Michael C. Kotzin was one of the Chicago Jewish community’s preeminent leaders and one of Israel’s most recognized advocates locally, nationally and internationally.

Kotzin died Oct. 18 following a long illness. He was 74.

“Our community, the Jewish federation world, indeed the entire Jewish people have benefited in ways almost too numerous to recount from Michael’s deep knowledge, keen insight, steadfast commitment and brilliant mind,” said Steven B. Nasatir, Kotzin’s longtime friend and president of the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, in a letter with JUF Chair Bill Silverstein.

( Read the eulogy Nasatir gave at Kotzin’s funeral. )

Kotzin served JUF since 1988, most recently as the Special Consultant to the President, and formerly as Executive Vice President. He was an innovative thinker and widely respected authority on a wide range of issues, including global anti-Semitism, the threat of a nuclear Iran, Israel-Diaspora relations, and intergroup relations.

In close collaboration with lay leadership and his professional colleagues, he helped set the JUF/Federation agenda in many arenas, from public affairs to communications to the academic study of Israel.

He was involved in starting an Israel Studies Project , first at Northwestern University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and then at other Illinois universities. “The notion was to see if we could do something to get Israel into the classroom to be taught about as a country on the globe and in the world, among the nations of the world, not just involved with conflict,” Kotzin had said during a recent conversation.

Kotzin traveled frequently to Israel, often advising top officials and, on other trips, accompanying Illinois leaders, including then-Sen. Barack Obama, former Ill. Gov. Pat Quinn, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, and the late Joseph Cardinal Bernadin.

“It was the first time that any Cardinal had, in the world, traveled to Israel in an interfaith setting, with the Catholics and Jews together,” he said, reflecting on the 1995 historic trip to Israel with Bernadin. “We were modeling not only interfaith relations, but intergroup relations.”

“Michael took people as they were. He did not judge them,” said Rabbi Samuel Fraint, who officiated at Kotzin’s funeral. “He was the same with Jews and non-Jews alike.”

Kotzin also served as director of JUF’s Jewish Community Relations Council and, before joining JUF, was Chicago Region Director of the Anti-Defamation League. Prior to coming to the ADL, he was on the faculty of the Department of English at Tel Aviv University for 11 years.

While living in Israel, Kotzin served in the Israel Defense Forces during the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

Last year, JUF Press released On the Front Lines in a ChangingWorld , a compilation of essays, opinion pieces, speeches, and reviews Kotzin wrote during the past 25 years. (See excerpts from On the Front Lines on p. 31 of this month’s book section.)

“Beyond his professional accomplishments, Michael was a trusted friend, a proud Jew with a profound sense of history and identity, and a mensch,” said JUF Chairman Bill Silverstein. “He had a huge heart, a quick wit and a hearty laugh. We will miss him deeply.”

“Michael was a man of peace,” Fraint said. “He touched, influenced, and mentored many people.”

“He was indefatigable, investing unparalleled passion, energy and focus in every facet of his work. His uncompromising fairness and decency were hallmarks of his character,” Nasatir said.

Kotzin is survived by his wife Judy; children Abigail, Daniel and Joshua; and grandchildren.

The family has asked that contributions be made to the Michael C. Kotzin Fund for Israel Studies of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. This fund will perpetually extend his groundbreaking work of bringing visiting Israeli scholars and writers to teach on Illinois campuses. Contributions can be sent to 30 S. Wells St., Rm. 3060, Chicago, IL 60606.

Other colleagues and friends of Kotzin have also remembered him in writing: JUF Communications Vice President Aaron B. Cohen in a blog for The Times of Israel ; Linda Epstein, consultant for private philanthropies and former director of JUF’s Israel office, in The Jerusalem Post ; and Richard Hirschhaut of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee in JUF News .