About Alliance: Kol Israel Haverim

Educational Excellence and Local Leadership in the Periphery While Cultivating a Unifying Israeli Judaism

Alliance-Kol Israel Haverim (KIAH) is a leading educational organization in Israel, and part of the Alliance Israélite Universelle founded in 1860 in France, which brought about massive changes in the Jewish world:

  • 280 modern Jewish schools established in the Balkans, Middle East, and North Africa;
  • Education for women;
  • Training centers for local cadres of leaders - educators, community leaders and rabbis;
  • Revival of the Hebrew language;
  • Founding of Mikve Israel (the first Jewish agricultural school in Israel).

Aliance Kol Israel Haverim is active in these areas:

These achievements and others created an educated and modern generation, connected to an open and inclusive Jewish tradition, and formed a building block toward the establishment of the State of Israel.

Today in Israel, Kol Israel Haverim promotes educational excellence and local leadership in the country’s periphery, cultivates a unifying Israeli Judaism, and creates connections to the Sephardic Tradition and to French Jewry.

.  The socio-economic gap between center and periphery can be seen in the lack of equal opportunities in education, and in the poor realization of the talents and potential of students from the periphery. 

Excellence in education is the main key to social mobility. Since there is a fit between motivation to learn, academic achievement, and academic success and the positive presence of students' identity, self-worth, and sense of belonging, 'All Israel Friends' encourages educational excellence in the periphery while strengthening local identity and leadership.

Impact areas:

  • Equal opportunity in education and maximizing the abilities and talents of students in the periphery.
  • Excellence in education as the main key to social mobility. 
  • Positive presence of students' identity, self-worth, and sense of belonging.

Israeli Judaism connects, Spanish Jewish tradition and connection to France: The increasing division of Israeli society into sectors along lines of religious identities and the weakening of its common denominators, lead to overall reduced identification with Jewish and democratic values. Religious extremism, the exclusion of the moderate traditional population and the alienation from Jewish tradition, significantly damage the country's social cohesion as well as its ties with the Diaspora. 

Rooted in a sense of responsibility for Klal Israel [all of Israel], and to strengthen the country as a Jewish and democratic state, 'Kol Israel Haverim' works to promote inclusive Jewish-Israeli identity and leadership.

Impact areas:

  • Social cohesion and strengthening common denominators.
  • Identification with Jewish and democratic values. 
  • The presence of the moderate traditional public, and the sense of belonging to the Jewish tradition.

Activities and Plans

Kol Israel Haverim initiates programs of intervention and empowerment in schools and in the community, and trains educational and local leadership as a means of fostering sustainable social and educational change. Based on the perspective that there is a correlation between academic achievement and identity processes, Kol Israel Haverim advances a diverse, inclusive, and unifying Jewish tradition.

The mission and vision of the organization 'Alliance: All Israel Friends' (KiH):

CEO's Message – Eli Barkat

Faith and hope. At the foundation of our mission at Kol Yisrael Chaviv, there are two intertwined principles: faith and hope. Faith in humanity, in the ability of humans to shape a solidary, equal, and just society; and the hope that, with joint efforts, we can make lasting change and ensure a better future for our children. 

We at the Alliance: All Israel Friends (AJF) are committed to creating the conditions that will allow for equal opportunity in education, so that students on the social periphery can reach their full potential. We know that the key to mobility in education is the positive presence of students' identities, recognition of their culture, and creating a sense of belonging to Jewish tradition and Israeli society. With all the diversity, we are committed to strengthening cohesion and common denominators, while identifying with the Jewish and democratic values on which Israeli society is founded. 

Faith and hope. Now more than ever. All of Israel is friends.

Chairman's Speech – Sam Pinto

My mission as Chairman of Kol Israel Chavivir is to chart a path to a better future for Israeli society, to create meaningful and sustainable change through education, and to ensure that the legacy of Alliance continues to be a lever for progress and prosperity for the Jewish people and Israeli society. Our educational programs provide equal opportunity in education; enhance students' self-worth; and strive to realize the full potential and talents of students in the periphery. Our programs foster a sense of belonging and identification with Jewish and democratic values, and strengthen social cohesion and common denominators among all of Israeli society. 

As a philanthropist, I invest in education out of love for people and the country. I believe in the power of education to create significant change and advance Israeli society towards a better future. For over thirty years, I have dedicated my time, and contributed my experience and money, to promoting a long-term strategy that will establish its existence and ensure the growth of the organization. With the help of valued partners, we continue the path that Alliance began in France over 160 years ago, and give the next generation the tools to succeed and lead.

On behalf of myself and the entire 'Alliance: All Israel Friends' (KIA) family, I invite you to join in taking part in the change, and together build a future of hope.