The Maurice and Vivienne Wohl Society

$18 million+ in cumulative giving since 2015

Named for renowned British philanthropists Maurice and Vivienne Wohl, JDC’s premier recognition society recognizes individuals, families, foundations, and Jewish Federations in North America who have placed their faith in the JDC’s stewardship of their philanthropy and its capacity to effect enduring change.

Maurice and Vivienne Wohl were devoted to the welfare of humanity and the wellbeing of the Jewish people. They recognized their own philanthropic aspirations in JDC’s ceaseless and strategic efforts around the globe, The Wohls’ confidence in JDC led them to make the largest gift in the organization’s history.

JDC honors members of The Maurice and Vivienne Wohl Society in The Wohl Society Garden and Wall at JDC’s Jerusalem campus and presents them with JDC’s Global Jewish Leader Tzedakah Box, representing the transformative power of tzedakah (charity), and the timeless value of arevut Jewish mutual responsibility.

"I DID NOT HAVE TO ASK FOR THEIR HELP… THEY FELT THAT WHAT JDC WAS DOING WAS IMPORTANT FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE EVERYWHERE."

– Ralph I. Goldman, z”l

The Laura Margolis Society

$10 million+ in cumulative lifetime giving

JDC’s Margolis Society is named for Laura Margolis, JDC’s first female Country Director and fearless guardian of the Jewish people, whose illustrious career spanned three continents and four decades, touching tens of thousands of lives. The Laura Margolis Society recognizes individuals, families, and foundations who demonstrate the same tenacity and generosity of spirit that characterized this remarkable woman.

Joining JDC’s World War II relief efforts in 1939, Laura Margolis traveled the world, creating critical support systems in Havana, Lisbon, Barcelona, Brussels, Stockholm, and Paris, where she was ultimately appointed JDC’s Country Director of France in 1946. Laura Margolis’s courage left an indelible mark on the Jewish world – especially as the guardian angel of European Jews who found refuge in Shanghai during the Holocaust – and her selfless service reverberates to this day.

JDC honors members of The Laura Margolis Society with an inscription on The Laura Margolis & Jacob H. Schiff Societies Wall in Jerusalem, and presents them with JDC’s Rescue and Relief Setting, a commemorative replica of the serving bowl and tray with which Margolis helped sustain the more than 20,000 Jewish refugees in Shanghai in 1942.

"I WAS ALWAYS REACTING TO CHALLENGES TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, SOMETHING NEW."

– Laura Margolis

The Jacob H. Schiff Society

$1 million+ in cumulative lifetime giving, with special distinction at $3 million+ in cumulative lifetime giving

The Jacob H. Schiff Society is named for JDC’s founding benefactor, whose philanthropy and commitment to the welfare of the Jewish people paved the way for the formation of JDC. The Jacob H. Schiff Society honors the exemplary generosity of individuals, families, and foundations.

In August 1914, when Schiff received Ambassador Henry Morgenthau’s storied cablegram requesting support for starving Jews in Ottoman Palestine at the outset of World War I, he responded the very same day, pledging his support of $50,000, the equivalent of $1 million in today’s currency. With characteristic vision and determination, Schiff united diverse streams of the American Jewish community to continue to fund this relief effort, and the Joint Distribution Committee was born. The sense of shared Jewish responsibility that Schiff’s actions embodied continues to define JDC today.

JDC honors members of The Jacob H. Schiff Society with an inscription on The Laura Margolis & Jacob H. Schiff Societies Wall in Jerusalem and presents them with Schiff’s Promise bearing Schiff’s historic message of communal responsibility.

"HAVE CALLED A PROMPT MEETING… COMMITTEE WILL NO DOUBT UNDERTAKE THIS SHOULD THIS NOT BE POSSIBLE, I SHALL DO IT PERSONALLY"

– Jacob H. Schiff

The Felix M. Warburg Society

$250,000+ in 5 years or fewer

The Felix M. Warburg Society was established in the tradition of JDC’s first president, Felix M. Warburg, a great humanitarian and legendary philanthropist with a passionate concern for helping those in need. The Felix M. Warburg Society recognizes the commitment of individuals, families, and foundations.

Under his leadership from 1914-1932, JDC dispensed more than $100 million for programs to aid vulnerable and impoverished Jews in 46 locations around the world. President Herbert Hoover called it “one of the world’s outstanding pieces of human engineering.” Warburg epitomized the dedication and commitment that characterize the members of his namesake society today. JDC and Felix Warburg have always demonstrated the values of arevut and tzedakah: taking responsibility for aiding the world’s most vulnerable Jews, in crisis and in calm.

JDC honors members of The Felix M. Warburg Society with a limited-edition replica of the JDC Seder Plate, a symbol of the eternal strength of the Jewish people and our commitment to one another.

"I consider myself a servant of the Jewish people and my duty is to help carry out those measures which are wanted by them."

– Felix M. Warburg

JDC RECOGNITION SOCIETIES WALL

THE LAURA MARGOLIS & JACOB H. SCHIFF SOCIETIES WALL was completed at JDC Jerusalem Headquarters in 2024 to honor the members of its self-named societies. These individuals, families, foundations, and trusts have demonstrated a selfless pursuit of justice through their exemplary support of our sacred mission. JDC is profoundly grateful for the passionate dedication and incredible generosity of the members of The Laura Margolis Society and The Jacob H. Schiff Society. This display will be updated annually to reflect the ongoing commitment of JDC supporters.

For more information about JDC Recognition Societies, please contact: Ruth Penan or call (646) 871-3255