The Israeli government unanimously approved Sunday a NIS 200 million national initiative to strengthen Jewish education in Diaspora communities, in partnership with the Jewish Federations of North America.
The plan, proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Minister Amichai Chikli, will be led by the Prime Minister’s Office together with Chikli’s ministry and key partners in Jewish communities worldwide, with JFNA playing a central role in advancing the initiative.
Gary Torgow, chair of JFNA’s Board of Trustees, and Eric Fingerhut, president and CEO of JFNA, were invited to attend the cabinet meeting at which the proposal was approved. Both welcomed the decision and the partnership between the Government of Israel and Jewish Federations on what officials described as a strategic initiative for the future of the Jewish people.
Addressing the cabinet and Netanyahu, Torgow said the initiative was “vital” to helping provide “a day-school education to every Jewish child in the Diaspora.” He told ministers that four years earlier, on 6 Tammuz, July 5, 2022, the memorial date of Netanyahu’s brother Yoni, he met with the prime minister to raise the issue and urge significant Israeli government investment in Diaspora Jewish education. Torgow said that meeting helped lead to Sunday’s announcement of a first-year NIS 200 million Israeli government investment in partnership with JFNA.
The initiative will focus especially on North America, where the government said approximately 1.8 million Jewish school-age children live in the United States, while only a small percentage attend Jewish educational institutions.
According to the joint statement from the Prime Minister’s Office and the Diaspora Affairs Ministry, the program aims to increase enrollment in Jewish schools, strengthen Jewish identity, deepen young Jews’ sense of belonging to the Jewish people, and reinforce their connection to the State of Israel.
The government framed the initiative as a strategic national priority, particularly in light of the sharp rise in antisemitic incidents since the October 7 massacre and the broader challenges facing Jewish communities worldwide.
Making Jewish education accessible for nearly two million American children
The plan will seek to remove several barriers that limit the expansion of Jewish education, including the high cost of tuition, geographic accessibility, a shortage of services for students with learning disabilities, and the need to strengthen the quality and excellence of Jewish schools.
It will also include the development of new educational frameworks and digital tools intended to make Jewish education accessible to broader audiences, including families and communities that are currently outside the formal Jewish school system.
Netanyahu said the decision reflected Israel’s responsibility toward Jewish communities worldwide and the shared future of Israel and Diaspora Jewry.
“The fight against antisemitism is one and the same struggle,” Netanyahu said. “Antisemites seek not only to destroy Jews, but they also seek to destroy our unique heritage, our culture, and our identity.”
“Since its founding, the State of Israel has served as an anchor for the security of the Jewish people,” he added. “Today, we are also strengthening one of the most important pillars of our future: Jewish education. This is a major investment in the next generation of the Jewish people, in its identity, its values, and its deep connection to the State of Israel.”
Netanyahu said the partnership between Israel and Diaspora Jewry was “a tremendous source of strength,” adding that the cabinet decision reflected a shared commitment to securing the future of the Jewish people.
Torgow said the government’s decision marked a major moment in Israel-Diaspora relations.
“This is a historic day for Israel and for Jewish communities around the world,” he said. “Together, we are recognizing the paramount importance of global Jewish education and the critical role it plays in building strong connections between Israel and the Jewish world, as well as resilience for Jews everywhere during these challenging times.”
“The unprecedented step that the Government of Israel is taking today, in partnership with the Jewish Federations of North America, will help ensure Jewish continuity for generations to come,” Torgow added.
Cooperation between government, JFNA, and Jewish communities
The initiative is expected to be implemented through cooperation between Israeli government bodies, JFNA, and Jewish communal partners, with the stated goal of expanding access to formal Jewish education and strengthening Jewish identity among Diaspora youth.
Chikli called the approval “a historic decision” and said expanding Jewish education in the Diaspora had been one of his main goals since entering office.
“When I assumed office three and a half years ago, I was astonished to discover that only a small percentage of Jewish children in the Diaspora receive a Jewish education,” Chikli said. “I therefore set one clear objective: to ensure that every Jewish child in the Diaspora has the opportunity to receive a meaningful Jewish education that strengthens their identity and their connection to the Jewish people and the State of Israel.”
Chikli said Jewish education in the Diaspora was “our deepest and most effective response to rising antisemitism and the challenge of assimilation.”
“The more young people who receive a high-quality Jewish education, the more we will strengthen the resilience, identity, and future of the Jewish people,” he said.
The minister added that the decision follows work carried out over the past two years through the “Aleph-Bet” project, which he said had proven successful in increasing enrollment in Jewish educational institutions.