“Alliance Israélite Universelle”
Then and Today
On May 17th 1860, seventeen young Jews assembled in Charles Netter’s home in Paris. Among them were doctors, educators, journalists, lawyers, businessmen – all representatives of the Jewish liberal bourgeoisie of the late 19th century, bearers of the heritage of Enlightenment and Emancipation and loyal to their countries. They espoused defending human rights and protecting Jews from anti-Semitism all over the world. In that meeting, they formulated the basic pact of Alliance Israélite Universelle and distributed it a public announcement, in which the 1860 founders recommended the integration of ideas from the revolution of 1789 – equality, justice and human rights, together with the principals of Judaism: meaning, the perception of monotheism and the belief in a universal salvation that will occur with the coming of the Messiah.
Among the young founders were:
Graduates Register
Charles Netter, son of a dynasty of rabbis and a wealthy man who was attentive to the fate of Jewish communities in Europe.
Narcisse Levon, attorney, Adolph Cremieux assistant, had many achievements, participated in charitable activities.
Isidore Cohen, an ENIO graduate, professor of Philosophy, fervent supporter of the freedom of education and separation of church and state.
Eugene Manuel, also an ENIO graduate, poet and scholar.
Aristide Astruc, a rabbi of Portuguese origin (his family settled in Bayonne under the reign of Louise XIII), a strong opponent of widespread assimilation.
Jules Carvallo, at age 41 was the senior member of the group, road and bridge engineer, a pioneer of the railroads, president and founder of the periodical “L’opinion Nationale”, which tended to favor the French Empire.
Aolph Cremieux was a lawyer from Nimes. Although not a member of this group of youngsters, he was elected President of the Organization in 1863.
Protecting Minorities and Equal Rights for Jews
The struggle for equal rights, for Jews as well as other minorities, was one of the fundamental priorities of Alliance Israélite Universelle. For instance, in 1860, Alliance Israélite Universelle acted on behalf of Lebanese Christians, victims of a popular uprising, and in 1863 the organization interceded at the Spanish Ministry of Justice on behalf of imprisoned Protestants who were prohibited from spreading their religion. In most European countries, the organization aimed to obtain either pardon or reprieve for prisoners who were unjustly condemned without legal or official protection.
In June 1878, all the powers convened in Berlin to discuss the Crimean War between Russia and Turkey which broke out in 1877. With the assumption that this international meeting would create a proper opportunity to discuss in detail the issue of Jewish minorities in European Turkey, Alliance decided to send a representative to Berlin. Thus, the Jewish subject was unexpectedly introduced to the agenda in a manner that was not consistent with the rules. This was a real “debut” for this issue in the realm of international relations.
The success of this meeting was unanticipated: based on the proposal of the French delegation, which was supported by Germany and England, the following conclusions were drawn: “Differences in religion or belief will not be a hindrance for anyone and will not be used as a pretext for revoking or not applying political and civil rights, blocking public employment, denying jobs and honors, or restricting the practice of professions in different branches of the economy, regardless of location. The freedom of all religious practice shall be ensured for all citizens as well as foreigners; no obstacles will be placed in the path of the hierarchical organizations of different religious faiths or relations with spiritual leaders.
Culture and Education
The leaders of Alliance believed that one’s openness to French culture is an imperative condition for emancipation and part of the process of “regeneration” – a term that was significant during that time period – for the purpose of turning Jews into enlightened and modern citizens all over the world. Therefore, they saw it as their duty to immediately establish schools in order to assist and support oppressed Jews. These matters were already included in the Alliance Israélite Universelle Proclamation, written in 1860:
“If you believe that a large number of our fellow Jews, still overwhelmed by centuries of oppression, poverty, distress, humiliation, and cruel edicts, can recover their human and civil dignity; if you believe that the ways of the corrupt should be proven and corrected, and not merely discussed; in opening the eyes of the blind, and not forsaking them; relieving those who are beaten and supporting them, and not being satisfied with expressing condolences; defending those who are slandered, and not remaining silent [...] Jews of the world, come, listen to our call, join us, lend us your support and assistance.”
