KEREN HAJESSOD
Mission and Vision
The core and long-term mission of Keren Hajessod is strengthening the Israeli community.
Our priorities are:
- Strengthening the socially disadvantaged population of the periphery
- Supporting Aliyah and the integration of new immigrants
- Protecting Jewish identity
Strengthening of the socially disadvantaged population in the periphery
Keren Hajessod advocates for the socially disadvantaged sections of the population in Israeli society, and for people in geographically disadvantaged areas of Israel. It is especially important to support and strengthen the population in the Negev desert and in Galilee, and to dismantle the existing social divides. No less threatening is the large number of underprivileged and endangered children and youth, specifically in geographical fringe areas of the country. Every third child in Israel is living below the poverty line. The portion of children that have no access to quality education is frighteningly high at 40 percent.
To date, Keren Hajessod has been able to rehabilitate more that 90 affected cities, implemented thousands of social programs and helped in the upbringing and education of hundreds of thousands of orphans and underprivileged youth.
supporting new immigrants
Keren Hajessod’s commitment in terms of Aliyah begins before the actual immigration happens, with counseling and preparation in the country of origin. They encompass apsorption centers, Ulpanim and the erection of an aid network to help create a new common home. Our decades-old commitment to supporting Aliyah and integration spans three generations, and began during the first European pogroms and during WWII. After that, Keren Hajessod helped the endangered Jewish communities in Iran and Yemen and Morocco. In recent years, Keren Hajessod has supported the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) on their rescue missions and Aliyah efforts in the former USSR, Ethiopia, Syria and Cuba. Only recently, we were able to help Jews escape the economic collapse in Argentina and the increasing anti-semitism in Europe, and supported their immigration to Israel.
Protecting Jewish identity
Reaching out to Jewish youth world-wide, helping them create a connection to their heritage and bringing Israel closer to their hearts – that is another important pillar of Keren Hajessod. Keren Hajessod supports youth in foreign countries in participating in study programs or charitable projects in Israel. Keren Hajessod trains teaching staff as well as and future community leaders. In addition, the revivication of Jewish life in the former USSR is supported.
Team
President
Thomas Wyler
Committee
Nadia Guth Biasini, Jeremy Guggenheim, Daniel Haymann, Shiran Katz, Denise Schächter, Tali Scheiner, Emanuel Teicher, Emanuel Zloczower
OK Basel
Nadia Guth Biasini, President
OK Bern
Emanuel Zloczower, President
OK Zurich
Tali Scheiner, President
Atid
Delegate
Ofer Kol
Office
Viviane Engelmayer, Management
Lilly Rosenblatt, Office Zurich
