Kehillah Fund
Kehillah Fund is proud to announce the inauguration of the Dr. Yosef Walder Legacy Achdus Fund, created in honor of co-founder Dr. Yosef Walder z”l. This newly established fund, which aims to close the critical gap in tuition payments for families in Chicagoland’s Orthodox Jewish community, brings a ray of hope and optimism, continuing Dr. Walder’s vision of unity and shared responsibility in Jewish education.
For 20 years, Kehillah Fund has played a pivotal role in supporting Chicago’s Orthodox schools, ensuring that every Jewish child has access to quality education. However, with the recent loss of the STC program in Illinois, many families have found it increasingly difficult to meet their minimum tuition payments. The creation of this Fund seeks to address this issue, offering crucial financial relief to families in need.
Dr. Walder’s widow, Mrs. Elizabeth (Shira Malka) Walder, has pledged to match every donation dollar-for-dollar, doubling the impact of each contribution until the fund reaches its goal of $3.6 million. The fund is nearly at the match, with the unwavering support and pledges from the community assuring that it will be reached any day now.
The Fund will provide up to $2,250 per qualifying student. This initiative, expected to help more than 600 Jewish families in Chicago, provides immediate relief while also securing the long-term sustainability of the schools, giving the community a sense of reassurance and confidence in the future.
As Kehillah Fund Executive Director, Max Dayan, remarked, “This is a game-changer for so many people in the community. I am so inspired by the culture of philanthropy in Chicago and seeing people really step up to meet the moment.”
This initiative honors the lasting legacy of Dr. Walder, a dedicated community leader whose vision was rooted in the belief that communal responsibility is the key to a thriving and unified Jewish education system. His commitment to bridging gaps and fostering unity lives on through this impactful new fund.
It also aligns seamlessly with the Walder Foundation’s Jewish Life initiatives, which promote Jewish education, communal unity, and sustainability in Jewish communities. The foundation is committed to ensuring that Jewish life thrives through education and strong communal support through shared responsibility.