Danielle Gurevitch
After nearly two decades, the time has come to bring the activities of the Sir Naim Dangoor Centre for Universal Monotheism at Bar-Ilan University to a close. I write these words with a heavy heart, but also with an immense sense of gratitude and pride in what we have accomplished together.
When I first envisioned the Dangoor Centre in 2008, I believed that the humanities could do more than preserve and interpret the cultural achievements of the past. They could also serve as a bridge between people, religions, and nations. I believed then, as I do today, that literature, art, music, philosophy, and the exchange of ideas offer a distinctive form of cultural diplomacy, one that reaches beyond political disagreements and allows us to recognize something of ourselves in others.
Over the years, this conviction took us across continents and cultures. From Asia to Europe and beyond, we brought together scholars, students, artists, diplomats, and communities through international conferences, academic exchanges, exhibitions, guest lectures, publications, and countless conversations. We explored the shared foundations of the monotheistic faiths, expanded our horizons toward Eastern traditions, and sought to introduce Israel and Jewish culture to audiences who might otherwise have had little opportunity to encounter them.
Among the projects particularly close to my heart is our free Arabic digital library, created to make selected works from the Jewish and Israeli intellectual and literary bookshelf accessible to Arabic-speaking readers. For me, this initiative captures the very essence of what the Centre sought to achieve: opening a door to another culture, not by asking others to agree with us, but by inviting them to read, question, discover, and form their own understanding.
In the coming weeks, we will complete our final publishing commitments, including the History of Ideas book series, a project that reflects our enduring commitment to the exchange of knowledge across disciplines, languages, and cultural traditions. It seems fitting that we conclude our work with books, for ideas have a life that extends far beyond the institutions that nurture them.
None of this would have been possible without the trust and generosity of Bar-Ilan University. I am deeply grateful to the University for giving me the freedom, the academic home, and, above all, the opportunity to transform an idea into a living enterprise. To have been entrusted with developing and leading the Centre for so many years has been an extraordinary privilege.
My deepest gratitude, however, is reserved for two remarkable men: the late Sir Naim Dangoor, whose vision and generosity made this journey possible, and Sir David Dangoor, whose friendship, wisdom, encouragement, and unwavering belief in the value of our work have accompanied me throughout the years.
Sir Naim and Sir David gave me wings. They allowed ideas to take flight, encouraged me to explore unfamiliar paths, and inspired me through their profound commitment to education, humanity, and the possibility of understanding across cultural and religious boundaries. Their generosity was never merely financial. It was a generosity of spirit, rooted in curiosity, openness, and faith in what people can accomplish when given an opportunity.
I am equally grateful to the many colleagues, scholars, students, partners, and friends around the world who joined us along the way. Each contributed something unique to the Centre’s story, and many of these professional relationships grew into friendships that I will continue to cherish.
Of course, saying goodbye is never easy, especially to something one has imagined, built, and nurtured for so many years. Yet I also recognize that institutions, like the ideas they cultivate, belong to particular moments in time. There is a time to build, a time to grow, and sometimes, a time to bring a chapter to its close.
What remains is not simply a record of events, publications, or academic collaborations. It is the human connections we established, the conversations we initiated, and the understanding we may have helped create.
As the Dangoor Centre closes its doors, I take comfort in knowing that its ideas need not close with it. The bridges we have built can continue to carry people, knowledge, and friendship in both directions.
The Centre’s chapter is coming to an end. Its spirit, I hope, will continue to travel.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Dr. Danielle Gurevitch
Founder and Chair
The Sir Naim Dangoor Centre for Universal Monotheism
Faculty of Humanities, Bar-Ilan University
2008–2026
