The Mandel Foundation has approved a series of new grants in Israel, supporting ongoing recovery efforts in war-affected areas while continuing its commitment to education, culture, and community development. Below is a summary of some of the funded projects:
The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Gazelle Valley Park – A grant of $15,000,000 was given to support the expansion of Gazelle Valley Park in Jerusalem and promote educational and community activities there.
The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Hall for Performing Arts – A $5,000,000 grant to the Tel Aviv Foundation will establish the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Hall for Performing Arts in the new Bat Sheva Arts Campus in South Tel Aviv.
Mandel Campus for Agro Research in Ramat HaNegev – A $3,000,000 grant to the Negev Foundation will establish the Mandel Campus for Agro Research, Education, and Economic Development at Ramat HaNegev, fostering innovation in agricultural and international cooperation in this area.
The “Hosen L’Yeladenu” Program for Youth in the North – $2,000,000 will be given to Sheatufim over two years to support the "Hosen L’Yeladenu" program in Northern Israel, aimed at strengthening resilience and treating trauma among youth in northern border communities.
Beer Sheva Spirit Cultural Program – A grant of $1,200,000 was earmarked for the Beer Sheva Foundation to support the Beer Sheva Spirit Cultural Program over three years. The program will host performances by artists from Beer Sheva at institutions in Beer Sheva for the benefit of the residents of Beer Sheva.
Nahariya Imagination Labs – A grant of $1,200,000 to the Beit Neria non-profit organization will establish imagination labs at all ten elementary schools in Nahariya, which will foster creativity and innovation in young learners.
Beer Sheva Theater – $900,000 will help support the Beer Sheva local theater’s annual operations over the next three years.
Adam Ve'Adama Nitzana Agricultural High School – The Foundation has allocated more than $800,000, distributed over three years, to the Negev Foundation, to support this specialized institution focused on agricultural high school education and the development of leadership for agriculture.
Eilat International Shakespeare Project – A grant of $400,000 over two years will be given to the Eilat Foundation for continued support of the Eilat International Shakespeare Project, which promotes arts and literature education in schools in Eilat.
Trauma Treatment Center in Emek Hefer – A grant of $250,000 will be given to the Emek Hefer Foundation in support of a trauma treatment center in Emek Hefer, which will assist families of fallen soldiers and families of hostages in Gaza.
Beit Issie Shapiro – $200,000 has been allocated to Beit Issie Shapiro to fund emotional therapy and support programs for children with disabilities and their families who experienced trauma during the war.
Alma, Home for Hebrew Culture – $100,000 has been allocated to support Alma’s 2025 Jewish education initiatives, which aim to reinforce cultural and historical engagement.
Recently, Mandel Foundation President and CEO Professor Jehuda Reinharz, Mandel Foundation Chairman Steve Hoffman, and Moshe Vigdor, director general of the Mandel Foundation–Israel, visited two of the funded projects described above, gaining firsthand insight into their operations and impact. During their visit, they toured the Adam Ve’Adama High School in Nitzana, an agricultural school that brings students from across Israel to study and work in agriculture near the Egyptian border and is playing an important role in rehabilitating agricultural communities that were impacted by the attacks of October 7. They also visited the newly established Imagination Lab at the Even Shoham Elementary School in Nahariya, a city damaged during the war with Hezbollah. The lab was so impressive that the Foundation decided to support the expansion of this initiative to all ten elementary schools in the city.
The grants described above reflect the Mandel Foundation’s commitment to strengthening Israeli society through strategic investments in education, culture, and community support. By funding initiatives spanning from agricultural innovation to trauma recovery to artistic expression, the Foundation continues to foster resilience and development across Israel's social landscape.