS remains vital, impactful, and more necessary than ever. In 2018, over 1,700 children and families were served from more than 200 communities across our region. This year, we anticipate a larger than normal deficit in our budget due to increased requests for services. Give Here: JCRS
Tomchei Shabbos of Dallas – Founded in 2010, Tomchei Shabbos (“Supporters of Shabbat”) of Dallas’ goal is to lovingly and anonymously providing essential Shabbat food to needy Jewish families in our community. Our vetting process is conducted with the utmost discretion, care and privacy. Recipients are sent credits via email which can be used only for the purchase Kosher food. The food can be ordered online and picked up without anyone knowing that the food has been paid for with Tomchei Shabbos-provided credit. Every part of our process is structured in the spirit of Mattan Beseter, allowing both the donors and donees complete anonymity. Tomchei Shabbos is entirely supported by the compassion, generosity and financial support of the Dallas Jewish community. Give Here: Tomchei Shabbos of Dallas
Upcoming Programs & Events
Fundholder Open House
1/15 | 4:30-6:30 PM
We are thrilled to invite you to a Fundholder Open House, where you can connect with fellow fundholders and partners and enjoy an evening of good company and great conversation.
During the event, you’ll also have the opportunity to see our exciting new art installation from the TJAA — this is the 2nd in a continuously rotating art exhibit — and the art pieces are available for purchase. To learn more about TJAA, click HERE! We’ll have light refreshments and cocktails and hope you can join us for this casual and fun gathering! Please RSVP below to confirm your attendance. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us via email at rklinke@djcf.org or via phone at (972) 645-1015.
Investment Reports & Fund Statements
The Foundation’s investment portfolio is managed by Graystone Consulting, under the guidance of the Foundation Investment Committee. This relationship has allowed us to offer seven investment models for our constituents to choose from. Graystone provides monthly investment return information on the models as a whole and fact cards for the individual models and the sub-funds that make up each model.
The DJCF/SWCF Investment Committee has been implementing a series of changes in follow up to the revised Investment Policy Statement approved by the board of trustees in September was adopted. Highlights include:
- Reducing liquid alternative exposure throughout the managed pools, renaming the remaining exposure “Real Assets” to more closely reflect the composition of the fund.
- Restructuring the pools to be comprised of sub-funds based on asset classes. The same managed pools are available for investment, and donor-advised or custodial fund holders with assets in excess of $1mm now have the option to select individual asset class funds to build a custom allocation.
Our investments page will be updated in the near future to better explain our investment options, and the same detailed investment reports will continue to remain available for review.
If you’d like to revisit your funds’ investment allocation, please contact Jerry Blair at jblair@djcf.org.
DJCF’s investment performance reports through October are posted on the website. These reports can be found on the Investment Reports page under ‘Tools + Resources’ tab on our menu toggle, found here: Investment Reports – Dallas Jewish Community Foundation (djcf.org)
October fund holder statements will be released in your My DJCF portal soon.
End of Year Giving
As we approach the end of the year, we wanted to remind you about charitable giving strategies to maximize the support you can provide organizations, along with reducing your overall tax liability—not just income tax, but capital gains tax and even potential estate tax exposure for your heirs. However, please keep the possible impact of the upcoming election in mind as changes in tax law may impact your investments and giving strategies.
DJCF/SWCF Year-End Deadlines
December 23 at 5 PM – Deadline to recommend grants from DAFs.
December 30 at 4 PM – Deadline to make in-person contributions to funds.
December 31 – Last day to receive gifts of stock in our account. Note that stock transfer times vary. Contact your broker to ensure timely handling of your donation.
