Why We Give: Rachel and Jonathan Gurwitz

In many ways, Rachel and Jonathan represent the diverse nature of the Jewish community of San Antonio.  Her family arrived in San Antonio when she was in middle school.  His family has been here for four generations.  She attended Rodfei Shalom.  He attended Temple Beth-El.

They met in BBYO, and this year celebrate the 30th anniversary of what they humorously refer to as their “mixed marriage,” at which both Rabbi Aryeh Scheinberg and Rabbi Samuel Stahl officiated. Yet while they followed different paths, together they have been committed to service and leadership in synagogue, in Jewish communal life and in our community at large.

“San Antonio will add 1 million new residents over the next two decades,” Jonathan says. “Many of them will be Jews. We want to ensure there is a vibrant Jewish community that embraces them as it has us, one that enriches the lives of our children and grandchildren, and those of the people who will move here.  I consider it to be the most important accomplishment of my term as board chair of the Jewish Federation to have helped launch the LIFE & LEGACY™ initiative in San Antonio, allowing everyone to enlarge the tents and strengthen the stakes of all our communal organizations.”

You can help ensure Jewish tomorrows for San Antonio Jewish organizations. Contact Beth Keough, Director of LIFE & LEGACY, at either keoughb@jfsatx.org or (210) 302-6813 to learn how you can leave your legacy.