Community-based
financial relief.
Before tragedy strikes.
Join LifeShare, the first global Jewish community where members commit to provide emergency financial aid to each other, in the event of a tragic loss. In just 5 minutes and $25, you can join LifeShare and protect the community – and your family too.
With broad support of rabbis, community leaders and professionals, LifeShare provides immediate financial relief, quickly and efficiently, when it is needed most.
Rabbinic Advisors
- Rav Asher Weiss
- Rav Hershel Schachter
- Rav Shmuel Fuerst
"Out of the many ideas and organizations and initiatives, I think LifeShare is the best. I strongly encourage you all to be part of this great chessed.”
Rav Asher Weiss
"I commend the developers of LifeShare. It is a phenomenal idea and I urge everyone to join in and be part of this initiative."
Rav Zev Leff
"I am absolutely overwhelmed by the chiddush of LifeShare. I am encouraging each and every one of you to be a part of this community.”
Rav Moshe Weinberger
How It Works
I want to protect my family.
Easy and Affordable Access to Emergency Financial Relief
We know there are 101 reasons why people don’t buy life insurance. We get it. Our mission at LifeShare is to make access to financial aid so simple that there are no more excuses to leave your family unprotected. In under 5 minutes and just $25, you can join the LifeShare community and protect your family!
How does it work?
Enroll
Just click the "Join LifeShare" link to join the community. Enter your personal information, answer a one-question health questionnaire and pay $25. Note: Each spouse registers separately.
Payout Amount and Mutual-Aid Contribution
Select the amount you would like your family to receive in the event of your passing, G-d forbid.
A) If you select a $100,000 payout, you will make a mutual-aid contribution of $14 per community death.
B) If you select $250,000, you will pay $32.
Contributions are considered tzedakah/charity and are eligible for a tax receipt.
There are NO fixed monthly costs. You will be only charged upon the death of a fellow community member.
You can expect 6-7 contributions per year based on community size, or approximately $200-$250 per year.
The MAXIMUM you will ever pay is 2x your contribution per month ($64 or $28).
Your Payout.
In the unfortunate event of your passing (or your spouse, if registered), your family will receive your selected payout within 72 hours of death verification. That's it!
I Want to Support the Community.
Those of us lucky enough to have financial security still care about those without.
No matter how much it hurts to see tragic losses in our community, we simply can’t respond financially to every heartbreaking widow and orphan campaign. It’s not like we don’t care - it's that the panic and scrambling are inefficient, unpredictable, and often insufficient.
LifeShare offers a new strategy for how we look after each other in times of unexpected tragedy. LifeShare members proactively commit to support each other, and can sponsor other members, BEFORE tragedy strikes. It is a smarter way to provide reliable financial aid to families immediately after the death of a parent or spouse.
As someone looking to support the community, you can select the amount you wish to contribute each time a community member passes away. And that’s it!
By pre-authorizing LifeShare to make your selected contributions on your behalf, you can take comfort in knowing you are proactively helping families during their most trying hour.
Check out our FAQ section below for more information.
SPONSORSHIPS.
In addition to making mutual aid contributions, you can sponsor needy families, institutions in your community, or IDF soldiers, by covering their membership fees and mutual-aid contributions. The estimated annual cost to sponsor someone for a $250,000 payout is less than $250 per year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, we are reimagining an old, inefficient paradigm, so naturally there are questions:
How much does it cost? Can I join at any age? Is this life insurance?
This FAQ answers these questions, and more.
HOW DO I JOIN THE LIFESHARE COMMUNITY?
Joining LifeShare is easy! There’s no red tape, broker applications, medical exams, or anything like that. Just click the link below, and you’ll be prompted to provide your personal information, assign your beneficiaries, select your preferred payout amount, and answer a one-question health questionnaire. You’ll pay a $25 membership fee – and that’s it! Your only other commitment is to make a mutual-aid payment when another member of the community passes away.
HOW MUCH WILL I PAY EACH MONTH?
Because LifeShare is not an insurance company, there are no fixed monthly costs or premiums. Your only financial responsibility is to make a mutual-aid contribution upon the death of a fellow community member. How much you pay depends on your end-of-life payout selection. If you would like your family to receive $100,000 upon your passing, you will make a $14 contribution when another community member passes away. If you select the $250,000 payout, you will pay $32 per death. Based on projections, we estimate less than one payment per month.
