A Plan for Your Family. A Legacy for Your Community.

Couple having meeting with financial advisor

How Make-A-Will Month offers an opportunity to create a lasting legacy for family, community, and future generations.

There is a well-known Jewish teaching that while we may not live to enjoy the full shade of the trees we plant today, future generations will. It is a powerful reminder that many of life’s most meaningful acts are not just for ourselves, but for those who come after us.

August is Make-A-Will Month, an opportunity to reflect on the legacy we hope to leave behind. While a will is often viewed as a legal document, it is also something much deeper. It is a statement of our values. It reflects what we cherish, whom we care for, and what we hope will endure long after we are gone.

Throughout our lives, we plant seeds in countless ways. We invest in our families. We mentor others. We strengthen our community. We support causes that reflect our beliefs and aspirations. Each of these actions helps shape the future.

Creating a will is another way to plant those seeds.

A thoughtful estate plan ensures that the people and causes closest to our hearts continue to flourish. It provides for loved ones while offering an opportunity to support the institutions and values that have helped define our lives.

For many members of our community, that includes a commitment to Jewish life. Today’s vibrant Jewish community exists because previous generations had the foresight to invest in a future they would never fully see. They built institutions, supported those in need, strengthened connections to Israel, and created opportunities for Jewish life to thrive. Their generosity planted seeds whose fruits we enjoy today.

Now, we have the opportunity to do the same.

By including a charitable bequest in your estate plans, you can help ensure that Jewish life remains strong and vibrant for generations to come. Your legacy can help strengthen and nurture Jewish life by supporting community partners in Greater Baltimore, Israel and around the world. It can help future generations experience the same sense of belonging, connection, responsibility and purpose that has enriched our own lives.

One of the most remarkable aspects of a legacy gift is that it allows your values to continue working in the world. Long after a lifetime of giving, volunteering and leadership, your commitment can continue making a difference.

Whether your estate plan is already in place or still taking shape, Make-A-Will Month is a meaningful time to consider the future you wish to help create.

If you have already included our organization in your will or estate plans, we hope you will let us know. Sharing your intentions allows us to express our gratitude and better understand the lasting impact your generosity will have on our community.

If you have questions about creating or updating your estate plan or would like to learn more about leaving a legacy gift, we are here to help.

The seeds we plant today become the foundation for tomorrow. This Make-A-Will Month, we invite you to take a simple step that can help ensure a vibrant Jewish future for generations to come. Through the legacy we leave, our values continue to inspire and strengthen Jewish life l’dor v’dor, from generation to generation.

If you have questions on how to get started or have already left a bequest in your will to The Associated, please reach out to Itael Toibman by phone at 410-369-9240 or via email at itoibman@associated.org.