$2 Million Gift Testament to the “Critical Role that Shalem Will Play in Israel’s Future”
Shalem has recently received a $2 million contribution from founding supporters of the college. The gift, said Shalem President Martin Kramer, represents “an enormous vote of confidence in the institution, and a testament to our supporters’ belief in the critical role that Shalem will play in Israel’s future.”
The benefactors, who wish to remain anonymous, explained their belief that Shalem is a vital and forward-thinking venture. “Israel today, though a military and economic power, is constantly under assault on the battlefield of ideas, both from without and within,” they stated. “The country’s next generation of leaders must be equipped to fight this battle, and Shalem will enable them to do that. By studying the great texts of the Western and Jewish tradition, students’ imaginations will be sparked; they will develop the capacity for independent thought and the ability to communicate effectively; and they will nurture a passion for lifelong learning. These,” they concluded, “are the qualities the great Jewish leaders of the past possessed, and future leaders of the Jewish state sorely need.”
Although the sizable gift was deliberately not earmarked for any specific program—“It was the donors’ intention that we use the funds in whichever way we believe will best maximize its long-term impact on the Jewish state,” explains Shalem Provost Daniel Polisar—several initiatives are ripe for implementation. They include the creation of new academic departments, the recruitment of top-notch faculty, and scholarship assistance as the college enters its third admissions season. “There is no doubt, in establishing a new institution of higher education, that the challenges are significant,” says Polisar. “The support we receive from our Board of Governors, as evidenced by gifts such as this one, show that our partners believe we’re on the right track, and that the college is on its way to creating a new generation of influential citizens.”
