Joan and jaime Constantiner
Joan and Jaime Constantiner have shown a deep commitment to ideas of Jewish uniqueness and Jewish identity throughout their lives, both in Mexico and in Israel.
They fought for Zionist goals thus following Elias Sourasky, Joan's father, footsteps .
A review of their resumes explains how they became a model of caring and doing, flexibility and resilience.
Their resumes reflect the much pride they felt about their Jewish identity and the pursuit of personal and professional excellence.
Dr. Jaime Constantiner:
He was born on June 6, 1918, in Lithuania. In 1928, his father left Lithuania for Mexico due to economic difficulties.
Jaime studied at the Hebrew Gymnasia in Kaunas. In 1934, at the age of 16, he immigrated to Mexico with his mother and brother.
He studied medicine at the National University of Mexico (UNAM) and married Joan Sourasky in 1946.
In 1952, he visited Israel for the first time as a representative of Mexico at the Second World Congress of the Society of Jewish Physicians.
Since that visit, he has come to Israel repeatedly. Jaime has supported many Jewish and cultural organizations, including the UNAM Philharmonic Orchestra.
He also supported higher education institutions, such as Tel-Aviv University's School of Culture and the Weizmann Institute.
In 1980, Tel-Aviv University awarded him an honorary doctorate.
For several years, he participated in the Board of Trustees of Tel Aviv University and 1999 was elected chairperson.
Joan Constantiner:
She was born in New York City, USA, on November 10, 1926.
She completed her doctorate at the National University of Mexico (UNAM).
Joan Constantiner has expressed a keen interest in promoting the idea of Jewish identity and participating in educational challenges.
She was particularly interested in art and culture.
One of her goals was to spread the history of the horrific events that occured during the Holocaust.
She promoted this goal as a lecturer and through the establishment of the WIZO Mexico Foundation in memory of Prof. Pauline Kowalski, which was established to translate and distribute books dealing with the Holocaust.
Thus, the Spanish-speaking communities in Mexico, Latin America, Spain, and the rest of the world could learn about the Holocaust.
Joan established the Mexican chapter at the Museum of the Jewish People at Tel-Aviv University, for which she produced the first narrative video that presented the history, life, and contribution of the Jewish community in Mexico.
The naming of the School of Education in the Memory of Joan and Jaime Constantiner was made by their five sons: Roberto, Arturo, Victor, Teddy, and Leon.
