Former ‘All In the Family’ Producer Giving Millions To Jewish Causes

The man who can claim some credit for having Sammy Davis Jr. kiss Archie Bunker on television is going to leave most of his fortune to Jewish causes.

Michael “Mickey” Ross, a former producer of and writer for the iconic American sitcoms “All in the Family,” “The Jeffersons” and “Three’s Company,” in recent months has given some $14 million to create Jewish studies programs at UCLA and the City College of New York.
Ross gave $4 million to endow a Yiddish chair at the University of California, Los Angeles, the university announced earlier this month.

In April, he donated $10 million to City College, from where he graduated in 1939, to establish the Michael and Irene Ross Center for Jewish Studies and to

endow a Yiddish chair there.??And the 89-year-old Ross will leave most of the rest of his fortune to other Jewish- and Yiddish-related causes, according to a longtime friend and legal consultant who spoke with JTA but asked not to be identified. Ross has no heirs and his wife, Irene, died several years ago.

His friend said Ross intends to “leave more than 90 percent of his assets to Jewish charities.” He said much of the remaining gifts could go to Yiddish projects.
Ross produced the classic 1972 episode of “All in the Family” in which the lovable racist Archie Bunker, played by Carroll O’Connor, finds the briefcase of the African-American and Jewish entertainer Sammy Davis Jr., who plays himself.
Bunker is excited to have the celebrity in his home, but has trouble keeping his prejudices in check – a fact hammered home by the look on his face as he receives a parting fat one on the cheek from Davis.

Born Isidore Rovinsky, Ross grew up in a Yiddish-speaking home he has said was permeated by “the essence of Yiddishkeit,” according to a news release from City College announcing his gift.

Ross was never particularly religious, the friend said, but “he loves to speak Yiddish.”
According to the friend, Ross is unable to give interviews because of declining health; he has suffered several strokes in recent years. The friend said Ross is still lucid and making his own decisions.
Jacob Berkman, JTA

JTS, Legacy Heritage Fund
To Address Challenges
of Modern Rabbinate
A gift from the Legacy Heritage Fund Limited is enabling the Conservative Movement’s Jewish Theological Seminary to address contemporary problems facing rabbis and their congregations through two new programs.
The Legacy Heritage Rabbinic Enrichment Initiative, a two year program for congregational rabbis, will provide intensive institutes focusing on professional skills development, led by experts in management and leadership development who understand the complexities of the rabbinate. It is intended for congregational rabbis who are in evolving positions of leadership in small or medium pulpits. Fourteen rabbis from across the nation recently completed the first institute.

The rabbis utilize a virtual beis midrash throughout the year and fellows study in havruta groups as well as dialogue with a JTS professor. Further learning is done through video conferencing. The program director is Rabbi Marc Wolf, assistant vice chancellor of JTS.

To strengthen and invigorate underserved congregations, JTS and the Rabbinical Assembly have launched the Legacy Heritage Rabbinic Fellows Program, providing intensive training and support for up to 40 fourth- and fifth-year rabbinic students.
The program provides ongoing individual and group supervision for all participants addressing the particular needs of small-congregation rabbis, and provides mentor rabbis with similar experience. JTS will also collaborate with the RA on placement and orientation. Rabbi William Lebeau, past dean of the Rabbinical School, directs the program.

Guide Lists Innovative
Jewish Non-Profits
The 2008/2009 edition of Slingshot: A Resource Guide to Jewish Innovation, comes out next week and features 50 of the most innovative Jewish nonprofits in North America.
The compilation serves as a guidebook for Jewish funders seeking to diversify their giving portfolios with the most innovative and effective organizations.

This year’s Slingshot offers a glimpse into the trends shaping Jewish philanthropy and community, and includes organizations in the categories of ritual, language and literature, history, domestic, political and social issues and global community.
“Slingshot 08/09 shows us once again that both fledgling programs and established organizations across the U.S. are teeming with Jewish innovation,” said Roger Bennett, co-founder of 21/64 and senior vice president of the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies. “For years, I’ve heard skeptics say that Jewish innovation is a clever way of describing hip programs that are culturally-driven, but lacking in Jewish substance.”

“Not true. The organizations in Slingshot 08/09 show us clearly that Jewish innovation consists of a profound mix of ritual, history, language and culture.”
Among the organizations included this year are Mayyim Hayyim, a community mikveh and education center located in Boston, the Jewish Book Council, which collects and promotes Jewish literature of all genres and styles, and Encounter, an educational organization dedicated to providing Jewish Diaspora leaders from across the religious and political spectrum with exposure to Palestinian life.

“By challenging convention and exploring new ways to bridge the past with the next generation, these nonprofits tell us that our tradition, history, and culture are still central to how we identify ourselves,” said Sharna Goldseker, co-founder and Director of 21/64 and vice president of The Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies.
JDC Training Non-Profits In FSU

The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee’s (JDC) Moscow School for NGO Management and Leadership provides comprehensive academic and applied tools to help students and their organizations succeed.

The school was initiated by JDC in 2005 as the first of its kind in Russia and is a close collaboration between the State University-Higher School of Economics and the JDC, combining decades of experience in management training and leadership development in Russia and across the globe. Programs are tailor-made and the graduates include professionals from diverse organizations who came to enhance their abilities to grow as leaders and serve the public and non-profit sectors. Classes include: Senior Management of NGOs, Public Relations and Fundraising, Management Skills, HR Management, Public Governance, Managing volunteers and more.

Bequests To ORT America Fund
Science Classes In Israel
Charitable bequests from supporters of ORT America are enhancing the study of science in Israeli classrooms through a cutting-edge initiative, Science Journey. The multi-million dollar program brings science and technology education, computer labs, and teacher empowerment centers to students in more than 30 locations throughout Israel. The program works with local authorities, in cooperation with the Israeli Ministry of Education, and reflects ORT’s commitment to the highest level of education and technology for 30,000 Israeli students.

“I am majoring in physics and computer science,” said David Tal, an Israeli student at Kfar Hanoar Hadati, Kfar Hassidim. “Luckily for me, ORT donated the new computer lab to the school this year. There was no way the students at my school could complete the matriculation exams without these computers.”

The ORT allocation doubles the Ministry’s budget and is especially geared to those in low performing schools in border areas of Israel. Without mastery of basic computer and technology training, they will have difficulty finding employment. Through ORT’s Science Journey, students receive the skills and practical knowledge to take their place in today’s society and achieve success.

Westchester Jewish Conference

Westchester’s Jewish Community Relations Organization

Jerusalem Hotel

Dan Panorama Hotel in Jerusalem