The Yael Foundation and the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation have launched a mega-philanthropic partnership to remodel the Jewish educational landscape across Europe.
Uri Poliavich, founder of the Yael Foundation, and Ronald Lauder, president of the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation, recently agreed to work together to revitalize Jewish education across the continent with philanthropic gifts expected to total tens of millions of dollars.
The first fruits of the partnership will be allocated towards the renovation and expansion of a prominent Jewish school in Rome, the 100-year-old Scuole Ebraiche di Roma. With a €25 million total investment goal, €14 million of which will be contributed by the Yael Foundation and Ronald S. Lauder Foundation, the project aims to further Jewish education at a time of increased interest, in large part because of rising antisemitism.
“I have been waiting decades to partner with people like Uri and Yael, and this partnership represents the best news for Jewish schools in Europe over the past 20 years,” said Lauder, whose foundation has been supporting the school in the Italian capital for many years.
“As an organization deeply committed to advancing Jewish day schools across Europe, we believe this renovation is the project of a century, and are incredibly honored to be part of it,” he added.
The Jewish school in Rome, which has around 1,000 students and runs from kindergarten to 12th grade, has faced significant challenges, including limited space and outdated facilities. The philanthropic investment will ensure students have access to a larger, more secure, modern and conducive learning environment. The renovation project will prioritize critical infrastructure needs, provide enhanced educational resources and foster an optimal learning environment, allowing the school to accept more students and continue to innovate.
“We established Yael Foundation out of a deep passion for providing access to high-quality Jewish education and making it universally accessible for children all over the world,” said Poliavich, who co-founded the foundation with his wife, Yael. “Growing up in an area that lacked such educational opportunities, I feel personally compelled to ensure Jewish children have access to exceptional Jewish learning. Together with our partner, the Lauder Foundation, this project represents just one of the many we’re going to embark on to support Jewish education across Europe.
“We both feel that this partnership is especially vital as parents and children are seeking out Jewish educational alternatives due to rising antisemitism. Jewish schools need to become centers of excellence, competing with the best non-Jewish schools in their countries or regions, to attract students who will become tomorrow’s Jewish leaders,” continued Poliavich.
Rome has one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world, making it an ideal location to put down the first practical roots of the philanthropic partnership.
“We successfully engaged and convinced two of the largest Jewish philanthropic foundations globally to invest significantly—formalizing their contribution at €14 million—for the enhancement of school buildings in Rome. This initiative represents growth and hope for our entire community,” said Victor Fadlun, president of the Jewish Community of Rome.
Poliavich and Lauder have identified several possible additional projects involving the building of new Jewish schools in locations where none exists, as well as expanding prominent Jewish educational institutions throughout Europe.
Founded in 2020, the Yael Foundation is a leading philanthropic initiative currently working in 35 countries and impacting 13,000 Jewish students.
The Ronald S. Lauder Foundation has flagship projects in European capitals including Athens, Berlin, Budapest, Prague, Sofia and Vienna. Since its founding in 1987, the organization has reached tens of thousands of Jewish children across Europe.
