Happy PassoverPassover signifies a form of liberation as we celebrate the Jewish people’s Exodus from Egypt. It is about our right to self-determination and the opportunity to pursue a vision. A vision of a thriving nation in the Land of Israel.

Passover embodies the mission of the AMIT network and the work its schools and programs perform all year round.

Since 1925, AMIT has been helping liberate Jewish children from diverse backgrounds. When I say “liberate,” I mean provide children a pathway to realizing their full potential—and, in that process, strengthen Israeli society through Jewish values and Zionist ideals.

AMIT’s success extends to 110 schools, youth villages, and surrogate family residences across 33 cities in Israel. AMIT is ranked the #1 educational network by the Ministry of Education in Israel.

This Passover holiday, I encourage you to become part of our AMIT family and support our Maot Chitim campaign, which provides Israeli families in need the basic necessities to celebrate a meaningful and kosher Passover. Together, let us realize the full vision of Passover for others and ourselves.

LA NewGen Gets “Happy” with Jessica Abo

Nearly 50 AMIT LA NewGen guests gathered at the home of Phyllis and Jay Schapira for a thought-provoking and inspiring evening with award-winning journalist and social entrepreneur Jessica Abo. The growing NewGen community came together to discuss ways to navigate social media while staying true to one’s self and finding happiness. Abo’s new book, “Unfiltered: How to Be As Happy As You Look On Social Media,” highlights the importance of reaching one’s fullest potential through self-empowerment, a key goal of AMIT’s work in ensuring the success of its students across Israel.

Want to grab coffee and learn more about AMIT Children and ways to get involved? Contact Liron at Lirony@amitchildren.org.

From Left: LA NewGen Board Member Michael Roklen, Jessica Abo, LA NewGen Board Chair Dafna Landau, LA NewGen Board Member Briana Benaron, LA NewGen Board Member Leslie Schapira

Donor Spotlight Gertrude (“Gertie”) Fox has long been active in the Jewish community in LA, at Beth Jacob, the synagogue she and her family attend. Still, she said, AMIT has always been her “main organization.”

“AMIT always came first because it involved children,” Fox said, adding that she has been a supporting it for as long as she can remember. She was the first person in her family to become involved with AMIT and says she was drawn to its mission of educating children in Israel within a framework of Jewish values.

“If I was going to use my energies or work for something, I thought that’s what I would join and do – put my energies behind that,” Fox, now 90 years old, said. Her energies have been used to raise funds, chair numerous dinners in LA (including one she co-chaired with her daughter Janice Fox Kaufler), and serve as the past president of the LA Council, among other important roles.

In addition to attending AMIT events, she and her husband, Gerson, also visited AMIT schools in Israel because they felt it was important to see what impact their work was having on the children.

“The idea of Jewish continuity has always been important to me,” Fox said, adding that it was gratifying to know she has made in difference in lives of so many Israeli children.