AMIT (Hebrew acronym for Organization for Volunteers for Judaism and Torah) is an American Jewish Zionist volunteer organization, dedicated to education in Israel and nurturing Israeli children to become productive, contributing members of society. AMIT's more than 75 schools and programs constitute Israel's only government-recognized network of religious Jewish education incorporating academic and technological studies and include youth villages and facilities for children in foster care.

Contents 1 History 2 AMIT Today 3 External links 4 References

[edit] History

AMIT was founded on May 10, 1925 by Bessie Gotsfeld, and was then known as the Mizrachi Women's Organization of America^[1]. As early as 1934, AMIT was at the forefront of Youth Aliyah, the rescue of Jewish children from Europe and their resettlement in Palestine. In the years ahead, and immediately following the end of the war in Europe, AMIT participated in the resettlement of thousands of children - many of them orphans - who survived the Holocaust.

The survivors of the Holocaust were followed by the large influx of Jews from North Africa and the Arab countries in 1948-49. Again, AMIT's resources were tested as its facilities were flooded by the pressing needs of tens of thousands of newly arrived immigrant children. In 1955, the first contingent of Ethiopian Jews arrived and in the 1970s, the great Russian immigration began. With each new development in Israel's history AMIT responded, opening new schools and facilities to meet the demands of a growing population of children in need.

In 1981, AMIT was designated by the Israeli government as its official Reshet (network) for religious secondary technological education. This landmark event set the stage for a major expansion of AMIT's educational facilities (which continues to this day) as municipalities with faltering school systems seek out AMIT to take over and dramatically improve their local facilities.

[edit] AMIT Today

AMIT students reflect all Israelis: religious and secular; Ashkenazi and Sephardi; sabra and immigrant.

AMIT's educational environment emphasizes tolerance, understanding and the performance of mitzvot.

The main focus of an AMIT education is to ensure that the majority of children in our care will pass the Bagrut, Israel's high school matriculation examinations, an accomplishment essential for success in the Israeli economy and job market.

AMIT has, in several cases - taken charge of a failing school - some with 20 percent or less of its students passing the Bagrut - and raised the level to 70 percent, 80 percent, 90 percent and higher.

AMIT's headquarters are located in New York with chapters in 25 states and offices in 9 cities. The educational network's headquarters are in Petach Tikva, with schools, youth villages and programs in 23 cities, development towns and communities throughout Israel.

[edit] External links

• AMIT website
• History of AMIT

[edit] References