Arlene Kaufman

Arlene Kaufman, visionary community leader, devoted wife, mother and grandmother, passed away at her home on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. Born on January 29, 1944, in Takoma Park, Maryland to Bertha and Isadore Gudelsky, Arlene became one of the Jewish world's most notable philanthropists, visionaries and advocates. Her drive to make the world a better place created momentous impact in the Palm Beaches, Washington, DC, Israel and beyond.

Arlene was a leader who rarely sat on the sidelines. She served as Board Chair of Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County, and annually she and her beloved husband Sandy Baklor were among its most significant philanthropists. As an unwavering advocate for Israel and the global Jewish community, her meaningful philanthropy and leadership with organizations included Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), The Jewish Agency for Israel, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and Hillel International.

Her impact will equally be felt for generations, as Arlene's greatest passion was strengthening younger generations' connections with Israel and their Jewish community. She was among the first leaders of Birthright Israel and Masa Israel, a program of The Jewish Agency, where she served as International Co-Chair. These programs have exposed more than one million young Jews to Israel. She also served as Chair and in other leadership roles with Project Interchange, an American Jewish Committee program to connect non-Jewish leaders to Israel for meaningful, first-hand experiences.

In 2016, Arlene and Sandy launched the Kaufman-Baklor Challenge Grant in the Palm Beaches, a stunning example of generosity that ultimately contributed $1 million to Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County. To celebrate her remarkable impact through this initiative and countless others, Federation honored Arlene and Sandy with its highest honor, the Jeanne Levy Community Leadership Award in 2017.

Arlene was a longtime supporter of Temple Emanu-El of Palm Beach and active with organizations including JDC's Entwine Global Leaders Initiative, Weizmann Institute of Science, Jewish People Policy Institute, Palm Beach Opera and American Friends of the Israel Science and Arts Academy. Arlene also served as president of the Bertha and Isadore Gudelsky Family Foundation.

Prior to moving to the Palm Beaches, Arlene was a devoted leader of the Washington, DC and Nashville Jewish communities and continued to support them long after relocating to South Florida.

Arlene is survived by her husband Sandy Baklor, her three children, Iris Markel and fiancé Clark Monish; Michael Friedman and wife Sara; and Marc Friedman; and her nine grandchildren Matthew, Ally and Kevin Markel; Daphne and Benjamin Friedman; and Cerri, Daniel, Jacob and Jessica Friedman.

Arlene's funeral will take place on Sunday, July 31, 2022, at 2 PM at B'nai Israel Congregation in Rockville, MD. Burial will be at Mount Lebanon Cemetery in Adelphi, MD.

Donations in Arlene's memory can be made to Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County and Masa Israel Journey at jewishpb.org/kaufmantribute or 1 Harvard Circle, Suite 100, West Palm Beach, FL 33409.