Community member Barbara Alpert and her daughter Sandy Nachlis are both Lions of Judah. Lions of Judah are some of the most philanthropic Jewish women in the world, each committing to donating at least $5,000 to a Jewish Federation annually. 
Alpert’s relationship to philanthropy dates back to her time in school, when she received a scholarship from a Jewish women’s group. She was touched to receive a gift from Jewish women like herself. 
Later, when she married her husband and moved to Indianapolis, she was exposed to her in-laws’ philanthropy and dedication to the Jewish community. 
“I saw what philanthropy could do, and from there philanthropy became a part of our lives,” she said. 
Alpert said her Jewish roots are deep. On the topic of why she chooses to pass on the value of tzedakah, charity, she said: l’dor v’dor, from generation to generation. 
“I don’t think you teach philanthropy,” Alpert said. “You show it. If you set the example, and you talk about the right values, then I think hopefully it will continue for generations.”
In her daughters, Alpert said she sees that she and her husband have accomplished one of their major goals in life: to raise giving children. 
She said her daughter (Nachlis) is very involved with the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis. 
Nachlis said she was led by example. She grew up watching her parents and grandparents give their time and money to the Jewish community, serving in leadership positions at JFGI and at Congregation Beth-El Zedeck, their synagogue. 
“I’ve had very good role models,” Nachlis said. “I follow their lead in being generous financially and with my time with the organizations in our Jewish community that are meaningful and significant to me personally.”
Both women give to the Federation because it is the umbrella organization of Jewish Indianapolis. They also give directly to the partner agencies that are important to them. For example, Alpert donates to the Jewish Community Relations Council and Nachlis gives to Hasten Hebrew Academy of Indianapolis. 
“This is a tradition of philanthropy that goes back four generations,” Alpert said. “So we have a big legacy, a big history in the local Jewish community. Our work and our time at JFGI is an extension of that.”
Alpert said she admires that JFGI continues to reinvent itself to meet the needs of the community. 
“Between luncheons for seniors and outreach opportunities for high school students, Jewish community members should be proud of the job that JFGI does,” she said. “We feel very fortunate that the Jewish community here in Indianapolis has been so good to us. This is an exemplary community.”