Friday, February 18, 2011

Lunch with the Hebron Fund

Yesterday I had the opportunity to reconnect with an old friend, Ari Lieberman, who has just become the Executive Director of the Hebron Fund. The Hebron Fund, a New York based not-for-profit charitable organization was founded in 1979. While the fund is a separate entity, it was created as an affiliate organization of the Jewish community in Hebron and, subsequently, operates in concert with the community there to assess their needs and respond in kind.

A primary goal of the organization is the raising of capital for the improvement of daily life for the residents of Hebron, Israel. This includes funding for all parks, playgrounds, recreation centers, after-school programs, libraries, and summer youth activities; as well as sponsorship of public cultural and educational events in Hebron. In addition the Fund aids the maintenance and development of the synagogues in the Machpela Cave, the ancient Avraham Avinu Synagogue and other religious institutions in the area.

A secondary goal of the organization is educating the American Jewish Community regarding the rich historical Jewish past of Hebron and weaving that knowledge with present day experiences in the hope of reviving and expanding the ancient Jewish custom of pilgrimage to this holy site.

Due to the sacred role of Hebron in Jewish history, communities around the world have traditionally raised funds to provide humanitarian, educational and religious services for the Jews of Hebron since the early Middle Ages. We are proud to be continuing and expanding this tradition into the 21st Century.

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