Key Year-End Charitable Giving Strategies: Donations to charity can reduce your overall income tax bill if you itemize your deductions. You can also avoid the application of capital gains taxes if you are disposing of assets such as stock that have appreciated in value. Gifts of retirement assets can provide a current tax benefit as well as remove the gifted assets from your estate. Here are some tips to consider:
• Gift Appreciated Assets: Charitable gifts of appreciated assets remain a best practice, and with the rise in stock market values over the last 12 to 18 months, you may have experienced significant growth in your investment portfolio. Such gifts can provide you with a deduction for the full current value of the asset, but also avoid the capital gains tax that would apply if you sold the assets yourself rather than gifted them. Conversely, assets with built-in losses generally should be sold (generating a tax loss) with the resulting cash proceeds donated, if desired. Note, that up to $3,000 in capital losses may be used to offset other income on your tax return.
• Donate to a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF): If you are considering making a significant donation to charity over time or just want the ability to plan your charitable grants over a period of years, consider opening a DAF or adding funds to an existing DAF. Funding your DAF with appreciated assets can be especially beneficial as you again avoid any capital gains liability. DJCF is well versed in accepting appreciated assets; these include publicly traded stock, as well as other types of non-cash assets such as life insurance, privately held business interests, real estate, and certain collectibles.
• “Bunching” Charitable Gifts Can Magnify Tax Benefits: Combining these two strategies can enhance your tax savings by “bunching” two or more years of contributions this year. The larger contribution can create a bigger tax benefit this year and then provide a fund from which distributions can be made over several years to satisfy your anticipated charitable giving. This approach is especially helpful for donors who might not otherwise be eligible to itemize their deductions. Only taxpayers who itemize their deductions get a tax benefit from a charitable gift. By bunching into a DAF this year, you can increase the total amount of deduction to a level at which it may be more advantageous to itemize than to rely on a standard deduction.
• Utilize IRA Charitable Rollovers: If you or your spouse are over age 70½, the IRA charitable rollover is an attractive option that permits you to transfer up to $105,000 this year from each of your individual retirement accounts directly to a charity or to a DJCF endowment or scholarship fund, free of any income tax. In addition, such rollovers help satisfy the IRA minimum distribution requirement if you’ve reached the age where such distributions must be taken into income (generally when you reach age 73). The rollover also removes these retirement assets from any potential estate tax exposure.
• Accelerating Non-Charitable Family Giving: The current unified estate and gift tax credit of $13.61 million is currently scheduled to decrease to around $7 million beginning with transfers made in 2026. Accordingly, if you intend to make significant family gifts (either during your lifetime or in your will), you may want to consider accelerating some or even all those gifts earlier, as your resources permit.
• Watch for Legislative Changes: As with any significant tax and charitable planning, it is recommended that you carefully consider potential changes in the context of your complete financial portfolio and consult with your tax and financial advisors. The new Administration and the next Congress will need to consider significant tax legislation in 2025, as virtually all the provisions passed in 2017 that relate to individuals will be affected.
Your DJCF professionals will be happy to discuss these and other charitable giving strategies with you and your advisors. Please keep in mind that DJCF does not provide tax advice.
There are two ways to donate stock:
Through Donate Stock:
• DJCF/SWCF’s Donate Stock page enables you to contribute stock from your brokerage directly to your DAF through a secure portal, making the gifting process fast, safe, and easy.
• https://donatestock.com/dallas-jewish-community-foundation
By Manual Transfer (two steps):
• Instruct your broker to transfer stock to the Dallas Jewish Community Foundation’s brokerage account.
Firm: Morgan Stanley
DTC #: 0015
Account #: 048-024268
• Ask your broker to notify Jerry Blair (jblair@djcf.org or 972-645-1018) to expect the transfer. Include your name, the stock name, the number of shares, and the expected date of transfer.
Credit card donations can be made at www.djcf.org or www.southwestcf.org. These are deductible in the year the charge is made, not paid.
Mailed donations must be postmarked on December 31 or earlier to be recorded for 2024, regardless of the check’s date. Make checks payable to “Dallas Jewish Community Foundation” or “Southwest Community Foundation,” and include the fund name in the memo line.
DJCF/SWCF’s EIN is 75-2836123.
