The Rabbi Erwin Zimet Memorial Institute
The Rabbi Erwin Zimet Memorial Institute was formed in 1994. The purpose of the Institute is as follows:
The purpose of the institute is to perpetuate the values and goals for which Rabbi Zimet stood and to which he devoted his life. These include his love of Judaism and encouragement of Jewish learning, interfaith dialogue and education, Holocaust education for Jews and not-Jews alike and a strong sense of social justice. The institute will perpetuate Rabbi Zimet’s memory through projects that reflect these values.
Some of the projects that the institute has sponsored are:
- Sponsored teachers to visit Poland and Israel to learn about the Holocaust and to return to the United States and teach a course about the Holocaust.
- Scholarships to students to help with their continuing Jewish studies in Graduate School.
- Donated to the cost of the Ann Frank exhibit brought to Poughkeepsie in 2006.
- A book project to provide Holocaust books to every high school, both public and private and college in Dutchess County including Our Lady of Lourdes High School, Poughkeepsie Day School, Oakwood School, Vassar College, Marist College, and Dutchess Community College.
- Lecturers who spoke at the Poughkeepsie Jewish Community Center.
- Since 2008 have sent 8th grade students to the Museum of Jewish Heritage in NYC from Spackenkill Todd Middle School, Haviland Middle School, Arlington Middle School and San Miguel Academy in Newburgh. To date there have been 4100 students and 400 adult chaperones who have participated.
- Anyone who would like to contribute to the institute may do so by sending a check to Temple Beth-El and marking in the memo section of the check that the donation is for the Rabbi Erwin Zimet Memorial Institute, or you may pay by credit card and specific “Zimet Institute” in the Comments section.. Thank you.