Welcome to Legacy magazine — a thoughtful look at issues facing the modern philanthropist. We hope you find it engaging and informative as you consider your charitable planning. Please contact our giving experts at development@ jewishfoundationla.org for strategic philanthropic advising.
About the Jewish Community Foundation
Established in 1954, the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles manages charitable assets of nearly $1.5 billion entrusted to it by 1,400 client families. The Foundation partners with clients to shape meaningful philanthropic strategies, magnify the impact of giving, and build enduring charitable legacies. In 2024, The Foundation and its clients distributed more than $200 million to 3,320 nonprofits that span the range of philanthropic giving. Over the past 10 years, it has distributed nearly $1 billion to thousands of nonprofits across a diverse spectrum.
13 TZEDAKAH IN ACTION United in Response: Wildfire Relief Grants 12 ASK OUR EXPERTS “How Do I Build a Lasting Legacy?” FEATURE Inspired Philanthropists 5
18 PEOPLE TO MEET
Welcome Our New Board Chair, Mark Schwartz, and Trustees
22 RECENT EVENTS Making Connections
Join the conversation at
Reflections
From the President & CEO
We are committed to helping you weave tzedakah into the fabric of your legacy.”
Our tradition teaches that the values we instill in our children and grandchildren are among the most enduring and essential legacies we leave behind. At The Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles, we are guided by this core Jewish principle — l’dor v’dor — from generation to generation. And at the heart of that understanding is tzedakah, our sacred obligation to give and uplift those in need.
In my recent reflections on tzedakah, I emphasized that giving is not just an act of generosity but a fundamental Jewish responsibility — one that shapes our communities and strengthens our shared future. Maimonides teaches us that the highest form of tzedakah is empowering others to become self-sufficient. This is a lesson in giving and in leadership. When we involve our families in charitable decisions, we pass down not just wealth but wisdom, the understanding that we are all responsible for one another — Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh (Talmud, Tractate Shevuot, p. 39a).
Legacy is not limited to progeny. It’s defined by our impact on all who follow. Some of us shape the next generation by mentoring, teaching, and inspiring communal members and leaders. Whether guiding a student or training an emerging professional, these acts embody the spirit of l’dor v’dor just as powerfully.
Our team at The Foundation can help you engage the next generation in meaningful giving. Whether through Donor Advised Funds, family discussions on charitable values, or legacy planning, we are committed to helping you weave tzedakah into the fabric of your legacy.
Together, we can ensure that the tradition of giving endures, l’dor v’dor, strengthening our community today and addressing the essential causes of our time for generations to come.
Rabbi Aaron B. Lerner President & CEO
Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles
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The Monkarsh family at Russell and Mia’s wedding. (l to r): Jon, Jagger, Heidi, Russell, Mia, Briana Monkarsh Benaron, Liel, Jeffrey Benaron
The Monkarsh Family: Rooted in Philanthropy
For most children, hanging out with friends means watching movies, enjoying sleepovers, and taking trips to the local mall. During their formative years, Briana Monkarsh Benaron and her brother, Russell Monkarsh, did something else, too: they helped people in need by starting a food bank in their garage.
“We set up long folding tables, invited our friends over, and organized an assembly line,” Russell recalls. “Volunteering was a big part of our upbringing. Our parents did an incredible job modeling the importance of philanthropy. We didn’t know what it was like not to be giving back to others.”
CONTINUING THE FAMILY LEGACY
Today, Briana, 32, and Russell, 29, have started their own families (Briana and her husband, Jeffrey, have two young children; Russell is newly married to Mia). Both siblings are dedicated to continuing their family’s legacy, l’dor v’dor, from generation to generation. Their parents, Heidi and Jon Monkarsh, have exemplified outstanding leadership and generosity. Heidi is a member of The Foundation’s Board of Trustees and vice chair of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles (JFEDLA) board, and has
served on several national nonprofit boards. Jon, a real estate developer, has served as chair of JFEDLA’s Real Estate Principals’ Organization and sits on the Board of Governors at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Through their unwavering dedication, Heidi and Jon have played a significant role in ensuring the future of the Jewish community, both locally and in Israel.
EMPOWERING THE NEXT GENERATION THROUGH DAFS
To empower Briana and Russell in their philanthropic endeavors, their parents encouraged them each to establish Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) at The Foundation, just like they had done years ago. Briana and Russell both credit The Foundation’s support as instrumental in shaping their approach to charitable giving.
“The Foundation provides the guidance and resources needed to have a meaningful impact,” Russell says. “The DAF strengthens my
“
Our
parents taught us to give back by doing it themselves — showing us, again and again, how important it is to contribute
to the community.”
