The Israel Center
A gift to our community from Bob and Laura Gutman

The Partnership for a Jewish Center

Bob and Laura Gutman care about Israel, and they care about the relationship of Diaspora Jewry with Israel. So it is not surprising that their support of the Partnership for a Jewish Center would include support for the creation of an Israel Center.

Hardly a new phenomenon for the Durham-Chapel Hill Jewish Federation, activities relating to Israel have been part of the community landscape for more than 30 years. However, lacking a physical Jewish Community Center, those Israel programs have been
dispersed and not necessarily associated with a specific venue or even viewed as a unified program.

The creation of the new Levin Jewish Community Center will change that. Through a generous donation of $250,000 from Bob and Laura Gutman, our JCC will feature an Israel Center that will concentrate all these programs in one venue and under a dedicated staff, with the intention of bringing back to our community an Israeli emissary
or shaliach.

Bob and Laura put it quite eloquently: “We are moved to simultaneously contribute to the
Partnership for its capital project and to also create a fund at the Jewish Community Foundation to support the funding of a shaliach. This twin donation arises from our strong
commitment to the need to create strong emotional ties between the local Jewish community and the State of Israel. Our core vision is that of a vital and vibrant home in our new JCC that will create opportunities to come closer to Israel emotionally and physically by increasing awareness of our Jewish homeland. The start-up of a fund to support the staffing of these
activities will open an opportunity for those who share this vision to direct their tzedakah to help assure the continued life of this project for many years.”

Here are the mission and goals of the Israel Center as approved by your Federation Board:

Coordination and development of experiences in Israel for members of the local community.

Facilitation of the development of relationships between Triangle-area Jews and their counterparts in Israel through model programs and exchanges.

Facilitation and development of
programs aimed at bringing Israeli culture to the Triangle region that will enhance a sense of relationship with Israel.

Providing and promoting educational opportunities about Israel in collaboration with area synagogues and campus communities.

Coordinating community celebrations and observances about Israel.

Strengthening the community of Israelis in our community and enhancing their connection with our larger Jewish community.

A commitment to provide resources and exhibits about Israel to the local Jewish community in the Israel Center of the JCC.To Bob and Laura Gutman, the creation of the Israel Center is both the culmination of and the beginning of a fertile relationship with Israel. Their generosity to the community and their commitment to the core values of our people are exemplary.

For more information on the Israel Center, contact Ziva Raney at (919) 489-5335.

As published in The Menorah, November/December 2007