Vision and Mission
To create, enhance and support Jewish Israeli culture, in varied shapes and forms. To encourage Haifa residents of all ages to become active participants in our classes, performances, lectures and activities. All of this is offered in an open-minded, non-denominational atmosphere, encouraging the participants to engage in an open dialogue with themselves and each other.
About twenty years ago, Israelis from diverse backgrounds, particularly secular and traditional Israelis, started to realize that they had to take ownership over their own cultural life. The split between religious (Dati) and secular (Hiloni) Jews in the Israeli educational system and politics, caused large numbers of secular Israelis to feel a sense of alienation and even hatred towards Jewish culture and tradition. Additionally, secular Israelis in their twenties and thirties had a very superficial level of knowledge and connection to Judaism and Jewish culture.
Slowly but surely, a new movement of scholars, rabbis and educators emerged who cared about these issues and wanted to create change, people like Rabbi Daniel Troper, Rabbi Mordechai Bar-Or, Dr. Ruth Calderon, Rabbi Benny Law, Eran Baruch and others created institutions like Beit Avi-Chai, Alma, Elul, Kolot, Bina and more. These institutions developed Jewish studies classes and text study groups as well as performances that are connected to Jewish issues mainly serving audiences in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
About twenty years ago, Israelis from diverse backgrounds, particularly secular and traditional Israelis, started to realize that they had to take ownership over their own cultural life. The split between religious (Dati) and secular (Hiloni) Jews in the Israeli educational system and politics, caused large numbers of secular Israelis to feel a sense of alienation and even hatred towards Jewish culture and tradition. Additionally, secular Israelis in their twenties and thirties had a very superficial level of knowledge and connection to Judaism and Jewish culture.
Slowly but surely, a new movement of scholars, rabbis and educators emerged who cared about these issues and wanted to create change, people like Rabbi Daniel Troper, Rabbi Mordechai Bar-Or, Dr. Ruth Calderon, Rabbi Benny Law, Eran Baruch and others created institutions like Beit Avi-Chai, Alma, Elul, Kolot, Bina and more. These institutions developed Jewish studies classes and text study groups as well as performances that are connected to Jewish issues mainly serving audiences in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Our partners:
Heichal Eliyahu Organization (Non-profit):
This group of Haifa business people donated the funds to build our beautiful facility, and they also provide a substantial portion of our annual budget. This organization also supports 929, a well-known web-based initiative promoting daily bible study, and the Department of Humanities at the University of Haifa.
The Haifa Reali School:
This school is one of the best and most well-known schools in Israel. It was established more than 100 years ago and some of its graduates have gone on to become important leaders in Israeli society. It is a semi-private school encompassing four different campuses in Haifa, with more than 4000 students Pre-K to 12th grade. It also includes the IDF boarding school (one of two that exist) and our own Hadarim campus.
