Welcome to The Israel Center of Vermont!

Where those passionate-- or just curious!--about Israel can share their passions, enhance their ties to Israel, and learn from one another.

State of Vermont

Senate Chamber

Montpelier, Vermont

Senate Concurrent Resolution

     By Senators Miller, Snelling, Ayer, Bartlett, Campbell, Carris, Collins, Condos, Coppenrath, Cummings, Doyle, Flanagan, Giard, Hartwell, Illuzzi, Kitchel, Kittell, Lyons, MacDonald, Maynard, Mazza, McCormack, Mullin, Nitka, Racine, Scott, Sears, Shumlin, Starr and White,

S.C.R. 55.  Senate concurrent resolution congratulating the state of Israel on its 60th anniversary.

Whereas, following the Holocaust that destroyed six million Jews during World War II, the remnants of the Jewish European community were in desperate need of a secure and permanent home to build their shattered lives anew, and

Whereas, they attempted to journey, under sometimes extremely treacherous conditions, to the ancient Jewish homeland in order to join their fellow Jews who had been preparing to become citizens of a new nation, and

Whereas, on May 14, 1948, the fifth day of the Jewish month of Iyar, representatives from communities throughout the soon-to-emerge new nation met in the Tel Aviv Museum where David Ben-Gurion, who would serve as the nation’s first Prime Minister, declared Israel’s independence, and

Whereas, in the following months, thousands of newcomers, many of whom had been unable to reach Israel’s shores prior to the declaration, arrived and found new homes, and

Whereas, since its declaration of independence, Israel has stood as a beacon of democracy and freedom in the region, and

Whereas, 2008 marks the 60th anniversary of the state of Israel, and in accordance with the Jewish calendar, the official day of celebration will take place on Friday, May 2, and

Whereas, under the auspices of the Israel Center of Vermont, a special Israel @ 60 celebration will take place on the campus of the University of Vermont and at other locations in Burlington from Friday, May 2, through Sunday, May 4, and

Whereas, on Sunday, May 16, Beth Jacob Synagogue will sponsor a 60th Israel birthday party at Ariel’s Riverside Café and Bar in Montpelier, and

Whereas, the economic ties between the state of Vermont and the state of Israel include the operations of Plasan U.S.A. in Bennington, a division of the Israel manufacturer Plasan Sasa that will be adding 100 new jobs in Bennington and expanding into a second building, and

Whereas, despite the many challenges it faces, the state of Israel looks with optimism toward the future, now therefore be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:

That the General Assembly congratulates the state of Israel on its 60th anniversary, and be it further

Resolved:  That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to the Israel Center of Vermont and the Consul General of Israel in Boston.

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Shalhavit Cohen shares her experience as a Sabra with students at Ohavi Zedek Religious School.

An  Education Center... a Cultural Center...a Resource Center...

Education Center

Bringing lecturers and sponsoring discussions on topics ranging from Israeli life, diaspora identity, art and politics—both Israeli and American.

Cultural Center

Want to discuss Israeli literature, politics and film? Meet Israelis visiting Vermont, read an Israeli paper, speak Hebrew? Listen to Israeli music? Spend the evening with others who are passionate about Israel and long to be in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa?

Look for our ...Film Festival... Art exhibits... Book Club... Israel Café nights... Yom Haatzmaut Celebration... Concerts...

Resource Center

A listing of Vermont's Israel resources—library collections, art collections, synagogues, schools, chavurahs, youth organizations.  Travel to Israel—for the first time, or as a veteran traveler.  Virtual and real links—to the many and varied Jewish organizations across the country.  Check out our on-line calendar of region-wide events for Vermont's Jewish community.

Our Mission:
To nurture a positive identity with and educated knowledge of the people and state of Israel.

To answer the growing desire of Vermont's diverse Jewish population to strengthen its ties with Israel.

To be part of a vibrant, close-knit and well educated community, working closely with Vermont's Jewish organizations, to help all Vermonters know and understand Israel better.

We are unaffiliated with any political line or religious philosophy.

Contact us!
Questions? Want to post your organization's Israel-oriented events on our calendar? Need any of our resources? Want to become a member? Please do not hesitate to contact us:

Info@icvt.org

Israel Center of Vermont
200 Church Street
Burlington, VT 05401

866-755-ICVT

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www.icvt.tridentlist.com

Some pictures from our recent meeting with Congressman Peter Welch. Thanks to those who attended.