May 14, 2024
Lion Behind the Pin: Passing on the Tradition
Passing on our most precious values is part of Jewish tradition and those who support the needs of the Jewish community now have another way to do just that. The new Lion Behind the Pin program, offered by Women’s Philanthropy and The Foundation of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, includes an easy-to-use kit that helps a Lion of Judah — a philanthropic woman donating $5,000 or more yearly to the Annual Greater Miami Jewish Federation/UJA Campaign — to designate her Lion pin to an individual who will, preferably, become a Lion of Judah someday and wear the pin with pride. The Lion Behind the Pin program also helps those wishing to create a Lion of Judah Endowment to ensure their legacy as a Forever Lion in perpetuity.
The History of the Lion of Judah
Created in 1972 in Miami by Norma Kipnis Wilson and Toby Friedland (both of blessed memory), the Lion of Judah is now an internationally recognized symbol of philanthropy, commitment, Jewish values and sisterhood. The knowledge that it cost $5,000 in 1972 to rescue a family of four from the Soviet Union and bring that family to Israel was the determining factor for creating this giving level.
Just as the Lion of Judah has its roots in Miami, so, too, does the Lion of Judah Endowment Society (LOJE), created by Mikki Futernick in 1992. The LOJE program honors women who have perpetuated their Lion of Judah-level donation, making them Forever Lions.
Today, more than 18,000 women around the globe wear the gold Lion of Judah pin as a sign of their dedication to making the world a better place for the Jewish people. Now you can share your passion for this ideal with others.
The Lion Behind the Pin
As a Lion of Judah, you have an opportunity and a responsibility to pass on your Jewish legacy. The Lion Behind the Pin program makes it easy to share your passion and values with someone you care about.
There are just three simple steps:
1. Legacy Letter — Create a letter that will communicate your core principles and philosophical ideals to your loved ones, whether they be family, friends or organizations. Share your personal story of why and how you became a Lion of Judah and what this philanthropic commitment represents to you. You’ll be sharing the true meaning of the Lion Behind the Pin.
2. Lion of Judah Pin Designation Form — You have an opportunity to designate your pin to an individual who, preferably, will become a Lion of Judah someday and wear your pin with pride.
3. Lion of Judah Endowment Form — Consider establishing a Lion of Judah Endowment (also known as a Forever Lion) for yourself, ensuring your legacy as a Forever Lion in perpetuity. When you do so, a flame, Or L’Atid, will be added to your pin, meaning you are a “light unto the future.” There are a number of easy and tax-smart ways to fund your Jewish legacy. Please consult with your legal and tax advisors to determine what would be best for you.
It is the individual, the Lion Behind the Pin, who has transformed the pin from being a simple piece of jewelry to an emblem of generosity and commitment, making it even more valuable by what it represents.
For more information, please contact Scott Kaplan, Foundation Director, at [email protected] or 786.866.8623 or Ofi Osin-Cohen, Director of Women’s Philanthropy, at [email protected] or 786.866.8440.
