Established in 1984, AVI CHAI is a private foundation operating in Israel, North America, and the former Soviet Union.
We are committed to helping Judaism and the Jewish people flourish and to promoting the centrality of Israel in Jewish life. To fulfill this commitment, AVI CHAI focuses on two main goals: encouraging mutual understanding and responsibility between Jews of different backgrounds and approaches to Jewish tradition, and nurturing an understanding and appreciation of the Jewish heritage, laws, customs, and values among all sectors of the Jewish people.
Since 1988, the foundation has initiated and developed a range of projects in Israel and supported other like-minded organizations and their programs, all in the interest of advancing these shared goals.
In recent years, we have been privileged to be part of dramatic changes in Israeli society, marked by trends that have engaged an increasing number of Israelis in creative programs of Jewish study and celebration and in opportunities to build living bridges between Jews with differing approaches to Jewish tradition.
These trends are apparent in many spheres: in schools, informal educational settings, town squares, cultural centers, and more. A new Jewish-Israeli-Zionist discourse is being developed, penetrating the hearts of a growing number of Israeli Jews and forging the foundation for a healthier state of Israel.
On our website, we present concise information about the programs supported by the AVI CHAI Foundation in Israel, which seek to implement this shared vision, and have proven able to make important contributions to Israeli society and serve to influence and inspire others.
We believe Israeli society has never been as amenable to this vision as it is today. And yet, despite our considerable collective achievements, the road ahead remains long and complex. We encourage you to learn about our grantees, about their goals and values, and to work together to turn this shared vision of a vibrant Jewish and democratic state in the 21st Century – into reality.
Mem Bernstein
Chairperson, the AVI CHAI Foundation