06/20/2025
L’dor V’dor – From Generation to Generation: Family Philanthropy and the Power of an Ethical Will
Fredman
Mindee Fredman | SPECIAL TO THE CJN
Article reprinted with permission from Cleveland Jewish News.
Most people are familiar with the common practice of preparing a legal will which plans for distribution of assets after one’s lifetime. But Judaism also has a beautiful custom of creating an end of life ethical will, or tzava’a. A tzava’a is where you can share your moral and spiritual legacy with your loved ones. It provides an opportunity to impart wisdom, life lessons and meaningful experiences to family members.
An ethical will is a non-legal, non-binding document which conveys an individual’s values, beliefs, blessings, guidance and hopes for future generations. While a tzeva’a can take any form that you wish, they are most often written as a letter to children and loved ones.
Throughout Jewish history, we see examples of the importance and impact of ethical wills, on the author, their family members and even the community. From Jacob during biblical times blessing his children and telling him where he would like to be buried, to the Middle Ages where it is well known that ethical wills were privately shared and preserved within families, to the Holocaust, where Yad Vashem currently houses ethical wills quickly written by Jews desperate to leave their legacy before they were murdered by Nazis.
When writing a modern ethical will or tzeva’a, one may also want to consider addressing the topic of tzedakah, charity. In the Jewish tradition, giving to charity is a sacred obligation. Over 80% of Jews who are defined as baby boomers or older give to charity – but they may not have shared the why with their family. An ethical will provides the perfect opportunity to share to whom you give and how, but also the why. It can also be a guide for future family giving decisions.
If you are considering writing an ethical will which addresses philanthropy and tzedakah, here are some questions to think about to get you started:
- What valuable life lessons or blessings have I received from my parents or grandparents?
- How can I model generosity for the next generation?
- What are the core Jewish values I want to pass onto my children and grandchildren?
- What charitable gifts am I the proudest of or have given me the most joy?
- What kind of impact do I hope my family will have on their community and on the world – now and in the future?
The ethical will, a beautiful Jewish tradition embodies the essence of L’dor v’dor – transmitting values from generation to generation. In a world where inheritance and legacy are often equated with material items, the tzava’a serves as a reminder that the most meaningful legacy is a life of purpose, passion and generosity.
Mindee Fredman is vice president, foundations and family philanthropy of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland in Beachwood.
