The Matzevah Foundation is pleased to announce
the graduation of our president, Steven D. Reece,
from Andrews University
with a doctorate of philosophy in leadership.

​Have you ever gone somewhere for the first time and felt like you’ve been there before?


That’s how I felt standing under the Arbeit Macht Frei, “Work Makes You Free,” sign in Auschwitz in 2007.  Black and white images that I had only seen in textbooks, movies, and documentaries were now in full color all around me. 


I quickly realized that nothing I had learned in my classes or through films could have prepared me for that visit. 

​As we embark on a new year, we wanted to share with you a review of our work from 2019.  The Matzevah Foundation (TMF), in our ninth year of existence, continues to see growth with each passing year. That growth comes in a variety of forms from the number of projects we conduct in Poland to the number of volunteers who give of their time and resources to the growing impact that TMF has not just in Poland but around the world. While our most visible activity occurs during the summer with our cemetery restoration and commemoration projects, our team works each moth to further the scope of our work.


We are excited to share with you a snapshot of our work from this past year! 


A note from our president

November 13 was our big event in Nashville where we had a screening of The Presence of Their Absence.  We had 70 people join us on a very cold and traffic-filled night at the Brentwood Library.  After watching the film together, Steven, Donna, and Fred took questions from the audience.  It was wonderful to hear how different aspects of the film resonated with people.  

​On November 11, The Matzevah Foundation's president, Steven Reece, was part of a special evening at The Temple in Atlanta.  Steven joined filmmaker Donna Kanter and Fred Zaidman for a screening of the film, The Presence of Their Absence.


Around 100 people came out for the film and panel discussion with Fred, Donna, and Steven afterwards.  It was a great evening!


For a complete review of the film, check out this lovely article from the Atlanta Jewish Times.

The Matzevah Foundation, in partnership with the Nashville Jewish Film Festival, is pleased to invite you to the Nashville premiere of the documentary The Presence of Their Absence.

Wednesday, November 13
6:30 p.m.
Brentwood Library

8109 Concord Road, Brentwood, TN 37027

This is a free event and we invite you to let us know of your attendance by visiting our Eventbrite link here.

The Matzevah Foundation completed its ninth year of projects in Poland this summer.  Our work took us from one corner of the country to the other, meeting a lot of new friends and reconnecting with old ones along the way.  Below is a brief recap of each of our projects.  


Behind each project are countless supporters of our work.  You have given us encouragement as we’ve traveled and conducted each task.  Some of you even joined us this year in Poland!  And even more of you made financial donations to The Matzevah Foundation.  Each of these gifts aided us in a variety of ways this summer.  We could not do our work without you.


Thank you

We are saddened to learn of the vandalism in Karmanowice, Poland this week. In collaboration with Fundacja Zapomniane, Stowarzyszenie Żydowski Instytut Historyczny w Polsce, the local community, and others, The Matzevah Foundation was proud to be a partner in the commemoration of this mass grave last year.


There is no place for disrespect of any holy and sacred site, no matter the religion. Our hope is that this incident will create more awareness and unity within the community.