Funding Aids Organizations That Promote Economic Development, Self-Sufficiency and Jewish Identity

December 10, 2012

Funding Aids Organizations That Promote Economic Development, Self-Sufficiency and Jewish Identity

LOS ANGELES (Dec. 10, 2012)—The Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles (The Foundation) today announced it has awarded a total of $700,000 in grants to seven Israel-based organizations whose programs support and encourage Jewish identity, and Israel’s economic development and self-sufficiency.

Each of the seven recipient organizations received grants of $100,000 to be distributed over a three-year period.  Among the programs receiving funding are Tel Aviv-based Dan Academic Center to provide education and job placement in advanced technology for students from underserved communities, and the BINA Center for Jewish Identity and Hebrew Culture for its forward-thinking Secular Yeshiva program in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. 

“This year’s recipients of Foundation Israel Grants are all innovative organizations with proven track records for success,” said Foundation President and CEO Marvin I. Schotland.  “Operating throughout the country, these initiatives provide critical support that heightens Jewish identity and engagement among diverse constituencies to help ensure a strong Jewish future.

“The grants are expected to directly impact some 20,000 Israelis. This group of organizations comprises a diverse portfolio of grantees in terms of geographic regions served and the type of impact each program will have. The Foundation will leverage its dollars with contributions from funding partners, to maximize both the impact of The Foundation’s grants and prospects for success.” 

Israel’s Southwestern United States Consul General David Siegel said, “The nonprofit sector in Israel is an incredibly exciting and deeply meaningful part of the country. On behalf of the State of Israel, I commend The Foundation for its vision and the vital work it does in Israel to secure the future of the Jewish people and help its communities grow and prosper.”

Since 2006, The Foundation has awarded approximately $5 million in grants of up to $250,000 over a three-year period to 27 recipient organizations that address key issues facing Israel. Grants are awarded to programs that can create meaningful change in the country, that have achievable short-term outcomes that affect a significant number of people or regions, and that offer opportunities for partnerships with other funders.

Jobs for Underserved Communities

Dan Academic Center received a grant for its Yahad La-Hi Tech program to provide academic degrees, mentoring and job placement in advanced technology to 130 students from underserved communities, including Israeli-Ethiopians, Israeli Arabs and Druze, ultra-Orthodox and new immigrants.  Dan Academic Center, located in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, is supported by many major technology companies.

“Dan Academic Center actively pursues a social strategy designed to help decrease social gaps in Israeli society by providing access to academic studies and employment in the high technology and information technology industries, Israel's major economic growth engine, for people from low socioeconomic backgrounds,” said Dan Academic Center President Prof. Niv Ahituv, Ph.D.

“Currently, underprivileged populations have almost no representation in these industries.  As Dan Academic Center has set a goal of granting scholarships to 15 percent of our students, the Foundation’s support is instrumental in helping us to meet this challenge and to allow more talented young people to flourish and advance their communities.”

Engaging Secular Military Members

Another grant goes to the BINA Center for Jewish Identity and Hebrew Culture for its innovative Secular Yeshiva program in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.  The program will engage nearly 525 Israelis before, during and after their military service in study of Jewish texts, philosophy and culture, while encouraging social activism.

“Today the Jewish and democratic character of Israel faces many challenges, from radicalization to alienation,” said BINA Executive Director Eran Baruch.  “BINA aims to strengthen Jewish identity of Israelis and Jews from all over the world by offering a pluralistic perspective and creative approach to Jewish life.  We also strive to make Israel a more just and democratic place.  With the help of this grant, we will be able to reach out to hundreds more young Jews and Israelis to bring them into our dialogue and engagement with Jewish values in Israel.”

Additional Awards

Other Israel Grant awards include:

• Atid Bamidbar for The Jewish Empowerment Program – To provide 1,000 Russian-speaking Israelis with knowledge and understanding of their Jewish culture; strengthened Jewish identity; a greater level of comfort and connection with native Israelis; and the tools to incorporate Jewish learning and customs into their daily lives.

• Ein Prat for Elul – To offer an intensive summer program that provides Jewish educational enrichment for 900 young adults from across the religious spectrum in Nes Harim and two additional locations.

• Gvahim for Career Development Program – To provide job training, language classes, networking and job placement for 75 highly qualified new immigrants in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

• Hamidrasha for Makom – To engage 20,000 secular Jewish children, families, teachers and community members near Haifa in Jewish culture and Jewish life through educational, community-building and social justice programs.

• Karev Initiatives in Education for The Jewish Lens – To enable some 1,100 12- to 14-year-old students in 20 elementary schools throughout Israel to explore their Jewish identity through photography.

About The Foundation

Established in 1954, the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles is the largest manager of charitable assets and the leader in planned-giving solutions for Greater Los Angeles Jewish philanthropists.  The Foundation currently manages assets of $737 million (as of Dec. 31, 2011) and ranks among the 11 largest Los Angeles foundations.  In 2011, The Foundation and its more than 1,000 donors distributed $54 million in grants to hundreds of organizations with programs that span the range of philanthropic giving.  For more information, visit www.jewishfoundationla.org.