The Technion’s story has been intertwined with Israel’s for more than a century, from laying the foundations for a new nation to shaping its future.
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With an estate gift to the American Technion Society (ATS), Jack Hudes is continuing a tradition that began with his father, who included ATS in his own estate plans. Jack, 74, hopes that his gift will advance Israel’s security and prosperity as Israel recovers from war.
The Technion is the premier technical institution in Israel and one of the leading universities in the world,” he said. “Supporting the Technion is the best way to ensure the State of Israel will remain a high-functioning, well-educated nation.
Jack’s affinity for Israel was shaped by the experience of his parents, Edward and Tauba Hudes, Polish Jews who narrowly escaped the Nazi regime. Tauba’s life was spared thanks to the heroism of a German major, Karl Plagge, who followed his conscience and rescued 250 Jews from Tauba’s community. Edward escaped from his own Polish community to Russia, while most of his family was killed. The two met in a displaced persons camp in Munich before immigrating to Philadelphia, where Jack was born. Though memories of the Nazis haunted Jack’s parents for the rest of their lives, Israel stood as a beacon of Jewish safety and self-determination.
When this sense of safety was shattered on October 7, 2023, Jack, who lives in California, was moved to support the Jewish people in some way. He felt a gift to an Israeli university would have the most significant impact, so he followed his father’s example by giving to the Technion.
Jack has named ATS as a partial beneficiary of his individual retirement account (IRA), recognizing the tax benefits of such a gift. After his lifetime, a portion of the fund’s balance will flow to ATS, and the remainder will benefit his children. “For every dollar I leave to ATS in my IRA, 100 cents will go to ATS — not a penny will be taxed,” he said.
Jack’s estate gift will ultimately create an endowment at ATS — the Jack and Marjorie Hudes Endowed Fellowship Fund — that will support graduate student fellowships, helping to educate the next generation of Israeli innovators and entrepreneurs who will advance Israel’s safety and prosperity.