In October 1896, the first school of Alliance Israélite Universelle was opened in Tetouan, Morocco. It was a cornerstone that in time became a widespread network of schools from Morocco to Iran.
Humanistic and Pluralistic Education
Alliance Israélite Universelle created an environment of pluralistic education with the aim to preserve the bond between Jews and to protect them from the dangers that lie hidden within the rifts of Judaism. This atmosphere sought to promote the models of community consensus that the students could establish, in time, through Jewish activism in their own communities. This community consensus constituted the essence of a new Jewish public expression that considered heterogeneity in the Jewish population and the delicate mix between religious and secular, as manifested in all fields. The organization tirelessly emphasized the humanistic approach in education and in the new skills, which motivate and encourage one to consciously act for the benefit of people, build up a sense of criticism and support the right of expression for free creativity, for which Alliance Israélite Universelle saw a necessary condition for the continuity, development and cultural and spiritual prosperity of the Jewish people in general and of every individual Jew.
Bicultural Education
The organization cultivated Jewish consciousness by emphasizing the intellectual wisdom in traditional texts, without neglecting the importance of the present. The teaching of Judaism in the framework of Alliance Israélite Universelle took place on the crossroad between two cultures, universal and Jewish, towards which the partners in the educational process – parents, teachers, and students – all turn to. In Israel, a great effort was, and still is, made to ensure the existence of the two cultures, which form the foundations of Alliance Israélite Universelle. The students are enriched by both cultures.
Since its inception, Alliance has positioned its educational mission at the core of its activity. Over a million children and adolescents have been educated in Alliance schools since 1862.
Today, in around fifty Alliance Israélite Universelle institutes and branch schools tens of thousands of students are still being educated in harmony on the lap of Jewish heritage while acquiring general values in the modernist spirit, with loyalty to the Jewish tradition.
The Alliance Israélite Universelle organization activities in Israel today
Alliance Israélite Universelle is active in dozens of schools and communities in Israel through a variety of educational programs, to promote equal opportunity in education and reduce scholastic gaps, instill Jewish values into school culture and create an educational leadership that strives for social change on the basis of the Jewish tradition.
The main issues in Israeli society today are the growing social gaps that result in a lack of equal opportunity for education, and a widening of the secular – religious split that leads to the marginalization of the Jewish identity. Alliance Israélite Universelle attempts to respond to these issues. As part of its heritage, the organization still perceives the significance of education and teaching Jewish values, which include mutual responsibility, social justice, equal opportunity and developing leadership.
Alliance Israélite Universelle has a number of educational programs, part of which constitute a network of schools.
The Historic Schools – Spread out through the three main cities in Israel and in Mikve Israel, these schools form a model of educational excellence by placing an emphasis on social involvement and human rights. The historic schools include: the Alliance High School in Tel Aviv, Alliance Israélite Universelle High School in Haifa, Rene Cassin High School and the Braunshweig Conservative High School in Jerusalem. They instill in their students the values of Alliance Israélite Universelle, which are manifested in striving for excellence, teaching social activism in the spirit of Jewish values and contributing to the community. This network also includes the School for the Deaf in Jerusalem, in which deaf students, both Jews and Arabs, with various mental and physical disabilities study together and form a unique model of coexistence. There are three schools in the Mikve Israel Youth Village, established in 1870, as the first agricultural school for the Jewish people in the land of Israel: a state high school and a religious state high school that specialize in teaching life and natural sciences, environmental sciences, and biotechnology; and a French-Israeli high school in memory of Raymond Lauwan, established in 2007 as a joint initiative of the Israeli and French governments.
