Scot and Karen Rittenbaum

 

Scot and Karen's gifts will benefit Charleston Jewish Federation and Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim - Coming Street Cemetery.

In 2019, Karen and Scot relocated to Charleston to begin a new chapter in their lives following the passing of their oldest daughter, Leann.  Scot, recently retired Executive Director of the Georgia Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, was ready to pursue his passion for art as a full-time painter.  Karen, working as Senior Regional Director of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, was able to relocate and maintain her position.  Charleston beckoned – the draw being their daughter, Emma, and her family including two granddaughters. They found Charleston and the Lowcountry a peaceful environment and a place of healing.

 

Jewish values inform much of Karen and Scot’s behavior.  Shortly after arriving, Scot connected with Charleston Jewish Federation (CJF) and was heartened and grateful for their warm welcome and embrace into the Jewish community. As Scot put it, “It’s never too late to find connections, and CJF is a gateway to those connections.”  Scot and Karen recently joined KKBE and are looking forward to being part of their proud tradition.  Scot has joined the Board of Directors of CJF and is putting his extensive foundation experience to great use as Chairperson of the CJF 2022 Annual Community Campaign.

 

For Scot and Karen, Tikkun Olam – repair the world—applies to both the Jewish world and the larger community. Tzedakah has been an important part of Karen and Scot’s lives from their religious school days to the examples set by their parents and is reflected in their own actions today.

 

The Holocaust is also present in Scot and Karen’s consciousness and has profoundly affected them. They said, “It’s not enough to simply say ‘never again’--we need to be active participants in Holocaust Remembrance, education and other programs.”

 

Karen and Scot have been in Charleston but a short while; yet they have elected to make their Life and Legacy pledges with designation to Charleston Jewish Federation and KKBE - Coming Street Cemetery.  For them, the Life and Legacy program is a way to honor their heritage and help provide an everlasting foundation for Jews and Judaism.  It speaks to hope and the future.