Reflections from some of the first Indianapolis women to became Lions of Judah speaking about a Philanthropic Sisterhood

The Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis Lion of Judah Women’s Philanthropy program’s founding members talk about their experience over the program’s 39 years in the Indianapolis community and their reason behind the pin.

Jill
Jill Rose, who was actively involved in the Women’s Campaign and was Chair in 1981, remembers a meeting at her home, prior to the September 1983 Campaign event at Diane Meyer Simon’s home. Women in campaign leadership discussed whether the Lion concept was a good idea to introduce in Indianapolis. Specifically, Rose remembers Alice Berkowitz, Audrey Larman and Harriet Wolf, among a few others at that meeting. Berkowitz and Larman in particular were proponents of the idea, having been to Regional and National meetings where they were introduced to the Lion concept when it was created in Miami in 1972.

“Typically, women would make smaller gifts and a benefit of the Lion program was that it gave women, for the first time, the opportunity for recognition, with a significant gift in their own name,” Rose said. 

Rose also talked about why Jewish Philanthropy was and is important to her. She said while being Jewish shaped her life, it became an integral part of her identity when she married Irwin Rose. His strong pride in being Jewish strengthened hers and their marriage embraced Judaism and Jewish Philanthropy as cornerstones of their family life.

Nancy about Mother, Alice
Nancy Bate says her mother, Alice Berkowitz, who was one of the founding leaders of the program, was excited about this new women’s philanthropy program because she thought it was very important that a woman give her money in her own name. It was part of a woman’s own identity and autonomy to give her own gift. 

At the age of 20, Berkowitz first gave $100, which was a large gift at that time, to the Jewish Federation in 1949 to support the formation of the State of Israel. When the Lion of Judah program started, she gave at the $5,000 level because she wanted to set an example. She cared about the Jewish people and Israel. Alice was an Annual Campaign Chair in 1993.

Berkowitz passed her pin to Bate’s daughter, Elizabeth Bate Brown, who is active in the Baltimore, MD Jewish community. Bate is a Lion of Judah member and says it’s because her mom was and because she believes in Jewish continuity and perpetuation of the State of Israel.

“I take a lot of pride in what she did and want to continue her legacy in giving myself,” Bate said. “Both of my children have strong Jewish identities because of my parents. It was important to raise a Jewish family and continue a legacy.”  

Natalie 
Natalie Kroot has been a Federation women’s philanthropist for more than 40 years. When the Women’s Division started, it was just a natural thing for her to be a part of its work. Kroot, a former Women’s Division Campaign Chair in 1985, said the Lion of Judah program was and is still a big deal. Back then, it was a group of 30-40 women coming together at different homes to raise money for work they considered vital to Jewish continuity.

For Kroot, Jewish philanthropy was always important, and even more so when she married Marty Kroot.

“Federation is the arm for everything Jewish in the community,” she said. “My donations went right back into the community that would impact my family and future generations.”

Sandra
Sandra Rothbaum considers herself a feminist and for that reason, felt it was important to be a part of the Lion of Judah program. In 1991, she chaired the Women’s Division, and even started Women’s Day – a day dedicated to recognizing the contributions of women to charitable Jewish endeavors. 

Sandra got involved with the Federation after marrying Donald Rothbaum, whose family was very involved in the Federation. Her connection started with Young Leadership, and she became a Lion because it was a way to tap women and make them more important as Federation philanthropists. 

“Lion was a pathway to the involvement of women in Federation in a major way,” she said. 

Rothbaum was also part of creating one of the first Lion of Judah Endowment funds, which was a later program that focused on perpetuating gifts for the future. She says it is important to her that her children and grandchildren feel a communal Jewish spirit.

Bebe
Bebe Weinstein was the professional working with the Women’s Division when the Lion program was brought to Indianapolis and introduced to members of the Women’s Division in the fall of 1983. This recognized level of giving was widely welcomed by many women and most purchased the gold pin in the shape of a Lion, which identified a woman as a member of this exclusive giving society. This beautiful piece of jewelry was, and continues to be worn by women at Federation functions.

Weinstein herself grew up in a family in which giving and supporting Jews around the world was modeled by her parents. Her parents gave of their financial resources to Jewish causes in particular, and she knew from a young age this was something that was important to do.

As an adult, and when she married Bill Weinstein, they were of like mind when it came to philanthropy. No matter her ability to give, Weinstein always donated to the Jewish Federation, including its special campaigns, and traveled to Israel both as a professional and a volunteer, many times. Jewish philanthropy has always played a significant and meaningful role in her life.