Our Mission
The Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture promotes Jewish peoplehood by supporting and developing the next generation of scholars and leaders in Jewish communities around the world.
Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded scholarships and fellowships to more than 13,000 men and women – many early in their careers – who have subsequently attained important leadership positions. 53 of these were later awarded the Israel Prize for their contributions to Jewish culture. A substantial number of these recipients are also serving in dispersed Jewish communities on six continents as rabbis, professors, educators, researchers, writers and communal workers.
History
Founded in 1965 by Dr. Nahum Goldmann, the MFJC has touched the lives of thousands of Jewish individuals on all six continents and in over 70 countries.
The Board
Our Board of Trustees consists of member organizations representing Jewish communities on six continents, international and national cultural and communal agencies.
Contact Us
The MFJC invites global comment and content. If you would like to learn more or get involved, please contact our New York office.
The Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture is sad to announce the passing of its long time former Executive Vice President, Rabbi Dr. Jerry Hochbaum z”l.
Dr. Hochbaum joined the staff of the MFJC in 1971, rising to Executive Vice President in 1982. His career at the MFJC would ultimately span more than four decades, during which time Dr. Hochbaum served the global Jewish community with vision and distinction. Under his leadership, the MFJC supported the publication of more than 3,500 books dealing with Jewish culture, broadly defined, many of which were in Eastern European languages and played a major role in the reconstruction of Jewish life in Eastern Europe. It also awarded 13,500 fellowships, doctoral scholarships, and community service grants, creating an impressive mosaic of a new generation of scholars to replace the Jewish cultural elite which was decimated in the Shoah.
However, Dr. Hochbaum‘s proudest professional accomplishment was the creation of the International Nahum Goldmann Fellowship program (NGF). Led by Dr. Hochbaum, this program pioneered 32 international and 12 regional fellowships on six continents. These gatherings identified and trained more than 1,000 young Jewish professionals and lay leaders, thought leaders and activists, scholars and educators for leadership positions in their communities. The major objective of the NGF is increasing Jewish social capital and connectedness across a new generation of global Jewish leadership. The NGF has also become a platform for the MFJC’s next stage of growth and advancement.
Rabbi Dr. Jeni S. Friedman, who succeeded Dr. Hochbaum as Executive Vice President in 2015 said: “Jerry devoted so much of his time nurturing the personal and professional paths of countless NGF Fellows around the world, who were deeply influenced by his leadership example, his love for Torah, and his eternal optimism of the Jewish people and the Jewish world.”
Since leaving the MFJC and making Aliyah in 2015, Dr. Hochbaum produced two books: ‘Song of Ascent’ an anthology of poetry and ‘The Hidden Light: Biblical Paradigms for Leadership’.
Dr. Hochbaum is survived by his wife Gilda, his children Rivka Reena Maltz (Dr. Michael Maltz), Ziona Greenwald (Meir Greenwald), Hannah Scharlat (Richard Scharlat), and his grandchildren. The funeral was held, Tuesday March 22, 2022 at 1:30 pm Israel time, at Givat Shaul, Har Hamenuchot Beit HaHesped, Kehillat Yerushalayim.
If you would like to share your thoughts or a personal story about Dr. Hochbaum, please use this google.form. We will compile all messages and pass them onto Dr. Hochbaum’s family.May his family be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
Jonathan Arkush, PresidentFernando Lottenberg, Chair Executive Committee
Jeni S. Friedman, Executive Vice President
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