Fostering Our Connection with Israel

The Israel Center was established to strengthen Jewish identity and community by fostering meaningful connections between people and communities in Israel and those in the greater Triangle region. We view Israel as a core element of Jewish life and thus promote a continuum of enriching opportunities, including educational, service, cultural, and social programs and experiences that engage with, educate about, and celebrate Israel. 

Stay in the loop!

If you want to keep up to date on Israel Center happenings, please email us and we will add you to our list! israelcenter@jewishforgood.org

YEAR-ROUND SHALIACH

Our community shaliach (emissary) brings Israel education and connection to the community for 1-2 years. They create programming for The Lerner School, Camp Shelanu, and religious schools; design events for Israeli and American audiences; and bring a touch of Israeli spirit to major events.

Israel Center Film Series

Our unique film series features films about Israel, made in Israel, or directed or produced by Israelis. Not only do these films keep us connected to Israeli culture, but they give us another great reason to call up our family and friends in Israel to discuss! These events are currently hosted virtually only.

Yom Hazikaron

Each year our community comes together for meaningful service to commemorate Israel’s fallen soldiers and victims of terror.  

Yom Ha'atzmaut

Yom Ha’atzmaut commemorates the declaration of independence of Israel in 1948. We celebrate this day together each year with a spirited festival of food, dancing, and song.

Yom Hashoah

Yom HaShoah, the day commemorating the victims of the Holocaust, is a community-wide ceremony that includes the reading of the names and educational programs. Yom HaShoah commemoration is often done in partnership with the Lerner School and the Center for Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Education of North Carolina.

Artist in Residence

We have hosted two Israeli artists-in-residence, Shirel Horowitz in 2020 and Noga Segal in 2023. These artists engage the community in lectures, workshops, and classes, culminating their residencies with a public show for the wider Durham-Chapel Hill community.

AMERICAN DANCE FESTIVAL

The Israel Center has proudly partnered with American Dance Festival for many years. Each year, from this partnership, ADF is able to bring Israeli dance companies or Israeli choreographers to its stages in Durham, thereby fulfilling the Israel Center’s mission of bringing Israeli arts and culture to the Triangle.

Lectures

Israel is a leader in STEM, churning out the world’s best innovators and inventions, but do we know just how impactful Israel has been to modern science? How do we talk about Israel beyond the headlines? How has Israeli ingenuity repaired the world? Our thought-provoking guest speakers bring these current topics and more to our doorstep.

In the past, Israel Center has hosted speakers from organizations such as Hotline for Refugees and Migrants, the American Technion Society, Jewish National Fund, and IsraAID; as well as speakers like Nature Israel, The Rackman Center, and Arava Institute.

CAMP SHELANU SHLICHIM

For the past 15 years, the Israel Center has generously sponsored Israeli camp counselors to assist with Camp Shelanu Summer Day Camp, bringing and sharing their Israeli culture with thousands of campers and camp staff, ages 5-years-old and up, in weekly Israeli culture activities and a joyful celebration on Israel Day. Our shlichim reside in host homes throughout the summer, offering a cultural exchange even deeper and richer with their host families.