The New Israel Fund's dramatic growth in the last two years reflects North American Jewry's increasing sophistication about the complexity of the challenges facing Israel and the Israel-Diaspora relationship.
People are now equally concerned about the quality of life in Israel.
These grants cover the first half of 1997. The result was a decision to undertake a major Initiative to Promote Religious Freedom in Israel, a theme that will be highlighted in NIF's work in 1997. Through this effort, the New Israel Fund will seek to strengthen the capacity of new and veteran institutions to promote a more pluralistic environment by supporting public education and dialogue activities. In North America, the initiative will raise awareness of challenges to religious freedom and democratic norms in Israel and mobilize support, both financial and moral, for pluralistic institutions there. To kick off the effort, the board approved first-time grants to five Israeli organizations using various innovative means to foster dialogue between Orthodox and secular Jews.