Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI)

Since 1929, The Jewish Agency for Israel has been working to secure a vibrant Jewish future. It was instrumental in founding and building the State of Israel and continues to serve as the main link between the Jewish state and Jewish communities everywhere. Today, JAFI connects the global Jewish family by providing meaningful Israel engagement and facilitating Aliyah. The Jewish Agency continues to address emergencies in Israel, rescue Jews from countries where they are at risk, and energizes young Israelis and their worldwide peers to rediscover a collective sense of Jewish purpose.

American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)

JDC works in 70 countries to alleviate hunger, hardship, rescue Jews in danger, create lasting connections to Jewish life, and help Israel overcome the social challenges of its most vulnerable citizens, both Jewish and non-Jewish. Their reach extends beyond the global Jewish community by providing high-impact disaster relief and long-term development assistance worldwide.

World ORT

Beginning in Russia in 1880 to help impoverished Jews acquire skills that would enable them to become self-sufficient, ORT has been focused on improving people’s lives around the world through education for over 130 years. Today, ORT provides skills training and self-help projects throughout the world, using funds raised by its supporters, and matched by development agencies and national governments, to put people on the path to economic independence.

Neve Michael Children’s Village

Family dysfunction, violence in the home, and child abuse cause unspeakable distress to young boys and girls. The children at Neve Michael Children’s Village are either orphans or emotional orphans – children whose parents are dysfunctional and/or abusive. Funding from UJFT goes towards the Therapy Enrichment Center, which treats 280 at-risk children, ages 5 to 18 years old, from all over Israel. The Therapy Enrichment Center is divided into two major programs: the Tutorial Center and Therapy Enrichment Programs.

The Therapy Enrichment Program is the most important program in Neve Michael. Without professional therapy, the children would not be able to overcome their traumatic past. Tidewater’s generous support of Neve Michael helps bring peace, healing and love to children at risk so that they can have a chance at a brighter future.

Minds in Motion

The Minds in Motion program in Israel had a simple beginning with one Jewish school in 2010. In 2018, the program was able to serve 250 students in both a Jewish and an Arab school. The MIM Israel residency was a great success, connecting students of two very different cultures and creating a space for understanding with dance as the vehicle for change.

Students who struggle with paying attention in class or are low academic achievers are more engaged and successful in the MIM classroom. The class pairs speech and movement vocabulary with dance steps to understand one’s actions. It demonstrates that dance can create an opportunity for positive communication, changes in perception and a celebration of joy between cultures.