“As my parents planted for me before I was born, so do I plant for those who will come after me.” – Talmud Ta-anit 23a
How can you help ensure the future of Congregation Beth Shalom? By leaving a legacy gift, you ensure that the things you value most about Beth Shalom will remain for your children and future generations.
Congregation Beth Shalom began in the 1953 with a group of dedicated visionaries who shared a common desire to create a spiritual home and sanctuary for the Jewish community in Napa Valley. We want Beth Shalom to always be this sanctuary – a Jewish home filled with contemplative worship, inspired education, civic engagement and glorious music. It is our responsibility to ensure that our congregation will be vibrant and relevant far into the future, and continue to benefit the lives of others.
You can create a lasting legacy that sustains the growth and development of our extraordinary congregation. We ask you to join us in preserving and expanding all that we value at Beth Shalom. Your planned gift can and will truly make a difference.
By making a planned gift to Beth Shalom, you will become an honored member of the Congregation Beth Shalom Legacy Circle. The Congregation Beth Shalom Legacy Circle is made up of forward-thinking people who wish to continue sustaining and expanding Beth Shalom and Jewish life in the Napa Valley for future generations through planned giving by way of their wills and estate plans.
Gifts come in many forms and amounts, and there is no minimum. Your participation is possible regardless of your income or estate value.
Recognition of your meaningful commitment to Beth Shalom’s future will include permanent tribute to your generosity, acknowledgement in our donor reports, and invitations to special Congregation Beth Shalom Legacy Circle events. You may direct that your planned gift be anonymous so that your name will not appear on any public roster or plaque.
When you sign a Letter of Intent or inform Beth Shalom you have included it in your estate plan as a beneficiary, you become a member of the Congregation Beth Shalom Legacy Circle helping to continue the vibrancy of our congregation.
We thank and honor the following individuals and families for their planned gifts to Congregation Beth Shalom. Their generosity and thoughtfulness help ensure the future of our congregation.
Watch this space for the names of those who have generously included Congregation Beth Shalom in their planned giving.
There are many ways to make an impact on our future and create your legacy at Beth Shalom. Your gift may result in financial benefits for you and your family. Benefits may include income payments for life, income and estate tax deductions, or avoidance of capital gains taxes. These options maintain your financial security while helping to ensure that our wonderful synagogue will be here for generations to come.
By naming Congregation Beth Shalom in your will or trust, you leave a legacy without giving up current assets during your lifetime. You can specify a dollar amount or a fixed percentage of your estate. Your bequest may be changed at any time during your lifetime.
The following sample provision may be helpful to you and your attorney:
“I hereby give, devise and bequeath to Congregation Beth Shalom of Napa Valley, 1455 Elm Street, Napa, CA 94559, (EIN 20-2484471) the sum of $_________________ [OR percent of my estate] for its general charitable, religious and educational purposes.”
You may achieve significant income tax and estate tax savings by naming Congregation Beth Shalom as the beneficiary of a specified percentage, a specific amount or the remainder of the account. Retirement plan distributions to a non-profit organization like Beth Shalom incur no taxes.
You can donate appreciated securities such as publicly-traded stocks, bonds or mutual funds that can reduce tax on capital gains.
This type of annuity:
These gifts are tax deductible at fair market value and incur no capital gains tax.
You may give your planned gift to a permanently restricted fund where the principal is held in perpetuity, and the Beth Shalom Board of Trustees has the authority to spend some of the interest earned.
Unrestricted gifts give Beth Shalom maximum flexibility to allocate funds where they are needed most – today and in the future. If you wish to designate a specific purpose for your gift, please consider designating it to one of the three broad areas that serve Beth Shalom’s core mission: worship and spirituality; Jewish education; or community and social justice.
Please note that these descriptions are informational only, and do not constitute legal or tax advice. We urge you to consult your own financial advisor or attorney before you decide to make a planned gift. We will work with you and your financial/legal advisers to fulfill your Jewish legacy, and help fulfill the sacred responsibility to continue, sustain, shape, and strengthen our remarkable community for generations to come. Contact our office with questions or to start a conversation about legacy giving.