> RUSSELL MONKARSH
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Hosted at the beautiful home of Heidi & Jon Monkarsh, “An Evening with Changemakers” brought together Foundation clients and grantees to celebrate their generosity and impact.
commitment to giving and helps ensure my contributions can have a positive effect on future generations.”
Briana agrees. “The Foundation has given us tools to elevate our giving and focus our tzedakah around the values of our family,” she says. “Just as it has been formative in creating a philanthropic trajectory for my parents and now for us, we hope The Foundation will play a pivotal role in shaping the philanthropic spirit of our children.”
Galvanized by their parents’ example, Briana and Russell are using their DAFs to provide assistance to a range of organizations, many of which support Israel and advance Jewish education.
With more than 200 clients and grantees in attendance, it was a magical evening of connection and a celebration of collective impact.”
> BRIANA MONKARSH BENARON
Since opening her DAF, Briana has proudly followed in her mother’s footsteps to become a “Lion of Judah,” JFEDLA’s dynamic group of multigenerational philanthropic Jewish women around the world.
Russell accompanied his mom on a mission to Israel early last year to witness the impact of 10/7 on
Israeli society firsthand. “Our DAF is a powerful resource that allows Mia and me to support causes that directly benefit Jewish communities in Israel and locally. With The Foundation’s insight, we can make informed decisions and support meaningful organizations that not only align with our values, but also have a real impact.”
CELEBRATING COLLECTIVE IMPACT
Last summer, Heidi and Jon opened their home for “An Evening with Changemakers,” an event at which Foundation President and CEO Rabbi Aaron Lerner highlighted the work of dozens of Foundation grantees. It was, Briana says, a full-circle moment.
“With more than 200 clients and grantees in attendance, it was a magical evening of connection and a
celebration of collective impact,” she says. “That night, under the stars in my parents’ backyard, The Foundation’s significance was palpable for Jeffrey and me. Seeing how we can make a difference continues to inspire us to give.”
In Russell’s view, the gathering was also an opportunity for appreciation and reflection. “Our parents taught us to give back by doing it themselves — showing us, again and again, how important it is to contribute to the community,” he says. “I’m grateful for the example they set. Now it’s our turn to carry it forward.”
Rabbi Aaron Lerner was introduced to our clients and grantees at the Monkarsh home.
The Krombachs’ Experiment in Family Giving
Miriam & Danny Krombach are serious about philanthropy. Both come from households where giving back was an expectation, not an option, and their parents served as models of how best to strengthen the larger community.
“My parents were constantly giving money and time — taking volunteer positions in the synagogue, schools, and city organizations,” Danny recalls. “Tzedakah was never a strange concept; it was always just what we did.”
CARRYING ON THE FAMILY TRADITION
Today, their children are fully grown, but Danny and Miriam still encourage and empower them to see philanthropy as central to their lives. To that end, last August, they gave each child access to a portion of the money in their Donor Advised Fund (DAF) housed at the Jewish Community Foundation and gave them two months to make their funding decisions.
Miriam & Danny Krombach >
Foundation clients
Given their similar upbringings, it was only natural that Danny and Miriam would take the same approach in raising their four children. As members of Young Israel of Century City, they frequently hear reminders from the pulpit about the importance of tzedakah.
“Danny was adamant about the kids giving 10% of their allowance to tzedakah,” Miriam says. “We always told them, ‘This money is not yours; it’s just on loan. Now, you have to figure out how to give it away.’”
INSPIRED TO TRY SOMETHING NEW
“We heard an enlightening presentation at The Foundation about finding ways to make tzedakah fun,” Miriam says. “It inspired us to allocate some money from our DAF and invite the kids to decide how to distribute it. The only condition was that it should be directed to Jewish causes they had never previously supported. We wanted them to be involved in doing research and to discover new causes that resonated with them.”
Sitting around a table in our sukkah, hearing how the kids and their spouses were using their tzedakah to make a difference — I’ve never had an experience that was as meaningful or filled me with as much joy.”
> DANNY KROMBACH
Danny and Miriam anxiously awaited the Sukkot holiday for their children to do the legwork and finalize their decisions so that, when the entire family (including a daughter-in-law, son-in-law, and five grandchildren) gathered for the holiday, they could discuss who was giving to which organizations.
Their choices ranged from local food pantries and Beit T’Shuvah to Bikur Cholim, Magen David Adom, and the American Israel Democracy Coalition, as well as Cedars-Sinai for kosher meals for patients. Each nonprofit received between $1,000 and $5,000.
“The Foundation hosted events that have helped put different charities on our radar that we otherwise might not know about.”
