The Leo Baeck Education Center is firmly committed to academic and social equity in the spirit of tikkun olam and offers a wide range of intensive programs and services aimed at providing long-term support and enrichment for children and youth from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Young people considered “at risk” need the same things as other children and adolescents—opportunities to learn and develop, guidance in making constructive choices, and help with specific problems or situations. The main difference is the increased need for caring, stable relationships and a sense of stability and belonging. To that end, we reach out to all young people at-risk or in need, native Israeli and immigrant, Jewish and Arab, religious and secular, and everyone in between in order to educate future generations to strive for excellence and aspire to create a better, more just society.
For Infants and Young Children
- The Beit Ligdol Tov Early Childhood Development and Enrichment Center ensures that children from financially distressed homes are afforded the head start in life they so desperately need and deserve
- The Sauwa Childhood Development and Therapeutic Center is the only non-profit center in Haifa that provides a variety of free or low-cost therapeutic and educational services to Arab families at-risk
For Elementary School Children
- Ben Yehuda and Sprinzak Afterschool Children-at-Risk Centers stimulate development, build self-esteem, motivate and raise awareness that education is the key to success
- Beit Ligdol Tov is developing a new after-school program that will build on the skills participating children developed during their preschool years at its facilities
- Elementary School Scholarships provide Ethiopian children with an excellent education in the warm, supportive and enriching environment of the Leo Baeck Elementary School
For Middle and High School-Aged Children
- Enrichment programs and hunger relief are provided to Leo Baeck Middle School and High School students in need
- Special Bar/Bat Mitzvah programming at the Ohel Avraham Synagogue assures that all young people can celebrate this important lifecycle event, regardless of their physical, cognitive, emotional or financial limitations
- Ruth Center afterschool activities offer numerous programs for underprivileged new immigrant Ethiopian, FSU, and native Israeli youth
For University Students
- The University Leadership Training Program provides young Ethiopian women each year with the skills and opportunities to succeed in the face of inequality and serve as role models for their community
For Parents and Community Leaders Who Support At-Risk Children and Youth
- Leo Baeck supports the parents of at-risk children and youth in most of its programs
- The Flagship Program for Combating Exclusion and Promoting Social Solidarity, a joint initiative with Haifa University, provides education, training and support to the promising leaders of Haifa’s disadvantaged communities and neighborhoods