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About the Yaacov Herzog Center for Jewish Studies
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For twelve years after its establishment, the Yaacov Herzog Center was under the direction of Mrs. Tova Ilan. Mrs. Ilan is an experienced educator and has been active for many years in various attempts to improve relationships between religious and nonreligious Jews. In 1999, she received the AviChai Foundation award for her educational and organizational activities. She received an honorary PhD from Bar-Ilan University in the summer of 2000. The Center's current director is Dr. Gili Zivan, a well-known figure in Israeli educational circles.
YHC opens its doors to Jewish culture, history, and knowledge in an open liberal atmosphere, and serves as a platform for dialogue among observant and secular Jews.
At the Herzog Center, we believe that it is imperative to listen to different voices in Israeli-Jewish society, which together form a symphony of ideas, opinions, and attitudes, and give expression to different facets of Jewish-Israeli culture and experience. We feel that a multitude of voices enriches Jewish culture, not only for our society as a whole, but also for the individual.
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We see in a pluralistic approach the key to fostering tolerance and mutual respect. We hope to lessen the violence and the intolerance of Israeli society by stimulating dialogue among its many sub-groups.
We want to broaden people's knowledge of Jewish culture and to strengthen Jewish identity. We believe that a strong Jewish identity, an understanding of the sources of Judaism, pride in our Jewish roots, and acceptance of differing viewpoints regarding this identity are crucial for a strong and healthy society.
We believe that a strong Jewish identity and the acceptance of diverse facets of that identity are key elements of a strong and healthy society.
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The Yaacov Herzog Center has been in existence for more than fifteen years, during which time it has organized programs both within and outside the Center, throughout Israel.
Activities include ongoing courses, lectures, workshops, and group encounters, all of which deal with Jewish culture. Programs are intended for religious and secular, men and women, young and old, new immigrants and veteran Israelis.
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YHC thanks the following contributors for their support:
• The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Foundation
• Poppers-Prins Stichting (Holland)
• JAFI- Partnership 2000
• P.E.F.- Israel Endowment Funds, Inc.
• The Israel Ministry of Culture and Sport
• The Israel Ministry of Absorption
• The Israel Ministry of Education
• The Israeli Ministry of Justice Committee for Allocation of Funds and Legacies
• The Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco
• The United Jewish Communities of MetroWest, N.J
• The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago
• The Levy Foundation
• Targum Shlishi
• The Gimprich Family Foundation
• Herbert Lerner
• Tmura – The Israeli Public Service Venture Fund
• The New Israel Fund
• Sapir College of the Negev
• Chishtil
• Te'utza Pension Funds
• The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee for Israel
• The Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture
• The Religious Kibbutz Foundation
• The Shafir Regional Council
• The Yoreinu Foundation
• Tsav Pius - Funded by the AVI CHAI Foundation
• The Jewish Agency for Israel
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The Yaacov Herzog Center was founded in the late 1980s by the Religious Kibbutz Movement in memory of Rabbi Dr. Yaacov Herzog who dedicated his life to the service of the Jewish people and the state of Israel, and was made possible by the generosity of Mr. Derrick Kleeman. The Center is located on Kibbutz Ein Tzurim, in the south of the country, and its activities serve primarily that region. 
