David Harris
Jane Weitzman: “If You Save One Person, You Save the World”
On April 6, Jane Weitzman drew a large crowd of over 200 women to the Mayerson JCC for an inspiring speech about women and Jewish philanthropy. Jane Weitzman is a philanthropist, author, Founding Vice President of Stuart Weitzman Retail, and wife of top shoe designer Stuart Weitzman.
While the Amberley Room was beautifully decorated, the highlight was a display of six pairs of haute couture shoes courtesy of and curated by Evolution Fashion, including a pair designed by the prestigious, recently deceased architect, Zaha Hadid. The event was sponsored by Women’s Philanthropy of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, and the money the event raised supports its Community Campaign.
Weitzman spoke about her book Art & Sole, and the history of the shoes that adorned Stuart Weitzman’s New York City retail windows at a smaller pre-event reception. She then talked and signed books for people one-on-one for almost an hour before the main event.
Asked the highlight, event committee member Stacey Schimberg said, “I really enjoyed hearing Jane’s stories of extreme giving. She is really someone who takes the bull by the horns and gets things done!”
Through stories about her work traveling as a member of the board of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), Weitzman drew on the Talmud for her main message: “If you save one person, you save the world.” Those in attendance took it to heart. “I feel inspired to help in the Jewish community here and overseas. Jane’s statement that if you help one person you have helped the world really resonated,” said event committee member Ali Bernstein.
Weitzman also insisted on the importance of the giving, no matter how small. She told of hearing a woman who had just stepped down from serving as head of the Carnegie Foundation say, “You can make a real difference for $5 million.” She was incredulous. “I sat there thinking of all the things you can do with just a little bit of money.” This idea also resonated with the audience: her favorite part of the event, said committee member Fran Coleman, was “how much of an impact you can make for someone else when you show you care.”
Weitzman also emphasized how we as women are charged with helping our children give Jewishly. “As only women can,” she said. “It’s wonderful to save whales but you also have to save Jews.”
Having just returned from Ukraine four days previously, Weitzman insisted that we have to stay global as well as local in our philanthropy. With moving anecdotes about displaced Jews in Ukraine, where “Jews currently have it the worst of any country globally,” she advocated for helping Jews worldwide. The situation in Ukraine currently is the first time since World War ll that JDC has helped displaced people. “These people survived pogroms, the Holocaust, communists, and now this. But what’s really incredible is the young people—the kids in Ukraine just cherish their Judaism, it’s so new to them, but they’re so excited.”
Finally Weitzman discussed the philanthropy she and her husband engage in. They created and support a school in Israel, ensuring a third of the students would be Ethiopian children. “These kids’ parents lived in a tent, with a goat. But now some of these kids will go into high tech,” she said. Their next venture is a joint project to create a Weitzman Fellows program in collaboration with Hebrew Union College and JDC.
Asked in the Q&A about why it is important for women to be involved, Weitzman said, “Because we’re the ones who change things!” The crowd responded with the some of the loudest applause of the night.
“Jane loves Cincinnati so much she wants to come back,” said Felicia Zakem, Women’s Philanthropy Development Officer for the Federation. Jane Weitzman had come a day early to be able to visit Cincinnati’s iconic Jewish sites, including the Skirball Museum, Plum Street Temple, and the rare book exhibit at Hebrew Union College.
During the event, Azhand Shokohi, Trish McEvoy Cosmetics, Kendra Scott, and Jane Weitzman herself—who donated a portion of each book sale—donated to the Community Campaign through their products. Kendra Scott continues its support for the Federation’s annual campaign this May: for anything bought at Kendra Scott in Liberty Township, on May 3, 6-8 pm, 20 percent of the purchase price goes to the Jewish Federation’s Community Campaign.
For the entire album of photos of the event, please go to our Facebook page.
Chrissie Blatt is Women’s Philanthropy chair, Renee Levy is vice chair. The event committee members were Ali Bernstein, Chrissie Blatt, Fran Coleman, Jan Armstrong Cobb, Lauren Guttman, Renee Levy, Stacey Schimberg, and Tara Vigran.
Hostesses were: Andrea Baron, Ali Bernstein, Chrissie Blatt, Jan Armstrong Cobb, Ariella Cohen, Fran Coleman, Jamie Dalin, Alyce Ellison, Amy Fisher, Lori Frischer, Linda Greenberg, Lauren Guttman, Lynn Kling, Vanessa Kurtzer, Renee Levy, Bryna Miller, Wendy Pelberg, Amy Pescovitz, Stephanie Rubin, Fabiana Sandow, Stacey Schimberg, Tamar Smith, Tara Vigran, and Gayle Warm.
