What’s Your Story?

Our community’s Book of Life was introduced for the first time during the recent Richmond Jewish Foundation and Jewish Community Federation of Richmond joint Annual Meeting. Twenty-two wonderful statements have been written thus far. I’d like to share one of the statements written by Hedy Lapkin. Her statement about her late husband, Eddie, tells a wonderful story about how someone’s passion has been turned into a lasting legacy affecting future generations.

“In 1975 Edward Lapkin fell passionately in love for the second time in his life. He volunteered to house (of course I agreed) two lovely Israeli scouts and he was hooked. In November 1975, we took our first trip to Israel and were in turn graciously hosted by the families of the two scouts we hosted. For the next 25 years Eddie put his heart and soul into planning and executing the most wonderful 3-4 day stay in Richmond for the Israeli Scout Friendship Caravans that came to Richmond every year.

Through his devoted efforts he fostered more lasting relationships between Richmond families and Israeli families than even he imagined would be possible. His commitment to this program created a love and understanding of Israel for Richmond’s Jewish community that is beyond measure. The first few years the Scouts performed at the JCC only a few dozen people attended. Today, this event is viewed by hundreds. The legacy that Eddie created continues to touch the lives of hundreds of Jewish people in Richmond. He also was responsible for Richmond hosting an Israeli Scout at camp Hilbert each summer.

To this day, my children and I have a profound love of Israel and maintain many of the deep relationships with the youngsters that came into our lives so many years ago. Eddie passed away in March of 2002. Later that year I was in Israel with a small group from Richmond. One evening, along with 300 other American Jews, our group was entertained by the Israeli Friendship Caravan. As the tears streamed down my face I knew I had found the way to keep Eddie’s love of Israel and all those wonderful Israeli teenagers in the hearts and minds of our Richmond community. My family established the Eddie Lapkin Israeli Scout Fund at Richmond Jewish Foundation to honor Eddie for all the years of devotion to this program and to support the program in the future.” ~ Hedy Lapkin

Anyone, regardless of age, wealth, or affiliation, who commits to secure the future of Richmond’s Jewish community, either through a current gift to a permanent endowment fund or through a deferred gift to any of the Create a Jewish Legacy partners, Israel, or any charity, will be presented with a page to inscribe with their own thoughts and to tell, in their own words, the meaning behind their gift in their Book of Life page.

The Book of Life page, along with a family photograph, will then be added to those written by others. These pages will be collected and placed in an interactive display at the Weinstein JCC. Together, these stories will tell future generations our story— the story of Richmond’s Jewish community. You can transmit not just your funds, but your family history and legacy to the next generation. These legacy gifts help ensure the future of our Jewish community, guaranteeing that the strong and vibrant agencies, congregations, museums, and schools that our parents and grandparents worked so hard to build will be here for our children, our grandchildren and generations to come.

We’re here to help you tell your story. What will be your legacy?