Laura and Jerry Jacobs Create a Legacy of Future Blessings with Bequests

Laura and Jerry Jacobs

It would be difficult to overstate the importance of Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in the lives of Laura and Jerry Jacobs, which is why they have established bequests in their wills to help future generations reap the same benefits they have enjoyed.

Both natives of New York who had relocated to the Washington, D.C., area, Laura attended a CESJDS student choir performance in the early 1970s. That convinced her and Jerry that the school would be perfect for their children. When their two eldest children were enrolled, then-Head of School Shulamith Elster z"l asked Laura to join the faculty as a physics teacher—a position she held for the next 33 years along with several important leadership posts.

Laura and Jerry chose a bequest as their planned giving vehicle because it was “easy and straightforward,” they said, adding that it will allow “other families to have the same opportunities that we did.”

With grandchildren attending CESJDS, Laura and Jerry appreciate how an exemplary Jewish education assists in the formation of meaningful and fulfilling lives. They urge fellow supporters of CESJDS to join them in making a planned gift.

“One of the greatest joys and blessings is to be able to share your good fortune with others who may need assistance,” Laura says. “Doing it in a way to provide Jewish education is marvelous.”

Jerry concurs: “Jewish education costs money. We saw how JDS benefited from the philanthropy of others. It illustrates the importance of donating money to achieve goals.”