A Legacy, Passed from Mother to Daughter

May 1, 2026

For Linda Silberman, legacy isn’t something abstract; it’s something you can hold in your hand.

At a simple lunch, Linda read a short, heartfelt letter to her daughter, Brittany, reached across the table and handed her something small, but deeply symbolic: her Lion of Judah pin. It wasn’t a formal ceremony, but it didn’t need to be. The moment was intimate, emotional, and lasting.

The Lion of Judah pin is an internationally recognized symbol worn to signify a woman who donates $5,400 or more to her local Federation, helping Jews around the world.

For Linda, the decision to pass down her pin felt natural. When she learned about the opportunity through Federation, “I immediately thought of Brittany,” she said. Brittany had recently become a Lion of Judah on her own. Still, there was a quiet uncertainty. “I was really nervous that Brit wouldn’t want my pin… maybe she’d want her own.”

She didn’t.

“I don’t want my own,” Brittany said. “I want my mommy’s pin.”

That exchange reflects something much bigger than a single moment. Neither Linda nor Mark grew up with a philanthropic background. But as their family grew together, they worked with intention to make philanthropy a defining value. Now, Linda passes down her Lion of Judah pin with hopes that it continues its journey to more generations.

Through relationships, community, and Federation, what started small grew into deep leadership and lifelong commitment. “Little by little, we just got so involved,” Linda said. And Federation remains at the center of that giving. “Federation is our biggest gift…it’s the easiest way to give to everybody.”  

In recent years, that commitment has evolved into a shared family experience. The Silbermans began intentionally involving their four adult children in their philanthropy, bringing them into conversations, decision-making, and giving. “It didn’t start easy,” Linda said. “But now there’s complete buy-in.”  

For Brittany, that shift transformed philanthropy from something in the background into something personal. “It’s always been a value in our family,” she said, “but now we’re really understanding it… and seeing the difference that it’s making.”

The Women’s Philanthropy community has played a powerful role in that journey for both of them. For Linda, it’s the sense of connection: “It’s amazing how close all the women are…it’s just a special group.” For Brittany, it’s the sense of purpose and pride. 

“There’s something about a group of like-minded women coming together that’s so powerful,” she said. Becoming a Lion of Judah, especially at a younger stage in life, is something she doesn’t take lightly. “I feel really proud…it’s really special to represent women and philanthropy in the Jewish community.”  

Receiving her mother’s pin deepened that meaning. “I feel blessed and grateful,” Brittany said. “And I want to make them proud.”  

For Arielle Orlansky, Major Gifts Officer, moments like this are exactly what Federation hopes to help create: opportunities for families to connect their values across generations in ways that feel personal and lasting. Whether through a Lion of Judah pin or a shared philanthropic conversation, these moments turn giving into something lived and experienced together. 

Looking ahead, Brittany already sees the bigger picture. “Hopefully one day I can pass it down to my daughter,” she said.  

That’s what makes the moment so powerful. It’s not just about honoring the past, it’s about shaping the future. Through Federation, families can create their own meaningful moments, bringing the next generation into philanthropy in ways that feel authentic, intentional, and enduring.  

Click here to learn more about getting involved with Women’s Philanthropy and becoming a Lion of Judah.