We are currently reading through Sefer Devarim each Shabbat. In this sefer, Moshe Rabbenu realizes that his time is limited and he takes care to share his values with the Jewish people before he dies. He recounts their journey in the wilderness and shares his perspective on what happened and restates many of the mitzvot. He shares what he believes (under Hashem’s inspiration) is most important for them to remember after he is gone. Moshe is finalizing his legacy. Indeed, Devarim can be seen as an early example of an ethical will – a type of document that many Jewish leaders have used through history to share their highest values with their loved ones. The Iggeret HaRamban and the Iggeret HaGra are masterful examples.
I doubt if the founders of National Make-A-Will Month, which is observed each August, chose this month because of Devarim being read in shul – but they could not have chosen a better period of the Jewish year for the observance! Each of us will at some point die, and it is very important that we carefully consider our legacy. Writing an ethical will is a great start – an ethical will is a document in which a person describes their values and life lessons for their loved ones. We also need to consider how we want to pass on our financial and material possessions. It is imperative to draw up a Final Will and Testament or Trust and to include beneficiary designations on assets such as retirement plans, insurance policies, and donor advised funds. This will ensure that our assets go to the people or charities in accordance with our wishes. For observant Jews, it is also necessary to create a halachic will, a shtar chatzi zachor, to ensure that the estate plan is made in accordance with Jewish law.
This may seem overwhelming, but the Orthodox Union offers free resources to help. We offer a free service to create a simple will online through our partners at Giving Docs. You can create your will, print it, and take the necessary steps in your state to make it legally binding. We also offer resources with information about the halachic will on our website. If you have already created your will and have included a gift to the OU or one of our programs, such as NCSY, JLIC, or Yachad, please consider letting us know so that we can celebrate your generosity by adding you to the Legacy Circle.
If you have any questions, please contact me at timothy.cravens@ou.org or 212-613-0737 or my colleague Paul Kaplan, Associate Director of Institutional Advancement, at kaplanp@ou.org or 212-613-8258.
May you have a meaningful time learning Sefer Devarim – and a meaningful National Make-A-Will Month.