> MIRIAM KROMBACH
THE FOUNDATION MAKES IT EASY
“Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about being charitable, and one of the things all the scholarly commentaries agree on is that you have to give joyfully,” Danny says. “I’ve had a lot of naches (joy) from my children
— watching them hit home runs, graduate from college, receive various honors. But sitting around a table in our sukkah, hearing how the kids and their spouses were using their tzedakah to make a difference — I’ve never had an experience that was as meaningful or filled me with as much joy.”
Collaborating with The Foundation made the process seamless.
“Working with Rabbi Aaron Lerner and others at The Foundation has been great because it’s an organization that shares our ideas and values about how to direct our giving,” Danny says. “The Foundation has helped expand our thinking about how to give and the impact we can have on others. It’s wonderful to have such a thoughtful partner.”
As Miriam sees it, there are other key benefits to the partnership.
“The Foundation hosted events that have helped put different charities on our radar we otherwise might not know about,” she says. “The staff also does an incredible job vetting these organizations, so we can get real insight and ensure our money goes to the right people,” she says.
In the future, the couple hopes to make their family giving experiment a recurring event.
Danny sums it up: “By partnering with The Foundation, we can inspire our children and grandchildren to help those in need and contribute to making the world a better place.”
Did you know that we offer Foundation clients complimentary resources to enhance their charitable giving?
Exclusive Client Benefits
Center for Designed Philanthropy
The Foundation’s Center for Designed Philanthropy is a team of philanthropic advisors with expertise in broad areas. When you open a Donor Advised Fund at The Foundation, you have complimentary access to our team.
Estate Planning Workbook
Our Estate Planning Workbook is a practical and easy way to organize your financial information before meeting with your estate planning advisor.
Ethical Will Workbook
Your Legacy Letter: An Ethical Will Workbook offers 30 thought-provoking questions to help guide you in sharing your story and life experiences with your family.
Insights on Giving
Each year, we host multiple events with topics curated for our donors that feature engaging conversations with prominent voices in the philanthropic community.
Here are just a few: Call 323.761.8704 to receive a copy of the workbooks.
Ask Our Experts
Naomi Strongin
Dan Rothblatt
Steve
Gamer
How
can
“ “ “
Tell your story! What people and events influenced your life? What causes do you care about? Why do you give? Sharing about what’s important to you will preserve your legacy for generations to come.”
I build and preserve a lasting legacy for future generations?
Make sure your loved ones know what causes you support and what you care about so they may be inspired to carry your legacy forward.”
Identify a cause that is meaningful to you and your family and create a named endowment at The Foundation to ensure support for that cause for years to come.”
Naomi Strongin, VP, Center for Designed Philanthropy
Steve Gamer, VP, Advancement
Dan Rothblatt, Executive Vice President
Supporting Our Community This Passover
Each year, as we gather around the seder table to retell the story of liberation and share so many much-loved holiday foods, we are reminded of our collective responsibility to help those in need. In the spirit of tzedakah, The Foundation is proud to have awarded nine grants to organizations working to combat hunger in Los Angeles and in Israel.
These organizations, which were vetted by our staff and receive generous support from our clients, are vital to ensuring that individuals and families in our community have access to nutritious meals, particularly during the Passover holiday.
Supporting Our Community
This Passover
Grantees
In Los Angeles:
Food Forward
Fights hunger and prevents food waste by rescuing and distributing enough fruits and vegetables to meet the daily recommended nutritional needs of more than 250,000 people in Southern California.
Hollywood Food Coalition
Addresses hunger and homelessness in the Hollywood area by providing nightly dinners to the unhoused, serving more than 200 people each night. They also host mobile health clinics, refer attendees to social services, and provide items for basic needs.
LevLA
Provides 100% free hospitality for medical patients and their families who have come to LA (often from Israel) for care. This year, they hosted two Passover seders that drew 100 young people from the community who had nowhere else to go.
Love N Groceries
Alleviates the financial and emotional burdens felt by Jewish widows and widowers and their children. Each week, recipients choose the groceries or necessities they need from a list, and volunteers deliver these items with discretion and care.
Love N Groceries
MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger
Works to end hunger among people of all faiths and backgrounds in the U.S. and Israel. It focuses on governmental advocacy, grantmaking to food banks and pantries, engaging the Jewish community in local anti-hunger advocacy, and partnerships with 1,000+ synagogues to mobilize their members to help end hunger.
Tomchei Shabbos (Touch of Kindness)
Reaches thousands of Jewish families and provides basic needs support including food, clothing, financial assistance, and employment support.
