More than 100 major American philanthropists are in
Israel as part of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee’s first board of directors meeting there.
Board members are spending two days visiting JDC projects in Israel, including early childhood education programs for Arab Israelis in the North and intervention
programs for at-risk teenagers throughout the country.
The JDC, founded 93 years ago, was awarded the Israel Prize this year for the work its
Israeli branch has done in establishing and running social programs.
JDC-Israel has made a name for itself in programs
that assist some of Israel’s most vulnerable sectors, including immigrants, the elderly
and children in need. JDC allocated $140 million this year for projects in
Israel.
Board members are
scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and other Israeli politicians.
