A G I F T F R O M T H E P R E S E N T T O T H E F U T U R E

What connects us?

From the bimah, we are a sea of faces. Behind each one are countless stories. What connects us is the shared Jewish experience of one congregation. Since it was founded in 1934, generations of families have benefited from the religious, educational, social and cultural programming available through our synagogue. Each family and individual has a special story to tell about his or her Jewish lives. All have memories of shared Jewish experiences of West Suburban Temple har Zion.

Our fellow congregants have walked with us on the paths of our Jewish lives, offering a hearty mazel tov for a simcha, and comforting us in our grief. Sitting in the sanctuary on Rosh Hashanah we see enthusiastic greetings amongst temple friends. These relationships ground us in the present and link us to our past.We carry each other's stories within us. We hold the memories of each other's lives.

A D AY I N T H E L I F E

Stroll through the halls of the temple and everywhere you see evidence of the programs and activities that create and support these bonds. In the preschool, threeand four-year-olds recite their first words of Hebrew, chatting with the Rabbi and learning Jewish holiday rituals. Their parents share in the life of the preschool, forming friendships and watching the growth of Jewish identity in their children. The children see the temple as a second home. The corridors upstairs echo with the sound of older children learning their prayers. They lead Friday night services and join their parents and fellow congregants in holiday observances. In the Cantor's office a 12-year-old is rehearsing his bar mitzvah parsha. Early in the morning, you will find the minyan gathered in the chapel, providing support for a congregant in mourning. Later in the day, the chapel is filled with the senior women's bible study group. On Sunday mornings a class in Talmud Study will take its place.

We have reaffirmed the value of these programs and this institution again and again: supporting the construction of the synagogue, the purchase of new Torah scrolls, the redesign of the Ark, the creation of a library and a preschool, the purchase of a Sukkah, and the renovation of the building. It takes a lot to maintain a full-service Conservative synagogue. The challenge is even greater in an area where Conservative Jews are few in number, this requires support and dedication. Throughout the years, the congregation has always come through. There was an understanding with each generation that it was the duty of every congregant to give, according to their ability, to support the good of the whole. Now it's our turn.

WHAT H A S S U S TA I N E D U S ?

Our synagogue runs a deficit each fiscal year. This is not the result of mismanagement, but of necessity. As committed Jews, we demand more of our synagogue than what our annual dues can subsidize. The programs we offer were instituted because they provide richness and meaning to our lives. If there was a mandate to provide only what we could afford, we could provide very little.

The purpose of the L'dor vaDor capital campaign is to create a fund that will provide interest income to mitigate the annual deficit. The goal is to raise one million dollars. Some of these funds will be used to erase existing debt. The remainder will be judiciously invested and closely regulated by a committee of Temple members under rules approved by the WSTHZ Board of Directors. If the campaign is successful, the income generated can be used to significantly reduce the annual deficit for many years to come. Synagogue leaders will not have to choose between providing what is essential to the needs of Jewish families, and what is affordable. This guarantees that we can provide for our own families and the generations that follow.

A P R O M I S E T O T H E F U T U R E

We are inviting all congregants to participate in this campaign. All of our stories are important, all worth telling and recording. They are all part of the fabric of this congregation. Consequently, all of our donations, large and small, are affirmations of support for West Suburban Temple Har Zion.

Every congregant will be invited to attend an informational coffee, either at a private home or at the synagogue. Any questions you have regarding the capital campaign will be answered there.

You can pledge during one of the congregational coffees, or speak directly to the Rabbi regarding your contribution.With your help we will continue from generation to generation, and from strength to strength."

Click here for printable pledge form.

Special thanks to James Bernard for text and graphics

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F R E Q U E N T L Y A S K E D Q U E S T I O N S

1. What is the L'Dor vador Capital Campaign?
Synagogues, like most non-profit institutions, have historically relied upon philanthropic contributions to underwrite their day-to-day operations. These contributions take many forms, such as individual donations, yearly appeals, and capital campaigns, to name just a few. The leadership of our synagogue has devoted a great deal of time and energy towards the creation of a temple-wide Capital Campaign to raise one million dollars. The purpose of the Campaign is to create an endowment fund whose investment income can be used to help bolster the annual operating budget so that we can continue to offer essential services.

2. How will the funds be invested?
The goal is to invest for income, rather than for growth, and to protect the principal of the endowment.

3. Who will have decision-making power over the endowment fund?
The fund will be administered and invested by the temple Endowment Committee according to rules approved by the Temple Board. These guidelines stipulate the conditions under which the investment income is used and the restricted circumstances under which capital can be withdrawn.

4. How long do we expect this fund to last?
The life of the fund will depend on a number of factors including how much money is ultimately raised and how quickly, the performance of the financial markets and the selected investments, and the future financial needs of the synagogue including possible unforeseen financial emergencies. While it is not possible to accurately predict or control these factors, based on the financial models developed in planning this campaign and assuming that we will meet our one million dollar goal, we feel it is reasonable to expect that the fund should last at least 15 years and, ideally, much longer.

5. Am I still expected to give to the annual Yom Kippur Appeal?
Yes, you will still be expected to give at current levels to the annual Yom Kippur Appeal. The Yom Kippur Appeal is an important on-going source of revenue for the temple and the expected revenue from the appeal is included in the annual operating budget. The L'Dor vador fund is not designed to offset this revenue.

6. Will other fund-raising at the Temple continue?
It is critical that we continue to raise funds through a variety of mechanisms (the gelt program, pulpit flowers, memorial and celebratory gifts) as this revenue is an important part of our operating budget.

7. Will dues or school tuition be affected?
Membership dues and school tuition policies will not be affected by the campaign.

8. What happens if we don't reach our $1,000,000 goal?
The investment income generated by the Fund will still be used to offset a portion of the operating deficit each year, but, a smaller endowment will produce less income and most likely will be insufficient to retire the deficit each year. Then we will have to continue with our historical practice of finding additional monies. We may, at times, be forced to draw down principal from the Fund to bridge the gap.

9. How much should I give?
It is our hope that every member of the congregation make a donation to the L'Dor vador campaign, according to their ability to give. To create a one million dollar fund we need to average $3,400 per member unit. Obviously, some of us can give much more and some of us much less. All contributions, regardless of size, are important and welcome. We are all stakeholders in the financial future of the Temple and we will all gain from the security and flexibility that this fund will provide.

10. Can I space out my contribution over time?
Although it is preferable to receive the entire contribution in the first year so that we can obtain the maximum investment income, you can choose to space payments, evenly or unevenly, over a maximum of 3 years.

11. Can I give stocks or bonds? What about planned giving?
Yes, we can accept stocks and bonds as donations to the campaign. You should speak with Kenn Brotman to make arrangements regarding this type of donation.

Click here for printable pledge form.

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