Planned Giving @ B’ShERT

Please consider including B’ShERT in your estate plans, ensuring that your support for Reform Judaism in Brooklyn spans across the generations. There are various straightforward ways you can make a planned gift to the Temple. 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 temple 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 Beth Shalom v’Emeth Reform Temple, a nonprofit organization located at 83 Marlborough Road, Brooklyn NY 11226 the sum of $___ to be used for its general charitable purposes.” Or, you may choose to designate to a specific program like Chesed, the Accessibility/Elevator Fund, the annual Charity appeal, or the Rabbi’s discretionary fund. You may choose to give a specific amount in your bequest, or a percentage/all of your residuary estate (what remains once specific/named bequests are funded).

Naming the Synagogue as Beneficiary of a Life Insurance Policy – By purchasing a life insurance policy and naming B’ShERT as its beneficiary, you pay the premiums during your lifetime and, upon your death, the temple 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 their lifetime.

Designate B’ShERT as Recipient of an IRA Distribution or a Basic Financial Account (savings, checking or brokerage) – One of the primary benefits of designating Temple as beneficiary of an IRA, savings, checking or brokerage account is that your assets will not be taxed when they pass to the Temple 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. This also applies to charitable accounts such as Donor-Advised Funds.

Please contact our office if you are interested in making a Planned Gift to the Temple, 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.