Mount Sinai Donates $2 Million

Inspired by the gift from the Tenenblatts, Mount Sinai Memorial Parks and Mortuaries (MSMP) announced they would contribute $2 million to Sinai Akiba’s growing endowment. According to Eric J. Diamond, Chairman of Sinai Temple’s Cemetery Management Committee, “The members of the Committee recognize the paramount importance of educating Jewish children. This commitment continues a long tradition of major gift support for major projects at Sinai Temple and Sinai Akiba. According to Diamond, Mount Sinai is honored to participate, alongside Anna and Bill Tenenblatt, to make an investment in our School’s future. 

Over the years, Mount Sinai Memorial Parks and Mortuaries has created measurable change throughout our community. This gift follows in MSMP’s rich history of giving, which includes a $1 million gift to the construction of the new school building in 2007 and a $1 million commitment to the renovation of the old school building in the early 2000s. MSMP also provides ongoing annual financial support to Sinai Temple. “We are proud to continue to partner with MSMP and are thrilled by this tremendous gift to our endowment. It’s a wonderful investment and helps to ensure that Sinai Akiba Academy will remain a strong Jewish school for generations to come,” said Rebecca Kekst, Sinai Akiba's Board Chair.

“The strength of Sinai Temple is the ability of all aspects of the community to support one another. This gift is merely the most recent expression of the longstanding commitment by the members of the Cemetery Management Committee,” shared Diamond, who is a past President of Sinai Temple (2011-2013). 

When asked what motivated MSMP to make this gift, said Eric J. Diamond, past President of Sinai Temple (2011-2013)and Chairman of Sinai Temple’s Cemetery Management Committee, “We firmly believe that every Jewish organization has a responsibility to provide a bright future for our children. Our Jewish future runs through our schools, and Sinai Akiba is truly a leader in the field.” Diamond’s sons are fourth-generation Temple members, a family tradition that started back in 1948 when the grandparents of Deborah, Diamond’s wife, became members of Sinai Temple. 

“The Sinai mortuaries were created as a service to the community and support to our congregation. This magnificent gift to our School is in the best tradition of the Sinai family of Temple, School, and cemetery caring for our people at every stage of life,” said Rabbi Wolpe.