Page 7 - The Jewish Voice - December '19

The Jewish Voice, Page 7

A Legacy of Jewish Leadership from page 6 of Management. In addition to serving as chairman and of Robert M. Beren Academy, a private Modern Orthodox
president of the independent oil and gas producer founded Jewish school in Houston, and has been a volunteer and
co-chair of the University of Pennsylvania’s Hillel national by his father, Adam is a former president of the Mid-Kansas leader for many other Jewish and educational organizations.
Board of Governors and serves as board chair of Foundation Jewish Federation. He serves on the advisory board of Nancy is now heavily involved in restoration efforts of
for Jewish Camp. In the secular community, she has served several venture capital firms in Israel, sponsors social Houston’s principal Orthodox synagogue, which was nearly
as a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania for 13 years entrepreneurs in the northern Galilee region of Israel, and destroyed in Hurricane Harvey. Appointed by the governor,
and is in a term that extends to 2026. Julie, who is married his foundation is a co-sponsor of a fund that makes interest- Nancy was the inaugural chair of the Texas Commission on
to Hollywood producer Marc Platt, has five children and five free loans to small businesses in northern Israel. Recently, Volunteerism and Community Service (AmeriCorps). She
grandchildren. One of her sons, Ben Platt, is known for his Adam was appointed by the president of the United States and her husband, Dr. Larry Jefferson, have three children
Tony Award-winning performance in Dear Evan Hansen. to be a member of the United States Holocaust Memorial and five grandchildren. Their son, Alexander, made aliyah
“Our father and mother instilled Jewish values in us Council. He and his wife Ellen have three children. (moved to Israel) and is studying for his rabbinical degree
organically; they were incredibly effective at making “My parents were always incredible role models for and an advanced degree in philosophy.
Jewish life a part of the DNA of our family,” said Julie involvement. They took us to everything growing up and “Growing up in Wichita in the center of the United
Beren Platt. “As they were responsible for creating Jewish made Jewish community a regular part of our family,” said States, it wasn’t always easy to be Jewish. I remember
community for us, we are in turn responsible for creating Adam Beren. “My sisters, my wife, and I have been proud being one of two Jewish kids in an 800-person senior class.
Jewish community for our children and grandchildren.” to continue what my parents ingrained in us: that what we But that made our family have a stronger understanding
The family’s commitment to creating vibrant Jewish life do today will create a Jewish future for our children and so and connection to the importance of our Judaism,” shared
continues in the center of the United States. many others.” Nancy.
Robert’s son, Adam, resides in his hometown of Wichita. Robert’s oldest daughter, Nancy Beren, lives further
He is a Harvard College graduate, where he was captain of south in Houston. Like her mother and sister Amy, Nancy The Ripple Effect
the tennis team, achieving All-American status. He also has is a graduate of Wellesley College and has a law degree Today, what Robert established decades ago has had
an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School from Georgetown University. She is the former president a powerful ripple effect, not only on his children and his
grandchildren, but the tens of thousands of lives around the
globe positively impacted by the Beren family’s steadfast
volunteerism, leadership, and philanthropy.
“There are few individuals in the world with as large
and profound an impact on the Jewish community as
Robert Beren and his four children,” said Eric Fingerhut,
President & CEO of Jewish Federations of North America,
the umbrella organization representing all Federations
in the U.S. and Canada. “With all four of his children
deeply involved in their respective Jewish communities —
including two who are currently heads of the two largest
2020 SPRING TRAINING Federations — the Beren family continually demonstrates
the core of what a philanthropist can be and accomplish
through unmatched commitment of leadership, vision,
resources, and goodwill.”
Robert’s desire to raise his children with strong Jewish
values continues to serve as his guide as he focuses his
philanthropic work toward enhancing the hope that both
children and adults will have a strong Jewish identity.
“Together with my devotion to the welfare of Israel,
my passion is for creating meaningful Jewish learning
experiences that are merged with secular life and education,”
he said recently. “It’s how you make Jewish values and
heritage most relevant in the world in which we live.”
And, it’s how Beren is undoubtedly leaving an indelible
legacy on the Palm Beaches. In addition to his steadfast
philanthropy as one of the most generous contributors to
Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County, he has provided
visionary philanthropy to several of Federations’ partner
agencies, including the Meyer Jewish Preparatory School
in Palm Beach Gardens. Beren was the largest donor to
Palm Beach Synagogue for its structure on County Road
on Palm Beach Island. The temple’s sanctuary, library, and
educational wing are named in his family’s honor. He serves
on the Board of Governors of Hillel International, where
he focuses his efforts on combatting anti-Israel campaigns
on college campuses. He is also on the board of trustees for
Foundation for Jewish Camp. He continues to be a dedicated
contributor to numerous institutions in Israel, where he first
visited in 1967 and has visited countless times since. Beren
has also made significant gifts to secular institutions, with
particular attention to Harvard.
All in all, it’s evident that Robert has done many things
right: as a business professional, a father, a volunteer, and
a philanthropist.
“Our parents recognized that our Jewish futures were
their responsibilities,” said his daughter Amy. “When some
opportunity arose in our community, they seized it. They set
an incredible example of the values they spoke about. For
me, the Beren family legacy is modeling positive behavior
that encourages the next generation to believe they too can
maintain Jewish values and make a difference.”

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