The Rabbi Joshua ben Gamla Society

The Rabbi Joshua ben Gamla Society honors individuals who give undesignated annual gifts of $10,000 or more. When it became clear that many children were not receiving a Jewish education, Rabbi Joshua ben Gamla, the leader of the Sanhedrin in the first century, took it upon himself to establish a system of public education for Jewish children in ancient Judea, the first of its kind in the world. Joshua ben Gamla virtually saved Torah observance by assuming the responsibility of Torah education for those who could not help themselves.

The Ben Zakkai Society

The Ben Zakkai Society honors individuals who give undesignated annual gifts of $25,000 or more. Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai is known as the "father of wisdom and the father of generations [of scholars]" because he ensured the continuation of Jewish scholarship after Jerusalem fell to Rome in 70 C.E. He was the youngest and most distinguished disciple of Rabbi Hillel. Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai convinced the Romans to spare Yavneh, (which then replaced Jerusalem as the new home of the Sanhedrin) the Jewish Supreme Court, and its Torah sages. The school that ben Zakkai established at Yavneh became the center of Jewish learning for centuries.

The Ner Tamid Society

The Ner Tamid Society honors individuals who give a planned gift of $100,000 or more. The Ner Tamid, eternal light, represents the light of Torah, of Jewish learning and teaching. JESNA is dedicated to ensuring that the light of Torah never dims, that it continues to illuminate our path and guide our deeds across generations. We are deeply thankful for the generosity of devoted individuals and families who have made bequests and other planned gifts to JESNA providing support into perpetuity.

For more information on joining any of our unique societies, please contact Ellen Goldstein at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 212 284-6886 respectively.