Sha’ar – a School Network for a New Future – The Sha’ar schools are located in the social periphery of Israel’s geographical center. Sha’ar is active in elementary schools and high schools, state schools and religious state school. We aim to promote educational excellence, social involvement and the teaching of Jewish values. The Sha’ar Network creates a program tailored to the needs of each school to promote learning achievements and expand horizons. In addition to emphasizing a high-quality High School Matriculation Certificate, we collaborate with well known academic institutes such as the Weizmann Institute for Science and Bar Ilan University. We also work alongside leading companies and enterprises in the Israeli economy, to expose our students to new domains. We believe that an investment in education and expanding students’ horizons will allow our pupils, new immigrants as well as second- and third-generation Israelis from low socio-economic backgrounds, to break through the cycle of poverty, dream of a better tomorrow, and realize that dream.
Morasha – a Network of Schools for Jewish Heritage and Social Involvement – The network nourishes the Jewish experience in schools, which is manifested on all levels of educational and social activities. The network incorporates thirty-three elementary schools and high schools from the two streams of education, secular and religious state education, while emphasizing their common foundations and holding continuous dialog between the two. The network helps the school staff by reviving Jewish education with an emphasis on the strengthening aspects of social action, creating a school community and maintaining a bond with the family home. This is done by activating instructors that help with the application of the program in the school, operating a teacher-training system (recognized by the Ministry of Education) and writing and implementing educational programs. The network is supported by the Avi Chai Foundation.
“Memizrach Shemesh” – The Jewish Social Leadership Center – “Memizrach Shemesh”, founded by Avi Chai Israel and Alliance Israélite Universelle, creates a Jewish social language, trains active members and develops leaders committed to the values of responsibility and justice as basic Jewish principals, and to social action in the spirit of Jewish tradition that is inspired by the Mizrahi-Jewish experience. “Memizrach Shemesh” is active in three main channels: creating and bequeathing the Jewish social language through the development of study material and its distribution in social education organizations; fostering a Jewish – social leadership by operating Torah study centers; and creating a cadre of activists in the Jewish social field through the establishment of study communities. In parallel with the core organizational activities, “Memizrach Shemesh” also organizes focused advanced education programs and study sessions for leading staffs in social education organizations. “Memizrach Shemesh” programs take place all over Israel, with top priority given to geographical or social periphery, for hundreds of participants every year.
The Kerem Institute for Teacher Training for a Humanistic-Jewish Education – Founded in 1974 by Alliance Israélite Universelle to train teachers in humanistic Jewish education. The curriculum at Kerem is unique, at the center of which are Judaic Studies, literature, sociology and art classes. Kerem attracts notably high-quality students from diverse backgrounds whom have a strong sense of mission. The development of an academic educational identity together with a deep social commitment, stand at the core of the training process at the institute. Kerem graduates are obligated to teach for at least three years within the formal educational system and are highly sought after. Some of them hold senior management positions today.
Facing the future
Alliance Israélite Universelle is deeply concerned with the social condition in Israel. The gaps between the different sectors are widening: between rich and poor, secular and religious, Ashkenazim and Sephardim and in politics – between left and right. Consequently, Alliance Israélite Universelle sees the social issue as its top priority. The organization believes that Judaic Studies that emphasize socially-oriented mitzvahs and give the well being of the community preference over the sanctification of religious rituals is a necessity that should go hand in hand with social actions. The aim is to restore Judaism to its rightful place, emphasizing the social aspect with people in the center, thus achieving the new Jewish identity that is being built in Israel today.
The educational work of Alliance Israélite Universelle is based on a number of principals:
Providing a Jewish – humanistic education; raising awareness and advocating human rights; teaching democracy; advancing undersreved populations and reducing social gaps; assisting in Aliyah absorption and providing French-language lessons and European culture studies.
[1] Based on an article in the Les Cahiers de L`Alliance Israelite periodical of August 1997, courtesy of Alliance Israélite Universelle Paris
[2] The historian Michael Graetz in Nouveaux Cahiers, number 97 pages 36-40
