UC's Center for Jewish Cultures and Ideas receives $1 million gift

The University of Cincinnati's McMicken College of Arts and Sciences is $1 million closer to its $15 million goal for the Center for Jewish Culture and Ideas.

The Center recently received a $1 million gift from Cincinnati's Kim and Gary Heiman Family Foundation. Ms. Heiman is an executive committee member of Rockwern Academy and Yad Vashem, and has served as president of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati and campaign chair for Israel Bonds of Cincinnati. It's the Center's first donation.

Mr. Heiman lived in Israel for 17 years, serving in the Israeli special forces during and after the "Yom Kippur War." He's the president and CEO of Standard Textile Co., Inc., and the Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati. He has been a member of UC's Board of Trustees since 2004.

"My professional success has been driven by my first-hand knowledge of diverse cultures, my ability to speak several foreign languages, my striving to unite people of diverse historical, cultural, and religious backgrounds to work toward our common goals, and my ability to forge meaningful and cordial relationships with leaders all over the world," Mr. Heiman said. "Our strong support of UC's Judaic Studies Department is formal recognition of a shared goal to educate all students about the power of international partnership and exchange."

Though their are plans eventually for a physical center, for now it will be housed in the Department of Judaic Studies as network of interconnected projects that allows students, faculty and the community at-large to explore various aspects of the Jewish culture through local and international partnerships. The center's aim is to "serve as a unique hub for enhancing the Judaic Studies program at UC, forging valuable community-wide partnerships and extending the university's international reach."

The gift will help the Judaic Studies program expand its reach by offering several new learning experiences, including hosting visiting scholars from countries like Israel, increasing study aboard opportunities and helping fund Endowed departmental chairs, including Jewish Law, Jewish Christian Relations, Israel and the Jewish People and Jews in American Popular Culture.

"In the world of higher education, and especially through the eyes of Judaic Studies, learning has a transformative power," said Department Head for Judaic Studies Dr. Gila Safran Naveh. "By equipping our students with the knowledge they need to better understand their own culture and embrace other cultures, we are investing in a brighter future for people across the globe.

Writer: Feoshia Henderson
Source: Laura Kaster, University of Cincinnati

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