Funding Provided To Six Programs Supporting Jewish Identity and Economic Advancement

LOS ANGELES (Dec. 21, 2015)—The Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles (The Foundation) today announced that it has granted $1.1 million to six Israeli organizations that strengthen that country’s Jewish identity and support economic development.

The Foundation, the largest manager of charitable assets and planned giving solutions for Los Angeles Jewish philanthropists, awards its multi-year Israel Grants annually to organizations that have the potential to create meaningful change in the country, have achievable short-term outcomes, affect a significant number of people or regions, and offer opportunities for partnerships with other funders. Since 2010, The Foundation distributed grants totaling more than $5.5 million to 41 organizations throughout Israel.

Recipient organizations of The Foundation’s latest Israel Grants awards include: Beit Midrash Elul; Beit Tefilah Israeli; Hut HaMeshulash; Joint Council of Pre-Military Leadership Academies; Hillel—The Right To Choose; and Tech-Career.

Marvin I. Schotland, president and chief executive officer, stated: “This year’s Israel Grants extend our Foundation’s tradition of supporting programs that foster Jewish identity and underpin economic self-sufficiency. These grants, to

initiatives which stretch throughout Israel, reflect the very best of those efforts and will positively impact prospectively thousands of Israeli lives in total. To be able to reach, engage and uplift so many—from such a great distance—is richly gratifying. We look forward to watching these inspirational programs flourish.”

Beit Tefilah Israeli (BTI), founded in 2004, is the recipient of a $200,000 grant for its program, Open Tent Shabbat and Holidays: Israeli-Judaism in the Public Sphere. Rabbi Esteban Gottfried, director and co-founder of the inclusive Jewish-Israeli grassroots community, stated: “This effort represents everything BTI is about – bringing meaningful Jewish-Israeli experience to the public sphere for holiday commemorations and celebrations. We reach people where they are, capture their interest and challenge them to explore Jewish identity with us. BTI aims to offer a new kind of Jewish ritual and practice, creating experiences that are modern, Israeli, visionary and compelling. This three-year grant means a tremendous amount to us: a vote of confidence from The Foundation in our work and the commitment to partner with us through 2018. We look forward to growing together in the years to come.”

Also awarded a $200,000 grant is Tech-Career for its program, Closing the Digital Gap—Empowering Ethiopian Israeli Young Adults. The program will support a comprehensive vocational technology training and placement program for Ethiopian Israelis. “We would like to thank the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles for their generous contribution which will assist us in providing a unique opportunity for young Ethiopian Israeli men and women to develop a technological career, to integrate into the high-tech industry, and ultimately into Israeli society,” said Avigail Harel, Tech-Career’s resource development director.

This year’s other Israel Grants recipient organizations and their programs, including amounts awarded, are as follows:

· Beit Midrash Elul, Learning Communities—Building Jewish Identities Through Text, $150,000—To engage Israeli Jews from 40 communities through an exploration of modern and traditional Jewish texts; and community members through public events related to Jewish identity.

· Hut HaMeshulash, Inspired Living: Renewing Jewish Identity, $150,000—To provide at-risk youth and young adults with a strengthened Jewish identity through engagement with Jewish text learning; art, music and creative writing; and Shabbat and holiday-based activities.

· Joint Council of Pre-Military Leadership Academies, Judaism, Zionism and Jewish Peoplehood for Students of the Pre-Military Leadership Academies (Mechinot), $200,000— To expose high school graduates to Jewish literature, holidays, history, practice and communities through a one-year Mechina program.

· Hillel—The Right to Choose, Workforce Integration and Facilitation Program, $200,000—To provide job training to young adults who leave ultra-Orthodox communities to facilitate their full integration into the Israeli workforce and broader society.

About The Foundation

Established in 1954, the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles (The Foundation) manages charitable assets of more than $1 billion (as of 12/31/14) entrusted to it by over 1200 families. The Foundation partners with donors to shape meaningful philanthropic strategies, magnify the impact of giving, and build enduring charitable legacies. Over the past 25 years, The Foundation has distributed $1 billion in grants to thousands of nonprofits across a diverse spectrum. www.jewishfoundationla.org