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B’NAI B’RITH TODAY
Photo credit: Lloyd Wolf/www.lloydwolf.com
B’nai B’rith Executive Board
member Eric Book (r),
photographed with B’nai
B’rith International member
David Djemal from Panama,
leads the menorah lighting
ceremony during the organization’s
recent Leadership
Forum in Washington.
Eric credits his involvement in the Encino Lodge for much
of his professional success. Here, he learned how to facilitate
meetings, how to run an organization, how to work with
different kinds of people with differing visions and, also, how
to be a benevolent leader.
Just as Eric learned from older B’nai B’rith members when
he became lodge president in his 20s, he continues to pass his
knowledge and his values down to the next generation.
Eric and his wife Julie, who works at a Herman Miller
furniture dealership, The Sheridan Group, doing account
sales and design, have been married for 36 years. They have
one son, Robert, who lives in the Houston area. Robert is an
associate with Arroyo Energy Investment Partners, focusing
on renewable energy. In addition, he is currently in the
B’nai B’rith Connect young leadership network and is very
charitably focused as well.
Eric believes in giving back to the community, participating in
charitable work and passing on charitable values. “The Planned
Giving Department has been so grateful to Eric for helping us to
facilitate a number of well-received professional estate planning
seminars in Southern California over the years,” said Marna
Schoen, director of Planned Giving. Then, about 15 years ago,
Eric decided to name B’nai B’rith International as a beneficiary
in his trust. By making this commitment, Eric became a member
of B’nai B’rith’s esteemed 1843 Society, which acknowledges
individuals who have made a commitment to the organization
through their charitable estate plan.
“I felt it was important that I became an 1843 Society
member if I were asking others to do the same. I believe
the future of B’nai B’rith is in our hands,” Eric said. “We
have to lead by example to support the organization for the
next generation.”
For more information about how to include B’nai B’rith in your will or trust, please contact the Planned Giving
Department at (800) 656-5561 or email plannedgiving@bnaibrith.org.
B’nai B’rith would like to recognize and thank the
Ruby Diamond Foundation for its recent generous contribution.
B’NAI B’RITH 33