HOW MUCH COVERAGE DO I GET?
When you join LifeShare, you’re not buying coverage in the traditional sense. You are joining a community of peers who have committed to making payments to your family upon your passing. Your family will be entitled to receive a one-time, tax-free payout of either $100,000 or $250,000, based on your selection when you join. We expect to make all payouts within 48 hours of death verification.
WHAT IF I WANT A LARGER PAYOUT?
Because the community funds these payouts, and not an insurance company, the most we are offering at this time is $250,000. We recognize $250,000 may not be enough for some families, but remember, LifeShare is an emergency safety net to provide families critical financial resources upon the member’s passing. It is not a replacement for a multi-million dollar life insurance policy. But, as the community grows in the future, we will be able to offer larger payouts.
DO I STILL NEED LIFE INSURANCE IF I JOIN LIFESHARE?
Yes, you should definitely still purchase a comprehensive life insurance policy after you join the LifeShare community. LifeShare provides critical financial resources to help families in the difficult weeks and months immediately following the passing of a parent. It does not replace the need for appropriate levels of a insurance which will protect their family for many years in the future.
IF I ALREADY HAVE LIFE INSURANCE, WHY SHOULD I JOIN?
If you already have life insurance, that’s great! But you should absolutely still join LifeShare so you can participate in supporting the community and making mutual-aid contributions in the event of another member’s death. Our goal is take a measured, proactive approach to community support, rather than waiting for the death of a member and then running a frantic campaign after the fact. And we also offer the opportunity to sponsor other members.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN A COMMUNITY?
The minimum number of people required to support a single community is approximately 7000 members. Once a community exceeds 8,000 – 10,000 members, a new community will open. New communities will be based on actuarial analysis, using age and geographical data. As stated, with a mortality rate of 1 death per 1000 per year, we expect 7 – 10 mutual-aid contributions per year, per community.
WHAT IS THE ESTIMATE OF LESS THAN 1 DEATH PER MONTH BASED ON?
The estimate is based on a community size of 7000 – 10,000 members, and actuarial projections of 1 death per thousand members a year.
This takes two factors into consideration:
- The maximum age to receive a payout is 65 years old.
- All members must complete a health questionnaire and would be precluded from joining if they suffer from any life-threatening, pre-existing illness (such as cancer and heart disease).
WHAT IF THERE ARE MULTIPLE DEATHS PER MONTH?
You will never pay for more than two deaths per month. In other words, the maximum a $100,000 selection will pay is $28, and a $250,000 selection will pay is $64. In the highly unlikely event there are more than two deaths in a single month, additional funds may be collected in subsequent months until the total payout amount is reached.
CAN I JOIN IF I HAVE PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS OR A TERMINAL ILLNESS?
Aside for pre-existing, life-threatening or terminal illnesses, there are no health restrictions to joining the community (examples: Malignant cancer, Cardiovascular disease, ALS, etc.). Individuals who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness within the past five years will not be permitted to join the community. Failing to report such a diagnosis or condition may invalidate a payout upon our review.
UNTIL WHAT AGE CAN I JOIN AND REMAIN IN THE COMMUNITY?
You can remain in the community and receive a payout until the age of 65. Beyond that, you are encouraged to continue participating in the community by making mutual aid contributions, but will not be eligible to receive a payout upon your death.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO REQUEST A SPONSORSHIP?
Yes. Families that cannot afford the membership fee and mutual-aid contribution can request to be sponsored upon enrollment. Likewise, charitable members may offer to sponsor others upon enrollment, covering their mutual-aid responsibility. When a sponsor joins, LifeShare will match them with a sponsorship applicant, and add them to the community.
IS LIFESHARE A FOR-PROFIT OR NON-PROFIT BUSINESS?
LifeShare is classified as a 501c(8) non-profit “Fraternal Beneficiary Society.” Since members receive the financial security of being in the community, their mutual-aid payments are not tax deductible. However, as noted, these payments are considered tzedakah. The $25 annual membership fee funds the operations of the business.
CAN I PAY FOR MY CHILDREN OR OTHER DEPENDENTS?
Yes! Members can offer to enroll their children or other dependents for whom they would want to receive an end-of-life payout in the event of one of their deaths. The member would cover the membership and mutual-aid contributions for their child or dependent. This is a wonderful gift of life and further protects your loved ones and the community at large.
