We have just finished observing Tu B’Shevat, the new year of trees, and perhaps you enjoyed carobs and other delicious fruits at a Tu B’Shevat Seder. In a well-known story from Taanit 23a, Choni HaMe’agel, The Circle-Drawer, happens upon a man planting a carob tree whose fruit will not appear for seventy years. He asks the man why he is planting it when it is likely he will not live long enough to enjoy the fruit of his labor. The man replies that he found a world with carob trees and, just as his ancestors planted the carob trees he enjoys, so he will plant them for those who come after.
I sometimes joke that my horticultural skills are such that I even kill plastic plants, but I take comfort in the knowledge that giving tzedakah, both regularly in my lifetime and through money I leave to charity in my will, I am planting seeds that will bear fruit for many years to come. I am happy that, after my lifetime, the money I leave to Jewish institutions and other charities will nourish others for many, many years to come. Making a will is OUR way of following in the example set by Choni HaMe’agel centuries ago.
There are, of course, halachic considerations to making a will. Our website has helpful articles and webinars on executing a Shtar Chatzi Zachor, or Halachic Will, to ensure that the way your assets will distributed after your death are done in accordance with halachah. It is worth noting that many halachic authorities, such as the Rama, Rav Akiva Eiger, and the Aruch HaShulchan, encourage charitable giving through one’s estate and pasken about the amount one is permitted to give. The Chofetz Chaim, in Ahavat Chesed, encourages giving large charitable bequests through one’s will.
I’ve talked to many people over the years who want to make a will but have not gotten around to it because they are concerned about the expense of hiring a lawyer or have not had the chance to make an appointment. However, there is now a way to write your will for free through GivingDocs.
Through GivingDocs, accessible by clicking here you can create a simple will which incorporates typical estate planning needs. (If you have a complicated estate with multiple properties and complex assets, or would like to discuss alternative planned giving vehicles, we recommend consulting an attorney and/or financial advisor.) The will becomes legally binding once it has been signed and executed in accordance with the laws of your state – GivingDocs gives instructions about how to do this. This portion of our website also gives guidance on how to leave money to tzedakah through designating the OU or one of our divisions such as NCSY, Yachad, OU Israel, or others as beneficiaries of your retirement plan or life insurance policy. There are also ways to give to the OU while creating an income stream for yourself or a loved one. Please reach out if you would like to explore these options further.
While we would be delighted for you to designate the OU as a beneficiary of a bequest in your will, this service is offered without obligation and you may write your will through GivingDocs without leaving a bequest to the OU. If you do choose to leave a bequest to the OU, you can either leave it to the organization as a whole or you can designate one or more of our wonderful programs as a beneficiary, such as NCSY, Yachad, JLIC, or OU-Israel.
Estate planning can be complicated, and we are here to help you with resources to make it easier.
For more information, you can contact me, Tim Cravens, Planned Giving Officer, at 212-613-0737 or timothy.cravens@ou.org or Paul Kaplan, Associate Director of Institutional Advancement, at 212-613-8258 or kaplanp@ou.org.
We are eager to help!