GW’s Judaic Studies program will have a new professorship in honor of a former campus rabbi, the University announced Monday.

The Morningstar Foundation made a donation of an undisclosed amount to the Judaic Studies program to establish the Max Ticktin Professorship of Israel Studies, a new endowed professorship created to lead Israeli studies in the program.

The Morningstar Foundation is a family foundation established by Susie and Michael Gelman. Max Ticktin, a rabbi, was an assistant director of GW Hillel for more than a decade and also taught as a professor of Hebrew before recently retiring, according to the release. Susie Gelman took classes with Ticktin for “several years” while taking non-degree courses in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences. Michael Gelman did not attend GW.

“We are absolutely delighted to honor the legacy and impact on generations of students of our dear friend and beloved teacher, Max Ticktin, by establishing the Max Ticktin Professorship in Israel Studies. We are very excited to partner with the George Washington University in creating the cornerstone of what will be a significant academic enterprise that will strengthen the knowledge and understanding of the modern State of Israel, which is so important to Max and to our family,” the Gelmans said in the release.

The couple have shown interest in national Jewish community in the past. Michael Gelman is the chair of the executive committee of The Jewish Federations of North America, according to the website of his accounting firm, from which he has retired.

Ben Vinson, the dean of the Columbian College, said in the release that the addition of a faculty member to the program will help to improve what he described as an already strong department.

“The addition of a dedicated professor who will advance the discourse and knowledge of the field will help us reach our goal of becoming one of the premier academic destinations for the study of Israel,” Vinson said.

The grant to the Judiac Studies program marks the second major gift of an undisclosed amount announced this month. The gift counts toward GW’s $1 billion fundraising campaign, which has raised more than $790 million.