Home > Blog > WHC > Giving with Heart, Guided by Values
When Neil and Emily Kishter talk about giving, it isn’t with fanfare or flourish. It’s with gratitude for what they can do, and for the values that guide them.
Neil said simply, “We are blessed that we can give. I like the idea of helping people while we’re alive — to see what all of this hard work and donations can do to help people in the Baltimore–Washington area.”
That deep sense of responsibility, grounded in Jewish values, is evident in every part of their lives — from their longtime connection to Washington Hebrew Congregation to their extraordinary support for medical institutions and community programs across the country.
Neil joined Washington Hebrew more than 25 years ago with his late wife, Dana, and is grateful for the clergy support he received during her long bout with illness, and through happier times as well; a testament to the enduring role the congregation has played in his life.
When Emily joined him at WHC 16 years ago, the couple participated in the Boomers auxiliary group and travelled on two WHC trips. She also found her own sense of purpose here. “I am a doer,” she said with a laugh. “The social action events and community support that Washington Hebrew provides were very appealing to me, as well as how friendly the community is.”
One project in particular captured their hearts: Sunday Stuffing, where volunteers pack Thanksgiving bags for local families in need. “This will be our 10th year helping organize this event, which started in 2012,” Emily said proudly. “It’s a project that is very near and dear to Neil and me. I love helping with the organization and distribution of the bags that we pack.”
Each year, the couple helps deliver more than 550 bags to students and families at the Abram Simon Elementary School in D.C., and other local community partners. “The kids come, and we talk about Judaism,” Emily said. “We explain that Abram Simon was a rabbi, and that we are happy to help make their holidays so nice.”
While their involvement at WHC reflects their commitment to local service, the Kishters’ philanthropy extends far beyond. Over the past decade, they have made transformational gifts to hospitals and cancer centers throughout the region, many of which were in honor of Neil’s late wife, Dana, who passed away from leukemia.
These gifts have often been connected closely with WHC. In 2016, for example, Cantors Mikhail Manevich and Susan Bortnick led a prayer at the ribbon-cutting for the Emily & Neil Kishter Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant Clinic at Georgetown Hospital.
Neil’s experience with Dana’s illness inspired what has become a lifelong mission to support medical facilities and the patients they serve in ways big and small. That philosophy continues to guide them. “I like to know that I’m making a difference in people’s lives,” Emily said, quoting Anne Frank: “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”
When Emily entered Neil’s life, she encouraged broadening their giving beyond medical causes. Neil agreed: “Emily led us to focus on initiatives involving Jewish and family-centered organizations.”
Their generosity also reaches Jewish institutions, like Jewish Federation and the Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum, where they were among the initial group of founding donors. And in 2020, they proudly hosted the annual WHC Cantors Concert event at their club in Florida.
For the Kishters, Judaism provides the moral framework for their giving — a blend of compassion, obligation, and joy.
Both Neil and Emily see their philanthropy not only as an act of gratitude but also as an example for others. “We hope that our giving can inspire others to give what they can, and feel the joy of impacting the lives of others,” Emily said. “It is important that our generation continues to support our religious institutions. We all benefit from this amazing community and connectivity to our synagogues.”
Neil added, “You can live a great life and have all the things you and your family want, but you can also realize how lucky you are to be where you are and help others.”
Their goal, ultimately, is to inspire others — to give, to act, and to care. “You never want to do anything just to have your name on a sanctuary or a floor,” Neil said. “But if somebody seeing your name will inspire them to make the next gift, then so be it.”
For Emily, their motivation is simple. “We love touching people’s lives,” she said. “Medically, spiritually, or through the smallest act of kindness — if we can help make a difference, that’s what we’ll do.”