DO I NEED TO TAKE A MEDICAL EXAM OR PROVIDE HEALTH RECORDS TO JOIN?
No. There is no need to take an exam or provide medical documentation, aside from answering a very brief health questionnaire.
IS LIFESHARE CONSIDERED AN INSURANCE COMPANY? DOES IT REQUIRE ANY SPECIAL LICENSING?
No, LifeShare is not classified as an insurance company and, therefore, does not require special licensing. A few key factors that differentiate LifeShare from insurance companies include:
- Payment Structure: Unlike insurance companies that collect fixed premiums regardless of claims, LifeShare members only make contributions when a fellow peer passes away. The funds are immediately transferred to the family of the deceased.
- Risk Sharing: LifeShare does not assume the risk of loss individually. Instead, the risk is shared by all members of the community.
- Sponsorship Opportunity: LifeShare offers a unique feature allowing peers to request sponsorship. This means that individuals who are unable to afford the mutual-aid contribution can still join the community. Sponsors voluntarily cover the responsibility of the sponsored members, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility for all.
HOW DOES LIFESHARE DIFFER FROM OTHER COMMUNITY ORPHAN FUNDS, SUCH AS AREIVIM OR KEREN YACHAD (IN ISRAEL)?
LifeShare differs from other community funds in 2 key areas:
- PAYMENT ELIGIBILITY.
- These “Orphan Funds” have strict financial and eligibility criteria. End-of-life payouts are determined by a rabbinical board. If the board determines the family has sufficient financial means (such as an existing life insurance policy, “Go Fund Me” campaign, or other financial resources), they may receive a reduced payment, or no payout at all. Members of these funds can contribute for years or decades, but may not be eligible to receive a payout upon their death.
- LifeShare does not scrutinize its members’ financial situation; paying members of the community at the time of death are eligible to receive a payout, no questions asked.
- These “Orphan Funds” have strict financial and eligibility criteria. End-of-life payouts are determined by a rabbinical board. If the board determines the family has sufficient financial means (such as an existing life insurance policy, “Go Fund Me” campaign, or other financial resources), they may receive a reduced payment, or no payout at all. Members of these funds can contribute for years or decades, but may not be eligible to receive a payout upon their death.
- DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.
- Upon the death of a member, even after the rabbinic board approves a payout, these funds DO NOT IMMEDIATELY get transferred to the family for crucial life expenses. They are invested until the orphan comes of age and needs the funds (typically for a wedding or to purchase an apartment), which can be a decade, or more.
- LifeShare automatically transfers the funds directly to the deceased’s family, thereby providing immediate financial relief at the time of death.
- Upon the death of a member, even after the rabbinic board approves a payout, these funds DO NOT IMMEDIATELY get transferred to the family for crucial life expenses. They are invested until the orphan comes of age and needs the funds (typically for a wedding or to purchase an apartment), which can be a decade, or more.
HAVE INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS REVIEWED THE LIFESHARE PROGRAM?
Yes. From the inception of the LifeShare, we have worked closely with actuaries, attorneys, financial professionals and insurance agents to determine mortality rates, the model’s financial viability, and potential risks. We will continue to consult with them as the program and communities grow.
Sponsorships
As someone with financial security, we encourage you to consider sponsoring other needy families, a local institution, or soldiers in Israel (more information below).
- By covering the costs of membership and mutual-aid payments of a needy family or soldier, you are proactively contributing to the protection of others within the community.
- The total estimated cost to provide someone with $250,000 of financial security is only about $250 per year ($25 membership + $32 x 7 or 8 mutual-aid payments). To provide $100,000, the estimated cost is less than $125 per year!
Supporting a Local Institution:
You have the ability to sponsor a specific school, yeshiva, institution or community organization. Upon completing the sponsorship, a Voucher Code with your sponsorships will be provided to the institution of your choice. This voucher will enable individuals to enroll in the LifeShare program at no cost to them.
Personal Sponsorship:
If there is a specific individual or family you want to sponsor, you can indicate their name, and they will be notified and provided a link to register themselves for no cost.
Sponsor a Soldier in Israel
Our IDF soldiers are on the front lines, leaving their spouses and children behind, to protect us, so we can live in security.
You can repay repay their sacrifice by sponsoring the membership of a soldier in the LifeShare community. This will provide their family with well-deserved financial security, BEFORE a tragedy occurs.
Click here to learn more or sponsor a soldier.
