October 2, 2013 -- New
York, NY -- Zionism claimed a victory this week when Jewish
National Fund (JNF) announced a new and expanded partnership
with the Alexander Muss High School in Israel (AMHSI).
Pursuant to an agreement unanimously approved by both JNF’s Board of Directors
and Board of Trustees as well as by AMHSI, JNF will appoint all members of
AMHSI’s Board of Directors and integrate AMHSI’s operations into JNF’s broad
array of educational initiatives.
“Many people in
the Jewish world today – even the most committed – are afraid of the ‘Z’ word:
Zionism,” said JNF Chief Executive Officer Russell F. Robinson. “Not Jewish
National Fund. It is part of our everyday vernacular -- whether we speak to
young or old, whether we are talking about our work in Israel or our Zionist
educational activities here in the U.S., when we refer to our rich history and
when we speak about our vital and promising future. This enhanced partnership
between JNF and AMHSI will catapult Zionist education to the next level.”
As the single
largest provider of Zionist education in the U.S., Jewish National Fund offers
myriad ways to connect young American Jews to Israel – from trips to b’nai
mitzvah projects to education and advocacy programs.
For over 40
years, AMHSI has led the field in providing transformative pluralistic Israel
experiences for high school students. AMHSI has developed fully accredited
academic programs for teens to strengthen their Jewish identity while
developing deep-rooted connections to Jewish life, to the Jewish people, and to
Israel. Today, the school has more than 20,000 alumni – many of whom are active
leaders in their Jewish communities.
While JNF and
AMHSI have enjoyed a long-standing partnership, both JNF and AMHSI see this new
relationship as greatly beneficial to the greater Jewish community.
“As the parent of
two children who attended a semester program at the Hod Hasharon campus,” said
Joseph Wolfson, Assistant Vice President of JNF and member of the AMHSI
Board, “I know that AMHSI provides a unique experience for children to
learn about the history of the Jewish people, our connection to the Land of
Israel, and our Zionist heritage. JNF, being the original Zionist
organization and having a broad array of Zionist education initiatives, is a
natural partner for AMHSI. When the opportunity for JNF and AMHSI to work even
more closely arose, I was an immediate supporter, and our review and work to
bring together the relationship only reinforced my view. I am excited
about the possibilities we have to work together and look forward to great
success. I know that this partnership can have a lasting and enormous impact on
the next generation of Zionist leaders.”
“All through the
years I have had great respect for the activities of Jewish National Fund,”
said Stephen Muss, Chair of AMHSI. “JNF is famous for planting millions of
trees, water conservation, and dedication to Israel and the Negev. JNF and
AMHSI have had a growing relationship over the years that has led to the Board
of Trustees of both JNF and AMHSI to approve an even greater integration of
AMHSI, so that both organizations can consolidate their educational efforts and
we can focus on what’s important: teenage Israel experience, Jewish continuity
and Zionist education.”
Orit Rome, newly
named AMHSI Co-Executive Director who has served in many roles including Chief
Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, will now work in partnership
with the new Co-Executive Director, Rabbi Leor Sinai.
Leor made Aliyah
with his family in June 2011. His professional resume includes the Dan
Hotels of Israel, Jewish National Fund, The Jewish Lens, Hillel Israel, and The
Jewish Agency for Israel. Leor was ordained in 2009 at The Jewish Theological
Seminary and works passionately to build networks of Jews worldwide with Israel
at their center.
Leor and Orit
will run the day-to-day operations of the school, managing the marketing,
fundraising, education, finances, facilities, and overall administration. Rabbi
Philip Nadel will continue as the head of the school, doing an outstanding job
of keeping AMHSI’s educational standards at a very high level.
“We are all about
growth and about the development of the next generation of leaders,” said JNF
Chairman of the Board Ronald S. Lauder. “AMHSI is the leading high school
program in Israel and we take great pride in the knowledge that our oversight
and operation of AMHSI will help ensure another generation of students. We
believe in it – in its history and its future. We have a moral obligation to
make sure the school continues to thrive. And we will.”
“When I was at
Muss,” said Matisyahu, popular musician and Sept. ’95 alum, “it was probably
the first time in my life that I felt that being Jewish was something that was
important and there was something to be discovered.”
Said AMHSI alum
(June ’82) Wayne Firestone, former President and CEO of Hillel: The Foundation
of Jewish Campus Life: “AMHSI is a program that speaks in such universal terms
to all young people and allows them to have an intellectual and personal
connection to explore their Jewish identities.”
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