By COLlive reporter
Marilyn Kaplan was sitting in the women’s section of her synagogue, at Chabad of Boca Raton, Florida, watching Shliach Rabbi Moishe Denburg calling out the aliyas to the Torah, when an idea crossed her mind.
As it happened, the Aliyas were being sold and congregants were eager to bid for them – but only the men.
“Not one woman was volunteering any donations in increments of $18 and up,” she recalls to COLlive.com.
Kaplan thought to herself, “it would be great if I could come up with a way to include women in the philanthropic efforts for the Shul.”
So she set to work, coming up with a plan for an exclusive women’s fellowship, with members committing to yearly donations for life.
At a fundraising meeting for Chabad of Boca at its location on Military Trail, Kaplan approached Rabbi Denburg with her idea, and the 770 Society was born.
Modeled after women’s societies of other major Jewish philanthropic organizations, the centerpiece of the club is a pure gold pin which is awarded to donors.
The pin, custom-designed by a Florida jewelry designer, is a replica of 770 Eastern Parkway, Lubavitch World Headquarters in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, NY.
Donations begin at $1,000 annually and go up to $5,000 annually. Diamonds and gemstones may be added in subsequent years.
“Our society is for those who want to commit to giving for life,” Kaplan points out. “This is not for the faint of heart.”
Kaplan says the project took off right away, with the society boasting 11 members signing up in its first year, each receiving a pin they wear proudly.
“I was in Bloomingdale’s the other day, wearing my pin, and the cashier asked, ‘What is that pin? I just saw someone else wearing the same one a few minutes ago.'”
Now Kaplan wants to take the idea global, offering it to Chabad Houses. Branches are already founded in other locations such as the Hamptons in New York.
Kaplan will be speaking at the Chabad on Campus annual conference this week to explain to Shluchim how they can set up a 770 Society in their community.
For more information, visit the 770 Society website.
Marilyn, you are an amazing women,since the day we met you we had seen someone who is always looking to help others. We will now do our best to help raise the funds for the playground for Torah Tots. The 770 society was and is an amazing idea that you created. We are proud to be yours and Edwards friend.
Sure G-d created man before woman. But then you always make a rough draft before the final masterpiece. Marilyn you are a true masterpiece.
You are always thinking about how to help others, before yourself, and this is what we have known about you all our lives! Your passion for “The 770 Society” is just another expression of your unbounding kindness(and “brilliant idea”) to help Chabads’ all over the world! Our family wishes you all the best in your endeavor, and knowing you, “The 770 Society” will catch on like wildfire! My wife wears her 770 pin proudly as well as myself!
Marilyn, you have taken a small idea and turned it into something that will grow with Chabad, I am very proud when I wear my pin. Keep up the great work and I know that Hashem will be there with you.
Helen Kramer
Marilyn:
Onward and Upward !!!
Stu and Myrna
עבודה נהדרת! אתה עושה לנו כל כך גאה להיות יהודי
Kudos to brilliant and beautiful (inside and out) Marilyn!
Carol & Fred
It is a wonderful mitzvah! You have selflessly donated so much of your time to this program. You are an amazing, beautiful person! We love you!
Suzanne, Jon, Marlee and Drew
A great idea goes a long way! The recognition is well deserved.
Joe L.
Grandma I am very proud of the program you started and I am glad it has takne off. kepp up the good work!
Jesse
Marilyn – You make all Jewish women proud by seeing something you don’t like and taking the initiative to do something about it. We’re all very proud of your dedication and hard work to make this project a success. Barbara & David
congratulations on a job well done, The Padovers
you look fantastic!
what a mitzvah you are doing. can’t wait to see you. xoxox
great job. love you the tepper family
Rabbi Moshe Denburg really is the greatest rabbi a community could ever want!!!!
wore my 770 pin playing golf today and shot a 77. Am I really that good or was it the pin?? Can’t wait till the next round.
Marilyn, you make us proud here at Chabad of Boca Raton. thank you.
This is amazing! I was in East Hampton and saw some proud memebers of the 770 society. What a great way to support and get others to support the important work Chabad and the Baumgartens do.
Great idea!!! I’ll suggest it!!
to # 19
Funny???? And by the way….. better work on your spelling and punktuation!! WHOS TALKING ABOUT FUNNY NOW!!?
We have several proud 770 society members in East Hampton, they wear their pins with pride. It is beautiful and Marilyn is the most dedicated person to this project, solely to benefit Chabad of wherever, no personal gains!
May you go michoyil el choyil!
Great idea. Very similar to the UJA’s Lion of Judah concept.
Marilyn Kaplan should be lauded. I hear she donates the pieces and time as she doesnt make any money or profit from it. Incredible!
A beautiful and selfless idea from a woman with a beautiful heart. I hope the program does as much good as you have been dreaming it will!
Love always,
Jax
Seems to me the annual donation needs to be a minimum of $1000, not $120.
I wish I could afford it! Such a beautiful pin. One day….
I love it Marilyn!
Regards from Rochel (we met in DC!)
dont ge any funy ideas
“You get the best out of others when you give the best of yourself “ and you have truly done that. What a great way to support the work of Chabad. I am so proud of you. I wear my men’s 770 pin with pride.
Marilyn Kaplan
Your Idea is beyond great, giving woman a chance to be part of this will give woman a great sence of inner strenth something just for them, it sounds like it will spread like wild fire. you have my blessing.
A Yasher Koach, Marilyn. A great idea. I wear my gold pin with great pride.
Hensha Gansbourg
love it love it count me in I would like to donate $5000.00
Phil Hendrie East Apple Grove and my cousin Art Bell.
what a beautiful mitzva. Shows where your “random” thoughts are.
great going
i love this idea, please count me in rabbi denburg!
i would like to donate 1000 dollars for the first year. We’ll see already what will be after that.
David Rothstein, North Orange
Way to go Marilyn, we’re so proud of your innovative idea! Chabad houses around the globe should go with this idea. it would connect so many women and be great PR for Chabad.
come tishrie/yomim tovim, there was a card on every seat that was bought. had your name printed on it. on the bottom of the card where holes punched out. each hole had $18, $36….etc. one hole had removable disc that you could place on whatever amount you chose to donate.
you left it on your seat. and they were collected, and these pledges where collected after yom tov.
great way to donate on yomtov.
i guess today, one could even use velcro or the such.
Marilyn, thank you for starting something that is definitely going to take off in other places. I’d like to remind everyone that a $10.00 per month commitment is $120 per year. So, this is a great and doable idea. Yashar Koach.
they should make yechi ones!
women deserve aliyas too
What a beautiful pin. It should go worldwide
Pony up the cash and it’s yours!
I want one!!!
It is a badge of honor which tells the world that you love Chabad and the Rebbe
cool
I hope it works
another gimick