Year-End Tax Planning with FJP Rededicating the Ohel

Year-End Tax Planning with Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies

As the year draws to a close, the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies shares some advice: Support your favorite charitable causes by donating appreciated stock; doing so may optimize your year-end donations and tax savings:

• The charity will benefit financially

• You may minimize your tax liability and avoid capital gains

• The cost basis for future purchases of the stock will be at the new stock purchase price

This benefit does not exist with charitable donations made with cash or credit.

Consider Qualified Charitable Distributions if you’re 72

When you reach age 72, you must begin taking a required minimum distribution (RMD) annually from your IRAs. If you’re not itemizing your deductions and you’re at RMD age, you may want to donate your RMD to a qualified charity through a qualified charitable distribution (QCD). It’ll satisfy your RMD and, up to $100,000 annually, won’t count as taxable income.

The Bottom Line: You may reduce your taxable gains by an amount that’s greater than your charitable donation resulting in a lower tax obligation while supporting one or more charitable causes.

The Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies can help you meet your philanthropic goals while saving on your income taxes. Call us a 716.204.1133 to discuss.

Irv Levy Lorne Steinhart

Executive Director Senior Manager, Client Relations irv@jewishphilanthropies.org lorne@jewishphilanthropies.org

Rededicating the Ohel

BY CHARLOTTE GENDLER

The 13th day of Cheshvan (November 7 for the current year) marks the annual Yahrzeit remembrance of Rabbi Joseph Rabinowitz (z”l), who is buried in the B’nai Israel Cemetery on Pine Ridge Heritage Boulevard. However, this year, the celebrants began gathering a day earlier to recognize the completed renovation of the Ohel, a unique brick structure over the Rabbi’s gravesite, built as an indication of the esteem and honor in which he was held.

It is estimated that the Ohel was erected about 1920. The Ohel was closed during much of this summer while undergoing major changes to enlarge the structure and to make it more accessible for the Cohanim who are not permitted to enter a cemetery. The architect, Robert Kasprzak, designed fencing according to Halachah to provide a separate entrance from the cemetery proper.

On Sunday, November 6, our community along with followers of the Rabbis from around the country gathered for a short dedication ceremony. Jonathan Schechter, President-elect of the Cemetery Corporation introduced Federation President Shelly Yellen who brought greetings from our community and welcomed visitors to the newly restored Ohel. Rabbi Daniel Shuman shared family memories of his grandparents who lived and prayed in the same shtetl alongside the late Rabbi Rabinowitz. And Matisyahu Swerdloff, a major fundraiser for the project, shared his family’s three generation history with the late Rabbi. Cantor Irwin Gelman beautifully chanted the El Rachamim

Rabbi Dan Shuman speaking at the Ohel dedication

prayer to conclude the ceremony.

While the Ohel has profound reverence within the Chasidic community, others also share in private meaningful experiences from the Ohel. Eli S. of Boise, ID, flew in for the weekend to rekindle memories he had as a UB student twenty years ago and the influence the Ohel had on him.

Charlotte Gendler is completing her term as president of the Jewish Federation Cemetery Corporation this month.

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