Inspired by their parents and grandparents, Memphis teens Sydney and Jack Shanker donated more than a year’s worth of contributions to their tzedakah boxes to Memphis Jewish Federation’s Ukraine Emergency Fund, held by the Jewish Foundation of Memphis.
Last week, a local family’s tzedakah tradition led to a surprise visit from two generous students bringing a baggie of dog-eared dollar bills to Jewish Community Partners’ offices, a generous donation to Memphis Jewish Federation’s Ukraine Emergency Fund, held by the Jewish Foundation of Memphis.
When Sydney (16) and Jack (13) Shanker were asked what inspired them to donate to a cause happening half a world away from them, they were quick with their answer: family. Their grandmother, Andie Uiberall, who had driven them, beamed and nodded in agreement.
“For the past few years, my family usually has Shabbat dinner with our grandparents. They started giving me, my brother Jack, and our cousin Harper dollars every Shabbos to put into tzedakah boxes they gave to us as gifts,” said Sydney. “At the end of every year, we donate the money to a cause, and the tzedakah boxes start filling up again.”
Andie Uiberall and her husband Michael share a history of activism and charity in Jewish Memphis. Their philanthropy supports Jewish organizations in the community, and they have deep connections to giving through Federation’s Annual Community Campaign and through their Jewish Foundation of Memphis Donor Advised Fund. Their daughter Jill Shanker and her husband Scott followed their lead, committing similarly to giving through Federation and Foundation, and now this tradition is taking root in the next generation. The family also lends their time and talents; Andie and Jill are both members of Federation’s Board of Directors, where they have learned first-hand about the impact made in Ukrainian Jewish communities through Federation, even before the Russian invasion.
While the current emergency support is coming at a crucial time to meet needs arising in the wake of war, the structure is built on decades of effort in Ukraine through Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)’s global partners. The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), The Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), World ORT, and others have long had a presence in Eastern Europe, working with vulnerable seniors, offering engaging programs for young people, and breathing new life into Jewish communities that all but faded away after the Holocaust.
Quickly after war broke out in Ukraine, JFNA launched the $36 million emergency campaign to provide humanitarian assistance to vulnerable Jewish populations, designed to empower these same partner organizations to pivot and expand their efforts as needs shifted and grew. Answering the call, Jewish Memphians from all corners of the community have stepped up to contribute, and at the time of this writing have contributed over $430,000.
100% of funds collected are being put to swift and targeted use, supporting urgent necessities like community security, shelter for the displaced, emergency needs in Jewish schools, and aliyah-related assistance.
“We usually donate our tzedakah at the end of the year, but we hadn’t yet this year,” said Jack. “I’m glad, because (the Ukraine crisis) ended up being a greater cause than what we were going to donate to originally.”
“When we got back from spring break, Jack and I agreed that it was time to donate and the situation in Ukraine was the most pressing need. I know that if I was in their place, I would hope people would help me,” said Sydney. “It felt right to help, and we decided to donate to Ukraine through Federation. But really it was all because of our grandparents.”
Clearly proud of her grandchildren, Andie thinks the family connection to their story of tzedakah in the face of this tragedy is broader than that, with more recent generational connections, as well as echoes from more distant ancestors.
“Their great-great-grandfather escaped from a little town outside of Kiev, to avoid being conscripted in the Russian army back in the early 1900s,” said Andie. “He was 17 and walked, literally, across to Poland and managed to get to the United States. One by one he brought his brothers and sisters over.”
“Sydney and Jack’s parents, my daughter Jill Shanker and her husband, Scott, both set extremely good examples, and I’m sure Sydney and Jack will go on to make good examples for their own children one day,” said Andie.
Emergency funds are desperately needed. Visit jcpmemphis.org to learn how to contribute.