Irma Hamburger’s Charitable Legacy in Honor of Her Husband Oscar
Irma Hamburger grew up in Germany and left early in the war to come to the United States. For over 50 years, Irma was a member of Temple Keser Israel, now Congregation Beth El-Keser Israel (BEKI). For Irma, synagogue membership was an important and essential expression of her Jewish identity. She was a proud Jew, observing the dietary laws and lighting Shabbat and Hanukkah candles.
She supported numerous charities. Every year she made a point of contributing to support the needy at each of the Jewish holidays. Her charitable giving in her estate was directed entirely to Jewish and Israeli organizations and, in addition to bequests for Southern Connecticut Hebrew Academy and BEKI, she directed that 1/3 of her estate be distributed to the Jewish Foundation to establish a permanent endowment fund for the benefit of BEKI and Jewish Family Service (JFS). According to BEKI’s rabbi, Rabbi Jon-Jay Tilsen, this was because “she wanted to ensure that her bequest would receive professional management and strict accounting, and to ensure that her tzedakah would support the work of the Congregation and Jewish Family Service in perpetuity”. Irma’s Will directed the fund be named after her and her late husband, Oscar, who passed away on Yom Kippur in 1963.
Through her charitable work both in her name and that of her husband Oscar, Irma and Oscar’s name and legacy will be remembered and will provide for Jews in New Haven both now and in the future.