From Generation to Generation: One Family’s Legacy

A few years ago, as Ken Wexler thought about how to best leave his Jewish legacy, he realized there were two partners that could help him make the biggest impact. The first was CJP. The second was his grandson, Jake Bronstein.

So, Ken reached out to Jake, and the two started a conversation with CJP professionals. After several meetings and lots of discussion, they landed on the idea of an endowment fund - and the Kenneth Wexler Family Endowment Fund to Strengthen Jewish Identity was born. "With antisemitism and so much backlash against Israel, I just felt like it was time to make a significant contribution so my family's giving always lives on," says Ken. "And to me, CJP represents Jewish continuity because it supports the institutions that strengthen Jewish identity."

The fund is part of CJP's permanent Endowment; its annual distributions will support CJP's efforts to create deeper connections to Jewish life and community. Both Ken, 81, and Jake, 31, are advisors to the fund. "From my upbringing, I always felt strongly about being Jewish," says Ken. "Whatever I can do to try to keep our Jewish traditions going, I want to do. If that's one of my legacies, I'll be very happy and proud."

A Family Affair

Growing up in Newton in the 1950s, Ken learned about the importance of Jewish identity, heritage, and tikkun olam (repairing the world) from his parents, Elaine and Leo. As an adult in the construction business, he continued to hold those lessons close, always finding time in his busy schedule to give back to CJP and JCC Greater Boston, among other Jewish organizations.

When Ken started a family, it was important to him to pass along his strong Jewish values and his love of Jewish life to his children, Lisa and Lee, and grandchildren, Jake, Andrew, and Shai.

"My earliest Jewish memories include spending holidays at Ken's house," says Jake. "And then for my bar mitzvah, he brought me to Israel for the most important trip of my life. It changed how I viewed myself as a Jewish person and what my responsibility was moving forward. It also gave me and my grandfather this unbelievable core memory we will forever share."

A few years later, Ken and his wife Barbara took their extended family back to Israel. Jake, who was in college at the time, says the second trip helped reignite his love for Jewish community.

After graduating from the University of Maryland in 2016, Jake returned to Boston and reached out to CJP. He joined a leadership cohort for young adults and fondly recalls hosting a crowded but joyful Shabbat dinner for the group in his small Boston condo.

Through CJP, he found Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Boston (JBBBS) and signed on as a volunteer. Six years later, Jake sits on the JBBBS Board of Directors and is still a "big" to his "little" brother, who's now 13.

"Tzedakah (charity) has always been an integral part of our family and our business," says Jake, who works at the Wexler family's Elaine Construction with his mother, Lisa, who serves as company president. "My mom is deeply committed to philanthropy, and, at Elaine, we think about how we can give back to the community.

Last year, we hosted Marc Baker to speak to our employees about how to get involved in the fight against antisemitism. There's a lot going on in the world right now and being involved is our family's way of doing something."

For as long as she can remember, Lisa says, Ken has been an advocate and a champion of the Jewish community. Now, she's proud to see the same legacy continue with her son.

"Being involved with CJP always resonated for my dad and now it resonates for Jake," says Lisa. "If you close your eyes when Jake is talking, you would think it was Ken - but 30 years ago. The bond they have is remarkable."

Inspiring Generations to Come

As they considered the options for their family's fund with CJP, Jake says he and Ken knew they wanted to create something "thoughtful and long-lasting that set the Jewish community up for a strong future."

The CJP team, says Ken, was very helpful, and always kept his passion for supporting CJP partners that work closely with the next generation - both in Boston and in Israel - at the forefront of the discussions. "We had full trust in CJP during the process," says Ken.

"Together, we focused on how to keep kids involved in Jewish life and what we could do to help them strengthen their Jewish identities. I'm proud that the fund could be an extension of my family's beliefs. The Jewish People are an amazing people, and we wanted to do what we could to keep us going."

For Jake, the unique opportunity to work with his grandfather on creating the family's legacy has left him grateful - and inspired for his own Jewish future.

"Our shared connection about what it means to be Jewish is so powerful," he says. "Ken has always shown me how to be a good person. I'm always watching him and trying to remember everything he does so I can do it all for my grandchildren. If I can do half as much as my grandfather has done for the Jewish community, I'll be doing great."