Israeli Government Approves $60 Million Plan to Strengthen Jewish Education in Diaspora

The Israeli government has approved a national initiative proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Shikli to expand formal Jewish education worldwide, with a focus on North America. The program aims to combat rising antisemitism and assimilation by reinforcing Jewish identity and connections to Israel among younger generations. Currently, about 1.8 million Jewish children of school age live in the United States, but only a small fraction attend Jewish educational institutions.

The initiative, led by the Prime Minister's Office in cooperation with the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and key Jewish community partners globally, will invest approximately 200 million shekels (around $60 million). It seeks to remove major barriers to Jewish education expansion, including tuition costs, geographic accessibility, lack of support for students with learning disabilities, and the need to improve educational quality. Innovative frameworks and digital tools will also be developed to broaden access.

At the government session, North American Jewish Federation leaders Gary Torgow and Eric Fingerhut welcomed the plan. Netanyahu emphasized the fight against antisemitism as a fight to preserve Jewish heritage and identity, calling the education investment crucial for the Jewish people's future. Shikli described the decision as historic and a direct continuation of his ministry's "Aleph-Bet" project, aiming to ensure every Jewish child in the diaspora receives meaningful Jewish education. Torgow highlighted the plan's role in strengthening ties between Israel and global Jewish communities and securing Jewish continuity for future generations.