Ben-Gurion Society


Mission

The Ben-Gurion Society (BGS) is an outlet for young philanthropists in the community to express their philanthropic generosity, volunteer for community efforts, receive education on Jewish communal issues, and enhance their leadership skills and knowledge on issues that concern all of us. The goal of BGS is to bring people together to make a difference building a brighter Jewish future.

 

Member Benefits

The Ben-Gurion Society is a giving society for donors between the ages 31-45 who make a household gift of $1,000 or more to the Jewish Federation of St. Louis’ Annual Campaign, or donors under the age of 30 and under who make a household gift of $500 or more to the Annual Campaign.

Being a BGS member gives you access to special, members-only opportunities where you can network with other young philanthropists and engage with top business and philanthropic leaders in our local and national community.

  • Name recognition in our Annual Donor Roll
  • An invitation to special donor appreciation events
  • An invitation to Professional Society events
  • Engage, locally, and nationally, with top business and philanthropic leaders
  • Leadership opportunities

 

Society Objectives

Community
  • Develop a sense of camaraderie among local young Jewish philanthropic leaders within the context of the organized Jewish community.
  • Provide a mechanism for welcoming new young Jewish professionals into the community to serve as a forum for issues from a Jewish perspective and as a resource for the Jewish and general communities.
Philanthropy
  • Support the activities of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis and contribute financial resources to assist in maximizing gifts from Jewish men and women younger than the age of 45, preserving and enhancing Jewish life in St. Louis.
Leadership
  • Strengthen our commitment to Jewish values and traditions through educational and cultural programs and activities.
  • Foster the development of leadership roles for Jewish professionals within the organized Jewish community.

 

More Information

For more information, please contact Alec Rothman, YPD Development Officer, at arothman@jfedstl.org.

 

Ben-Gurion Society Members as of June 2025

2025 Co-Chairs: Ashley & Matthew Specter

Rabbi Noah & Tammy Arnow
Daniel Axelbaum
Andrew & Diana Babitz
Sarah & Steve Bauer
Mike & Dr. Sherri Besmer
Em & Amy Bornstein
Joel & Rachael Brightfield
Anna & Matt Bukhshtaber
Joshua & Laura Chaise
Ben & Meredith Cherry
Todd & Lauren Cohen
Marni & Jeremy Deutsch
Tom Eidelman & Dr. Sarah
Mermelstein
JJ & Angela Flotken
Dylan Fotiadis & Chris Willmeth
Larry Gast & Rachel Holtzman
Staci & Joseph Gerchen
Jeff Glogower & Dr. Dalia
Oppenheimer
Dr. Etai & Caroline Goldenberg
Abby & Michael Goldstein
Max & Sabrina Gornish
Joel Gotkin & Laura Gotkin
Dr. Aaron Gould & Dr. Julia
Kofkoff Gould
Hannah Green
Bradley Gross & Sarah Kovenock
Alexander & Sarah Haimann
Ryan & Lori Holtzman
Drs Scott & Courtney Kaar
Morgan & Ryan Karasick
Jonathan Katz
Carly & Elliott Kleiman
Steven Kofkoff & Margaret Daniels
Jonathan & Lauren Kootman
Justin Krachmalnick
Benjamin & Isabella Kraus
Rabbi Chaim & Bassy Landa
Chrissy & Michael Laycob
David Lazaroff and Gayle
Gutter-Lazaroff
Daniel & Sari Levy
Eliot Markman
Adam & Lory Cooper Naylor
Rabbi Hershey & Chana Novack
Michael Novack
Matt & Julie Perlberg
John Price
Dafna Revah & David Palatnik
Jose & Lauren Rodriguez-Goldstein
Adam Rosenberg & Erica Rosenberg
Wendy Rosenblum & Jeremy Lieb
William & WeiWei Rubenstein
Andrew Sabin & MaryAnne
Smyly Sabin
Bryan & Rachel Sanger
Emilie Schaffer
Will Scharf
Danny & Jennifer Growe Soshnik
Jeff & Carly Sparks
Matthew & Ashley Specter
Amanda & Matt Towerman
Stacy Wagerman
Ben Weiss & Dr. Britta Han
Alexander & Joanna Wolff
Dr. Alan Zajarias & Heather Abramson
Dr. Jonathan & Stephanie Zoller
Dr. Scott & Julie Zuick
Alexander Zvibleman & Lexi Newman
Anonymous – 8

 

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