Nathan Cogan
Tzedakah has always been important to me. Thirteen years ago my late wife Sara and I decided that we would leave 20% of our estate to charity. That commitment, in conjunction with our OJCF donor advised fund, has enabled me to provide both current support and to make legacy commitments to my synagogue, Cedar Sinai Park, Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education and Jewish Family & Child Service. I am also committed to supporting a number of refugee rescue and aid groups, homeless shelters and Portland State University’s Holocaust and Genocide Studies project plus scholarships for students and faculty. I don’t see it as giving back, but rather giving forward. So armed with lessons from Jewish tradition and a strong belief in tikkun olam, I embrace tzedakah in recognition of serious local and global needs.