Avraham Infeld - Hillel

INSPIRING. INVITING. INTRIGUING.
these three words only begin to describe speaker,
teacher, leader avraham infeld. You could add to the
list: international. innovative. indefatigable. and,
incorrigible.
avraham has inspired tens of thousands of people
the world over with his unique approach to israel and
Jewish life. a zionist visionary, avraham is a throwback
to previous generations of Jewish leaders who
conceptualized ideologies and lived by their ideals.
he is a larger-than-life character who does not shrink
from a challenge — or a joke.
hillel presents its renaissance award to avraham,
an individual whose bold vision and transformative
initiatives enrich the campus, the Jewish community
and the world.
a native of South africa, avraham’s father was a
hebrew linguist and a Jewish educator who raised his
son in an ardently zionist atmosphere. naturally,
avraham immigrated to israel as soon as he graduated
from high school in 1959.
he attained a degree in Bible and Jewish history from
the hebrew university of Jerusalem and a law degree
from tel aviv university. he married ellen infeld,
originally from woodbridge, n.J., and they share four
children and 14 grandchildren.
in the 1970s, avraham founded melitz, a non-profit
educational service institution that fosters Jewish
identity rooted in a pluralistic understanding of Jewish
life and the centrality of israel. he also served as
chairman of arevim; founding chairman of San
francisco federation’s amutot program in israel; and
chairman of the Board of israel experience, ltd., an
independent company created by the Jewish agency.
“ Avraham’s infectious optimism
about what can be done motivates
all who surround him to reach
for excellence in pursuing a joyous
Jewish future. Avraham never lets
realism limit his dreams and
aspirations. As Hillel president
he travelled the country and the
world constantly, at great
sacrifice to his family life, to
be with students and Hillel
directors, always inspiring them
with his vision. I feel blessed
to work with him. His enduring
friendship continues to
”
enrich my life.
neil moSS, former Chair, Board of direCtorS
Sandy Cahn was on a federation Young leadership
Cabinet mission to israel in the 1980s when avraham
delivered a lecture to her group at the western wall.
“i will never forget his words: ‘we were together at
Sinai!’ i thought he was only talking to me that day!
the way he walks around and comes up close to you
with those piercing eyes it makes you think you are the
only one in the room.” Cahn says that avraham’s words
began her love affair with the history of the State of
israel and the Jewish people. “it was avraham who
helped me begin to understand the tie that we as Jews
have with our ancestors. he has been a huge motivator
for me over the decades and has had a great impact on
me, my activism, and my achievements.” Cahn went
on to chair the Jewish federations of north america
national women’s philanthropy Campaign. today she is
a member of the Board of directors of hillel, serves on
the new York uJa-federation’s Board of directors, and