Why Give?
Tzedakah is often translated from Hebrew to mean “charity,” but its true meaning is rooted in the obligation to justice and righteousness. Each individual act of tzedakah expresses a sacred and enduring Jewish value by connecting us through a continuous pursuit to better our world.
All significant institutions of culture and learning require supplemental operating funds, and CBE is not exempt from these fiscal realities. Inspiring worship led by devoted clergy; educational programs for tots, children, teens and adults; extensive cultural and social justice experiences all depend on the support of caring individuals.
Through your meaningful contribution, we may continue to support our community through sacred work that reaches beyond these walls and into the greater Brooklyn and Jewish communities. We welcome all levels of donation, whether one-time gifts, monthly donations, or multi-year gifts.
Giving Opportunities
Annual Appeal
The CBE Annual Appeal is a yearly campaign that provides unrestricted funds to support the congregation’s greatest needs in any given year. The Annual Appeal is a critical source of income to CBE, helping us sustain our community throughout the year by ensuring that we may continue to offer diverse and innovative programming, worship services that elevate the spiritual experience for all who come through our doors, educational programs for all ages; social justice initiatives that help to improve the lives of those in need; and provide opportunities to deepen our connection with Israel. The Annual Appeal provides important revenue to augment income from membership dues and supports the temple’s annual operating budget.
The campaign runs each year from July 1 to June 30. As a non-profit institution, gifts to the Annual Appeal are 100% tax deductible.
Clergy Discretionary Funds
Members of CBE regularly make contributions to the Rabbis’ and Cantors’ Discretionary Funds. Most often these donations are in honor of a family simcha – a wedding, a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, a baby naming or bris, or a special life cycle moment – or in memory of a loved one. Gifts to these funds may often be an expression of appreciation to the particular Rabbi, or Cantor, to further the Temple’s goals. All gifts to clergy discretionary funds are only used for charitable causes and to support the goals of our congregation.
Memorial Plaques
Memorial Walls provide a special place to honor those who have touched our lives. Memorializing the names of loved ones expresses gratitude for the gift of their precious lives, and the hope that their spirits will continue to inspire us. Members can add a plaque with the name of a loved one to the beautiful Memorial Walls located in our Sanctuary. In Jewish tradition, we mark the memories of loved ones by kindling a flame next to each plaque on Kol Nidre, Yom Kippur Day, and on the Yahrzeit (annual anniversary of their death). Your loved one’s name will also be included automatically every year in the Yom Kippur Book of Remembrance. The cost is $1,800 per plaque.
Brooklyn Jews Fund
These funds support CBE’s 20s & 30s young professionals group who seek a meaningful connection to Jewish life and culture.
Israel Trip Scholarship Fund
Contributions provide scholarships so that every member may participate on future trips to Israel, regardless of their ability to pay.
Oneg and Kiddush Fund
A simcha, such as an anniversary, birthday, or b’nei mitzvah, is the perfect occasion to celebrate with CBE.
Refugee Resettlement Funds
Funds will be used by Brownstone Brooklyn Synagogues RefugeeProject (BBSRP). This is a partnership between CBE, Kane Street Synagogue and Brooklyn Heights Synagogue to provide support to refugee families resettled in New York City through HIAS.
Yahrzeit Fund
Your contribution honors a loved one upon the anniversary of his or her death.
Youth Programs and Scholarship Fund
This fund is used for Yachad and Camp scholarships.
The V’shamru Legacy Society
For information on how to name CBE in your estate plans, please click here.
More Information
For more information about how to give, giving options, how your gift will be used, or any other questions, please contact:
Karen Gerwin, Director of Advancement
e: kgerwin@cbebk.org
p: (718) 768-3814 x276