Grantees
In Israel:
Lasova
Hosts a Passover seder at its soup kitchen restaurant, feeding 250400 people experiencing food insecurity. Its kosher-for-Passover soup kitchen provides free meals to over 500 people per day during the holiday.
Latet
Manages an annual campaign in collaboration with an Israeli supermarket chain during Passover, providing 30,000 food packages to families in need.
Leket Israel
Provides over 35 million pounds of fresh produce to the country’s most needy during Passover. Food recipients include people in need, such as single-parent families, the elderly, Holocaust survivors, and recent Russianspeaking immigrants.
Tomchei Shabbos (Touch of Kindness)
Latet
UNITED IN RESPONSE:
$2.25 Million for Wildfire Relief
In the wake of the devastating January 2025 wildfires, The Foundation and our generous clients directed $2.25 million in emergency relief grants to support communities affected by the disaster.
The Foundation quickly provided emergency funds to three fire-impacted synagogues.
Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center
Another Record-Breaking Year in 2024
Thanks to the ongoing commitment and generosity of our clients, The Foundation made record strides last year. For the first time ever, we and our clients surpassed $200 million in grants to the community!
$206 Million in Grants
Chabad of the Palisades
Kehillat Israel
Scan for a list of vetted fire relief organizations.
Emergency relief supported the following:
$350,000 to JFEDLA’s Wildfire Crisis Relief Fund. to 16 Jewish organizations providing direct services and immediate relief.
$400,000 $400,000+ together with JFEDLA to 26 synagogues for congregants who lost homes and businesses.
The outpouring of generosity, kindness, and support we are receiving from The Foundation has been amazing. Thank you!”
> ADAM SIMON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF KEHILLAT ISRAEL IN THE PALISADES
Our
3,320 Nonprofits Supported
$1.46 Billion Total Assets
Big Kitchen Los Angeles (OBKLA)
Direct Relief: California Fire Relief
Q&Awith New Board Chair, Mark Schwartz
It is an honor to step into this role and help guide an organization that is deeply committed to strengthening the Jewish community in Los Angeles and beyond.”
We’re thrilled to congratulate our longtime trustee, Mark Schwartz, as he steps into the role of chair of our Board of Trustees!
A visionary entrepreneur, respected business leader, and passionate philanthropist, Mark takes the helm from Evan Schlessinger, who served as chair with dedication and wisdom over the past four years.
For 25 years, Mark has been an integral part of The Foundation, generously sharing his financial expertise and strategic insight to help drive our grantmaking efforts. He has played a key leadership role on our Grants, Executive, and Finance Committees, always bringing thoughtfulness and innovation to the table. With his deep experience in venture capital and business leadership, Mark is poised to guide The Foundation into an exciting new chapter focused on bold, meaningful philanthropy that changes lives for the better.
Mark Schwartz
Every leader brings a unique approach. How would you describe your leadership style?
I come from a financial and entrepreneurial background, where you take risks on new ideas that may not be 100% fully vetted and make decisions quickly. In entrepreneurial circles, this is known as “GSD,” meaning “Get Stuff Done.” I believe in this, as well as collaborating closely with others.
I also believe in fully supporting the experts at The Foundation to fulfill their passion for doing great work. I look forward to helping Rabbi Lerner and our development team enhance our advancement efforts to attract even more clients to The Foundation and further strengthen our impact.
With your 25 years of involvement at The Foundation, what are some of your key reflections?
I have always felt that The Foundation is the bestmanaged nonprofit I have been privileged to work with. The longevity of the staff and its leaders is unique in the nonprofit world. Our trustees’ engagement is extraordinary. Our institutional grantmaking has made a profound impact on the community locally, in Israel, and outside the Jewish ecosystem.
Most of my involvement has been with our grantmaking, and there have been significant changes over time. For example, The Foundation pivoted on a dime to address urgent needs from COVID-19 and the 10/7 tragedy. Our grantmaking activities today are also more data driven and influenced by our extensive research into the nonprofit landscape locally and in Israel. We now have a seasoned nonprofit expert — Offi Zisser — on the ground in Israel to advise us and our clients on our growing investments in the country and how to deploy them most effectively.
If someone is considering opening a charitable fund here, what would you say to encourage them?
Jewish philanthropists should use the Jewish Community Foundation. It allows them to give more strategically and provides a double win since we put our dollars into the causes our clients care about most. Also, whenever I make a grant from my fund to a secular nonprofit, I feel really proud that the word “Jewish” is on the check. It conveys our sacred obligation to help repair the entire world. Our Foundation experts provide personalized service, have in-depth knowledge of countless nonprofits, empower you with resources and connections, and can help with family philanthropy and complex assets. It doesn’t get any better than that.
