It all began with the
Sapphires! Twenty-five years ago, seventeen visionary women from all over the
United States banded together to establish the Sapphire Society to take charge
of their philanthropic giving and to help steer Jewish National Fund-USA
forward in its quest to build a better future for the land and people of
Israel. As the foundational base for what is now Jewish National Fund-USA's
Women for Israel division, their vision changed the course of women's giving and
the entire Jewish National Fund-USA organization.
Toby Mower was part of the original group that helped kickstart a much-needed way for women to become vocal in the organization. Toby remembers, "In the past, back in my day, a husband would come to his wife and say, 'what should we donate to?' The woman was already making those decisions. Today, the women's societies are decision-makers and leaders within Jewish National Fund-USA. We don't just give; we listen to each other, we are invested in what we do, we examine what needs to be done, and we make things happen."
Another founder, Terry Katz,
shared just how revolutionary their original mission was, "We knew that we
wanted to make a difference." And how did they start? She added, "We
wanted to build a non-agricultural community, and we wanted it to be in the
Negev." The group traveled to Israel and changed the future of an
abandoned army outpost, which, thanks to their hard work, shared commitment and
dedication, and individual gifts of $5000* (a significant donation – especially
in 1998), became what is today the flourishing artists village called
Zuqim.
Toby and Terry are two of the original dynamos who enabled women's voices to be heard, women's visions to be impactful, women's dollars to make a difference, and led to an abundance of women's seats at the Jewish National Fund-USA table. For Terry, the future of the Sapphire Society is brighter than ever, with a legacy of strength to guide its newest leaders, "Whatever is coming down the pipeline, women grab onto it and make it happen!" she said, "Look at JNFuture, that was Toby Mower's idea."
Today, there are 30 WFI regions across the United States. Women serve on local WFI steering committees, regional boards, JNF-USA's national board, task forces, and other committees where – through their hard work and their passion – their voices are heard. With a goal of $29 million of women's giving for this fiscal year and over 4,300 current JNF-USA Women for Israel, WFI makes a huge difference for the land and the people of Israel.
With the power of women,
these remarkable accomplishments are just the beginning. As we mark the 25
years since these powerful trailblazing women changed the face and the course
of Jewish National Fund-USA, we pay tribute to them with gratitude.
* The original Sapphire
giving amount was $5000 annually. Women for Israel now encompasses many giving
levels to engage and attract women donors, including:
Women's Alliance ($360-1799) annually
Chai Society ($1800-4999)
annually
Sapphire Society ($5000+)
annually
Circle of Sapphire ($100,000+
which can be paid over time)
Circle of Sapphire Plus
($200,000+ which can be paid over time)
Written by Mara Fahl,
Managing Editor B'Yachad, Myra Chack Fleischer, Secretary of the JNF-USA
National Board of Directors and Past President of the National WFI Executive
Board, and Jackie Goldstein, WFI Chair Atlanta