The legacy of Alliance: Kol Israel Haverim (KIAH)
The legacy of Alliance: The legacy of Alliance was shaped through the unique and inspiring encounter between French Jewry, with its values of modernity, humanism, and equality, and the broad-minded tradition of Jews in the Islamic countries, North Africa, the Balkans, and the Middle East. This encounter shaped a moderate, connecting, and inclusive Judaism that emphasizes social values such as justice, human dignity, and mutual responsibility. The legacy of Alliance serves as a foundation for understanding the profound and long-lasting impact of the “Alliance Israélite Universelle” organization on both the Jewish people and Israeli society. It continues to inspire the social and educational approach and actions of the organization today.
The legacy of Alliance is the story of the Jewish communities in the Islamic countries, where 280 modern Jewish institutions and schools were established, encouraged and supported by the community leaders, heads, and Rabbis. These institutions brought about a dramatic change in the status of Jews in their countries. The schools provided a modern Jewish education to more than a million pupils, both boys and girls, offering universal education and professional training, alongside religious studies and Hebrew language instruction. In these countries, an educated and modern generation connected to an open inclusive Jewish tradition emerged.
Proclamation of Alliance: “Kol Israel Haverim”
“Unite all noble spirits and generous hearts to fight hatred and ancient prejudice. Build a society of young Jews who will show solidarity with all human beings — with Jews who suffer simply because they are Jews, and with all who are victims of prejudice, whatever their religion may be. Ensure that culture drives away the ignorance and fanaticism of a few. Ensure that the gathering of Jewish forces, few in number but great in love and the desire to do good, will indeed bring about a triumph of truth and universal reason — come to us, we are establishing the “Alliance Israélite Universelle” “Kol Israel Haverim””.
(From the Proclamation issued by the organization’s founders in 1860)
The vision of Alliance: Kol Israel Haverim
“Alliance”’s vision was to bring Jews together in a spirit of solidarity, mutual aid, and shared responsibility, guided by universal values and a commitment to human progress. From the very beginning, this vision was translated into education. Alliance established around 280 schools, serving about one million students. It founded teacher training colleges and rabbinical seminaries, certifying hundreds of teachers and Rabbis who were then sent to teach in Alliance schools worldwide.
The story of Alliance is the source of inspiration for our efforts to strengthen Israeli society today. Educational excellence, local leadership, and a unifying Jewish identity are the DNA of Alliance's work in Israel today. Kol Israel Haverim operates in Israel’s geographic and social periphery, cultivating local educational and community leadership that empowers students to achieve academic success while strengthening their identity, sense of belonging, and social engagement. This creates a circle of success and giving: those who receive and succeed also give back and create positive impact.
Alliance Museum
The 'Alliance Museum' is a virtual museum that tells the story of the legacy of communities, partners, students, educators and school principals who took part in the important activities of the Alliance Kol Israel Haverim organization which exists for over 160 years and whose activities focused on the Jewish communities in Asia, Africa and the Balkans.
The story of the organization is the story of these communities, where 280 schools and 10 training institutions operated across 15 countries and 105 cities. These schools and institutions established with the support of local leadership brought a dramatic change in the status of Jews in their countries. “Alliance” schools offered modern Jewish education, universal knowledge, and vocational training, alongside religious studies and Hebrew language instruction. In these countries, an educated and modern generation committed to bridging tradition and modernity, East and West emerged.
Each story of the students, educators, emissaries, and sages represents a whole world of life moments, tradition, learning, and family. Together, they weave the story of more than two million people in Israel and worldwide — graduates of the Alliance educational network, their families, and countless others across the Jewish world. This is a story reflects values of humanism, mutual responsibility, social mobility, equality, bridging tradition and progress, Jewish cultural values, and education.
Through the virtual museum, we research, preserve, document, make accessible, and share the stories of the communities and figures who took part in “Alliance: Kol Israel Haverim”. The museum brings together background materials, photographs, documents, stories, exhibits, and films into a moving and deeply connecting experience. Visitors can explore authentic historical materials and learn about the people and communities that brought “Alliance” to life and carried its mission forward. They can discover and experience the renewed Jewish culture through both heart and mind, creating a powerful connection between new knowledge and the emotional experience of history coming alive.
In Paris
in Casablanca, Morocco