Q&Awith New Board Chair, Mark Schwartz
What do you hope to accomplish during your four-year term as chair?
I want to see us strengthen our community even more. We gave a record $206 million to 3,320 organizations last year. That’s incredible. Continuing that trend and collaborating more with other like-minded clients and foundations to address issues of mutual concern would be a big win!
And I expect that The Foundation will become more well known as the center of philanthropic excellence. Whether for working with the next generation on our
Having been involved in The Foundation’s grantmaking and financial stewardship for more than two decades, I look forward to continuing to grow The Foundation and expand its impact throughout our community and in Israel.” “
obligation to repair the world and care for our community, or helping drive crisis response and legacy planning — we are the best choice for nearly every serious Jewish philanthropist.
“When you’re surrounded by people who share a passionate commitment around a common purpose, anything is possible.” That’s a quote from Howard Schultz, the former CEO of Starbucks and a longtime friend and mentor. So, too, at The Foundation. Our passionate team cares deeply about strengthening our community to better our world. May it be so!
New chair Mark Schwartz (left) receives the leadership gavel from outgoing chair Evan Schlessinger.
New Trustees
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The Foundation is one of the greatest gifts in our community to support individual donors in fulfilling their passion for meaningful giving. Thanks to them, I was able to create my own organization of giving. Everything I do for The SAM Initiative was born from the nurturing care and guidance of The Foundation.”
As a recent transplant to LA, I am inspired by the strong leadership of the Jewish Community Foundation. I’m excited to help support the organization’s continued impact across LA.”
Mindy Freedman
Mindy Freedman is the founder of The SAM Initiative — a giving circle comprised of philanthropic women who pool their charitable dollars to fund and support programs committed to driving social change and promoting nonprofit sustainability. Mindy launched the SAM Initiative in 2013 with the belief that we have more impact together than we have alone. An expert in micro-lending programs, Mindy spent several years early in her career in Latin America consulting with NGOs and the U.S. Agency for International Development. She returned her focus to the United States, where she applied her expertise in strategic planning, implementation, innovation, and executive coaching to individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations.
Mindy previously served as a Foundation trustee from 2018 to 2023. The Los Angeles Business Journal named her a 2023 Leader of Influence: Nonprofit & Philanthropy. She earned her bachelor of arts in international affairs and Spanish from the University of Colorado and a master of public administration in international development and Spanish from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two children.
Elana Rodan Schuldt
Elana Rodan Schuldt serves as President & CEO of the Rodan Family Foundation, where she leads strategic, evidenced-based giving towards the foundation’s goals. In addition, Elana currently serves as the co-board chair of EarlyJ and on the Grants Committee for Visionary Women. Previously, Elana was a board member of Moishe House and the JCC East Bay and also served on the Bay Area Jewish Federation’s Endowment Committee. Elana worked for nearly 10 years at Rodan + Fields, focusing on digital marketing in a peer-driven model. Elana received a bachelor’s degree in human development from the University of California, Davis.
Making Connections
Reviving Jewish Life in Hungary
We hosted Marcell Kenesei, director of JCC Budapest, at an exclusive conversation for clients. His captivating presentation included insights on Jewish renewal in Hungary and the JCC’s role in fostering pride and welcoming “rediscovered” Jews to reconnect with their heritage after decades of suppression.
Tu B’Shvat Celebration at the Skirball
We were proud to sponsor the recent Tu B’Shvat celebration, Roots and Renewal: Honoring the New Year of the Trees, at the Skirball Cultural Center. The event brought together hundreds of families for a joyful and educational day.
Tzedakah Breakfast Seminar
Rabbi Aaron spoke about the roots of tzedakah at a breakfast seminar hosted at the office of Foundation client Dr. Matt Lefferman, using our recently published guidebook, Tzedakah: Our Sacred Obligation.
A lively Q&A session ensued about what constitutes charity according to Jewish law, as well as the different levels of giving tzedakah
One interesting note: Contributing to your Donor Advised Fund helps fulfill your mitzvah (commandment) of allocating tzedakah.
6505 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1200
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Honored to Receive the Timothy A. Whitehouse Award
The Foundation was honored with the 2025 Timothy A. Whitehouse Award from the Beverly Hills Bar Association for outstanding contributions to the probate community in Los Angeles. The Association also highlighted our role as an initial funder and ongoing supporter of Bet Tzedek, a nonprofit providing essential legal services to those in need. We appreciate this tremendous honor.
Executive Vice President, Dan Rothblatt, accepts the award
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