Want to create an interactive transcript for this episode?
Podcast: North Star with Ellin Bessner
Episode: A new philanthropic initiative asks wealthy Canadians to donate half their posthumous charitable givings to Jewish causes—but the uptake is slow
Description: For decades, Jewish philanthropy has been sustained by wealthy donors who believed in supporting the community with their dollars. But some of those philanthropists worry their children and grandchildren won't feel the same commitment to supporting Jewish institutions—that's how American businessman Mike Leven felt, and it's the reason he started the Jewish Future Pledge in 2020.
The initiative, inspired by Bill Gates's and Warren Buffett's Giving Pledge, encourages wealthy Jews to commit to giving at least half the money designated for charities in their wills to Jewish causes. Thousands of Americans have signed on, and Leven expects as...