Transforming Individuals and Their Communities

The Boston-Haifa Connection has been changing lives and opening hearts since it was established by Combined Jewish Philanthropies and the City of Haifa in 1989. The Connection builds “living bridges” between the sister cities and strengthens the social fabric of both societies.

Thousands of individuals have been touched by the Connection, including at-risk youth in Haifa, Boston-area Jewish day school students, Ethiopian-Israeli immigrants, seniors and Israeli-Arabs. More than 100 active projects continue to engage social service agencies, schools and synagogues in both cities, making the Connection a dynamic, multi-faceted partnership. Going far beyond one-time missions and donations, the Connection builds Jewish community on both sides of the ocean through dialogue and collaboration.

As Israel's third-largest city and a center for pluralism and coexistence, Haifa makes an ideal sister city for Boston. At the heart of the Connection are person-to-person relationships that have evolved for almost two decades through visits, phone calls, e-mails and videoconferencing. Haifaim and Bostonians recognize each other as friends, colleagues and individuals pursuing the highest Jewish values through their work together.

 
The Boston-Haifa Connection works to:

• STRENGTHEN THE ETHIOPIAN-ISRAELI COMMUNITY

Through Shiluvim, Ethiopian Israeli leaders serve as role models for youth striving to find their place in a highly diverse city.

• CREATE BONDS BETWEEN OUR YOUTH
  

In addition to exchanges, the Connection's school-to-school programs allow hundreds of students in Boston and Haifa to participate in year-round videoconferencing, joint-learning and Jewish leadership projects.

• FOSTER ECONOMIC GROWTH

Through the Connection's long-term support of MATI Haifa, more than 14,000 jobs have been created since 1991. The organization provides business counseling and financing to start-ups, with special emphasis on assisting women, minorities and the disadvantaged. MATI also played a key role following the summer 2006 war, helping hundreds of Haifa's small businesses recover through emergency loans and mentoring.

• FORGE PARTNERSHIPS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE

The Jewish Community Relations Council, has formed a leadership exchange between organizations with similar missions in Boston and Haifa.The program helps fulfill the Connection's goal of strengthening the civil society in Haifa and creating a partnership through a network of non-profit leaders in both cities.

• BUILD LIVING BRIDGES BETWEEN SISTER CITIES

A host of living bridges programs link youth through social justice, the arts, sports and informal Jewish learning. Living Bridges projects span the gamut of Jewish communal life, drawing the sister cities closer, one relationship at a time.

• EMPOWER AT-RISK YOUTH

The Connection’s social service projects in Haifa strive to empower at-risk and disadvantaged youth through a variety of afterschool programs and innovative projects. Through the highly successful “Munchies” program, at-risk 15-to-18-year-olds learn to run their own sandwich-making business, from purchasing ingredients to marketing.

Click here to learn more about a few of the innovative projects of the Boston-Haifa Connection.  
 
For more information:
For information about the Boston-Haifa Connection in general, contact Ruth Kaplan, Director, at 617-457-8551 or RuthK@cjp.org

For more information regarding educational partnerships contact Ariel Libhaber, Assistant Director, at 617-457-8570 or ArielL@cjp.org