Both of us have a great love for this Temple. When you look at this beautiful building and wonderful staff—we are truly blessed here in Birmingham. Carol grew up here with Rabbi Grafman; while I was raised in a smaller Jewish community in Jackson, Mississippi, where both my father and grandfather served as president of the congregation. We both experienced firsthand how the Temple was an integral part of our lives and was a real blessing. It helped us be proud of being Jewish and taught us to stay involved to ensure that our children and grandchildren would always have a strong faith and a love of Judaism.

We see the Grafman Endowment Fund as a guarantee—or a foundation—for all that comes after us. This wonderfully strong endowment helps to assure us that the blessings of Temple Emanu-El will live on.