Page 2 of 2 <

Synagogue Gets Pleasant Shock From Gift in Memory of Wife

Discussion Policy

Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.

All the while, Saltz carefully watched his stocks, which he said he did "for fun." Mozelle Saltz began leading religious services Sunday nights. And he began editing the synagogue newsletter -- although he never put his name in.

And many people -- even in synagogue leadership -- never knew of the Saltzes; they were simply unassuming.

In December, Mozelle Saltz died of a brain hemorrhage, 38 years after the couple met at the Jewish Community Center in Washington.

And Saltz began trying for the first time to decide what to do with his millions. He is an only child, and the couple had no children.

"I figured, you don't take it with you," he said.

The gift will be added to the synagogue's $10 million endowment for future programs. It is one of only eight gifts of $5 million or more to a U.S. house of worship since 2000 known of by officials at the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, one of the major clearinghouses of research on giving.

The gift will be made in annual donations. It also includes a bequest because much of Saltz's estate is tied up in stock, synagogue officials said. The gift is irrevocable.

Last night, he said he was shocked to learn that the synagogue voted to give him an annual award usually reserved for more prominent people. He is just someone who wanted to honor his wife, he said. "I'm really nothing much."

< 2