Dr. Arnulf M. Pins (“Arnie”) bequeathed an extraordinary legacy. He was a rare combination of vision and implementation. With Arnie, ideals were meant to be realized. His driving force was his abiding love for the Jewish people and the state of Israel. His tools were the disciplines of the social work profession and education. As an educator and social worker, he left a lasting imprint not only on the many services and programs he initiated and developed, but also on the hearts and minds of those fortunate enough to work with him.
He first came to Israel in 1971 as a visiting professor at the Paul Baerwald School of Social Work at the Hebrew University, where he helped establish the Joseph Schwartz Graduate Program for Training Community Center Directors and Senior Personnel. During that year, he served as an advisor to Chaim Zipori, who led the development of Israel's first community centers. In 1974, Arnie returned as an immigrant to assume the position of Associate Director of JDC-Israel and Director of the ADJC Regional Office for the Middle East, positions he held with distinction until his death on February 8, 1978.
During those four years, Arnie innovated and created, raising the standards for his profession and the community center staff. He worked tirelessly to foster closer cooperation and understanding between Diaspora Jewish communal workers and Israeli professionals. His influence will be felt for a long time by those who were his colleagues at the JDC, in schools of social work, and in various government ministries.