ISRAEL AND OVERSEAS

CONNECT TO ISRAEL AND OVERSEAS

Shalom Austin strengthens the global Jewish community through ongoing educational, humanitarian and community building activities. The following programs are supported by the Annual Campaign.

Western Wall in the city of Jerusalem, Israel

Israel & Global Experiences

The Israel and Global Experiences program builds local community connection to Israel and Jewish communities around the world. With Jewish Federation of North America and our partners, Joint Distribution Committee and Jewish Agency for Israel, we help fund overseas projects and participate in the collective support for world Jewry.

Missions and travel experiences to Israel and to other overseas Jewish communities serve to strengthen Jewish identity, build Jewish community, and grow Jewish philanthropy. In exploring the world together, we create community amongst ourselves right here in Austin and with Jewish people everywhere.

Through Israel and Global Experiences, Shalom Austin enhances individual experiences through ongoing, people-to-people relationships.

Strengthening Jewish community locally, in Israel, and around the world has always been, and remains, a top priority for Shalom Austin.

From Birthright, to Partnership2gether in Israel and Budapest, to traveling the world with our Global Experiences offerings, Shalom Austin positively impacts Jewish community everywhere.

Partnership2Gether

Partnership2Gether is an extraordinary global platform promoting people-to-people relationships between Israel and communities throughout the world. Austin is one of 12 cities in the United States making up the Central Area Consortium. We partner with the city of Akko and the Matte Asher region in the Western Galilee of Israel, forging relationships through endeavors that build Jewish identity and strengthen ties as we share cultural, social, medical, educational and economic programs.

Partnership Cities Include:

Austin, TX · San Antonio, TX · Fort Worth, TX · Louisville, KY · Omaha, NE · Canton, OH · Dayton, OH · Toledo, OH · Youngstown, OH · Des Moines,IA · Fort Wayne, IN · Indianapolis, IN · Northwest Indiana · South Bend, IN · Budapest, Hungary · Western Galilee: Akko and Matte Asher

The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI)

The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) is the world’s largest Jewish non-profit organization, serving as the overseas arm of North American Jewry. Established in 1929, JAFI was instrumental in the founding of the State of Israel and now works as the overseas arm of Federations to ensure the future of a connected, committed, global Jewish People with a strong Israel at its center.

The Jewish Agency for Israel addresses the most pressing issues in Jewish life by working to inspire Jews throughout the world, connect with their people, heritage and land, and empower them to build a thriving Jewish future and strong Israel. JAFI pursues this goal by bringing young Jews to Israel for life-changing experiences and by involving them in social activism both in Israel and abroad. At the same time, JAFI facilitates aliyah for those who choose to make Israel their home, reconnects FSU Jewry with their Jewish roots, rescues Jews in distress and responds to global Jewish emergencies. Together with its Federation partners, JAFI is securing our Jewish future for generations to come. For more information, please visit jafi.org.

Israel Woman Holding Snow Globe Star of David

The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)

The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) is the world’s leading Jewish humanitarian assistance organization. Founded in 1914, today JDC works on behalf of the Jewish communities of North America, Israel and more than 70 countries across the former Soviet Union, Central and Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America to alleviate hunger and hardship, rescue Jews in danger, and create lasting connections to Jewish life. JDC builds Israel’s human capital by empowering its most vulnerable citizens-youth at risk, the elderly, people with disabilities, the ultra-Orthodox, Israeli Arabs, and new immigrants-with the tools they need to participate in the country’s future. For more information, please visit, jdc.org.

Israeli flag chain hanging proudly during Yom HaAztmaut celebration

The Israel Action Network

The Israel Action Network, a project of The Jewish Federations of North America, in partnership with the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, hosts a wealth of new information and resources for communities to use in their work countering assaults made on Israel’s legitimacy.

IsraelActionNetwork.org

Man with Kippah Praying with Woman and Prayer Book

World ORT

World ORT works for the advancement of the Jewish people through education and training for employment in Israel, Western Europe, the Baltic States, Latin America and other countries. Its mission is to provide individuals worldwide with the skills and knowledge necessary to cope with the challenges of their environment and to foster economic self-sufficiency, mobility and a sense of identity through the use of state-of-the-art technology. World ORT works in partnership with The Jewish Federations of North America and other major Jewish organizations and educational institutions to deliver the best practical education for those in need. For more information, please visit ort.org.

Man Holding Israel Flag with American Flag

MASA Israel Journey

MASA Israel journey is a project of the Government of Israel and Jewish communities around the world, represented by the Jewish Agency for Israel and its partners, United Jewish Communities, the Federations of North America, and Keren Hayesod – UIA. MASA enables young Jews from all over the world to spend a semester to a year in Israel on any of over 160 programs. Let us help you find the right Israel program.

Volunteers for Israel

Volunteers for Israel connects Americans to Israel through volunteer service. The organization achieves this goal by partnering with Israeli military and civilian organizations that enable volunteers to work side-by-side with Israelis.

Contact: Jack Solka, Regional Manager for Texas and New Mexico at southwest@vfi-usa.org or (512) 527-3799.