About Us

Did you know that thousands of Israeli schoolchildren:

• Have never seen the Western Wall?
• Have never seen the inside of a Synagogue?
• Have no understanding of Moses, the Ten Commandments, the Torah, Jewish history, or Jewish law?
• Grow-up ignorant of Jewish Law and its traditions?

WHO WE ARE

Am Yisrael Echad is a non-profit organization that provides informal Jewish education for Israeli children ages 8-18 in the public school system. Ten years ago, Am Yisrael Echad began with a group of 100 students in a single high school. Today we have reached more than 200 schools and 100,000 students throughout Israel.

OUR MISSION

Israeli youth are subject to a great deal of pressure. At age 18, they serve in the army and undertake tasks that require extreme physical and emotional strength. Without a strong sense of identity as Jews, without the knowledge and appreciation of their heritage, they could easily find themselves wondering "What am I doing this for?!  Why do I have to work so hard? For what?" They feel resentment and drop out or look for ways to minimize their participation in Israeli society. A soldier without a Jewish background lacks the deep motivation that is so critical to Israel's security and its future. 

The goal of Am Yisrael Echad is to strengthen the students' sense of Jewish identity and to teach tolerance and respect for people with different political and religious perspectives. Students who have participated in our programs connect with positive Jewish role models and feel stronger ties to both the land of Israel and the people of Israel.

WHAT WE DO

Through innovative programs both in and out of schools, students experience various elements of Judaism in an informative, but non-coercive environment. Am Yisrael Echad works with the Ministry of Education to provide enrichment programs that focus on the symbols and customs of Jewish observance. Extracurricular programs introducing Jewish values and themes are presented in schools ,community centers, development towns and disadvantaged neighborhoods.

Jewish education programs for junior high & high school:

• Introduction to Jewish holidays and Jewish values
• Introduction to Bar/Bat Mitzvah
• Informal meetings between secular and religious teenagers

Jewish educaton programs in Community Centers, Moshavim, & development towns:

• Provide social and academic enrichment
• Offer a refuge for children without family support
• Give adolescents a chance to interact with positive role models
• Instill pride in our Jewish heritage and identity