In a landmark collaboration, two prominent Jewish philanthropic foundations have joined forces to reshape Jewish education throughout Europe. Uri Poliavich, founder

of the Yael Foundation, and Ronald Lauder, president of the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation, have announced a partnership aimed at revitalizing Jewish schools with philanthropic contributions expected to reach millions of pounds.

Their first major project will focus on the renovation and expansion of the historic Scuole Ebraiche di Roma, a 100-year-old Jewish school in Rome. Together, the foundations will contribute nearly £12 million toward the £21 million needed to modernize the school.

Ronald Lauder, whose foundation has long supported the school, expressed his enthusiasm: "I have waited decades to partner with people like Uri and Yael. This collaboration is the best news for Jewish education in Europe in the past 20 years. We believe this renovation is a once-in-a-century project, and we are honored to be part of it."

The Scuole Ebraiche di Roma, which serves around 1,000 students, has struggled with limited space and outdated facilities. The funds from this philanthropic effort will ensure the school can provide a larger, safer, and more modern learning environment for its students.

Uri Poliavich, co-founder of the Yael Foundation with his wife, Yael Poliavich, spoke about their shared mission: "We founded the Yael Foundation out of a deep passion for making high-quality Jewish education accessible to children worldwide. Growing up without these opportunities, I am personally driven to ensure Jewish children can experience exceptional learning. This partnership with the Lauder Foundation is just the beginning of our work to support Jewish education across Europe."

Poliavich also highlighted the importance of Jewish schools becoming centers of academic excellence, especially as rising antisemitism drives parents and children to seek Jewish educational alternatives. "Jewish schools need to compete with the best non-Jewish schools in their regions to nurture future Jewish leaders," he added.

Victor Fadlun, President of the Jewish Community of Rome, praised the partnership, stating, "We successfully engaged two of the largest Jewish philanthropic foundations globally to invest significantly—£11.8 million—to enhance the school buildings in Rome. This initiative represents hope and growth for our entire community."

The partnership between the Yael and Lauder Foundations doesn’t stop at Rome. Poliavich and Lauder have already identified potential new projects, including building new Jewish schools where none currently exist and expanding prominent Jewish educational institutions across Europe.

Founded in 2020 by Uri and Yael Poliavich, the Yael Foundation works in 35 countries and impacts 13,000 Jewish students globally. Established in 1987, the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation has reached tens of thousands of Jewish children across Europe, with flagship projects in cities like Athens, Berlin, Budapest, Prague, Rome, Sofia, and Vienna. Photo by Michael Thaidigsmann, Wikimedia commons.