We’re committed to strengthening bonds between diverse groups in Israel — and between New York Jewry and Israel.
Where Collaboration Begins
Our groundbreaking Co.Lab initiative brings together Israeli changemakers who represent the diversity of Israeli society — Haredi, Arab, LGBTQ, Ethiopian, and more — to collaborate on a shared vision for Israel’s future.
Modeling Cooperation
At a time of extreme polarization, this work has become ever more critical. Highlights include:
- Bringing religious and secular Jewish teens together to build leadership, volunteer in their communities, and just have fun.
- Enabling young Arab and Jewish residents in the mixed city of Akko to identify shared problems in their community and work together to solve them.
Toward Greater Understanding
- Through funding to the Jewish Agency, we supported the development of The New Jew, a four-episode miniseries that followed well-known Israeli host Guri Alfi as he traveled the United States, introducing contemporary American Jewish life to Israelis.
- We’re hosting Israeli influentials who visit New York to help Israelis develop a greater understanding of and sensitivity to Jewish life in North America.
- In partnership with the Jewish Agency, we support a delegation of 23 Israeli emissaries (shlichim) who work with 114 New York organizations to bring Israel education to community members of all ages. These emissaries ran more than 2,688 programs and engaged over 17,000 people last year.
We’re integrating the latest wave of Ethiopian olim.
With our support, the Jewish Agency for Israel is completing the second wave of "Operations Zur Israel," which began in 2020 and will see a total of 5,000 Ethiopians brought to Israel. To help these new olim acclimate and succeed, we’re funding new models of integration — placing those who have more formal education on a kibbutz or community setting, rather than absorption centers.
