Shalom Hartman Institute

Fostering Spiritual Pluralistic Jewish Thought and Education and Moral Growth in Israel and the World

Since 1986, the Russell Berrie Foundation has invested in the Shalom Hartman Institute’s (SHI) efforts to promote pluralism in Israeli society and throughout the world. SHI was founded in 1976 in Jerusalem by Professor and Rabbi David Hartman, a philosopher of contemporary Judaism and an internationally-renowned Jewish author. SHI is a leading innovator in the field of pluralistic Jewish thought and education.

The Russ and Angelica Berrie Family Study Hall and Auditorium at the Shalom Hartman Institute

Through its research and educational centers as well as its long distance learning programs, the Institute is training both the current and next generation of rabbis, scholars, educators and lay leaders to re-examine traditions and nurture its vision of spiritual and moral growth in Israel and the world. The Institute envisions a Jewish community and larger world where religion serves as a force for decency and morality, where passion and pluralism co-exist, and where religious diversity is celebrated.

Be'eri Program

In 2006, the Shalom Hartman Institute (SHI) in partnership with the Russell Berrie Foundation launched the Be’eri (Hebrew for “my well”) program which is designed to strengthen pluralistic Jewish identification among non-religious Israeli youth by enhancing Jewish studies in secular high schools.  Be’eri is creating a network of nonreligious high schools that provide innovative Jewish education.

SHI found that Israeli youth often feel disconnected from their culture.  Be’eri’s mission is to change attitudes towards and awareness of Jewish heritage and texts, to increase knowledge of Jewish sources and to affect the general attitudes regarding the school.  The program aims to provoke change in the school community through the principals, program coordinators, teachers, pupils and their parents.  Using a multifaceted approach that weaves pluralistic Jewish learning and culture into the fabric of Israeli high schools, Be’eri empowers students and educators alike, giving them ownership of Jewish values, concepts and texts.  Be’eri seeks to enrich the students’ knowledge of and participation in Jewish culture in its diverse facets and empower the students in their Jewish-Israeli identity. 

With six textbooks published to date, Be'eri's growing interdisciplinary curriculum has gained national approval from the Ministry of Education and educators in the field. At the same time, the program is also beginning to draw the attention of prominent Israel MKs and policy makers who appreciate the added value that Be'eri is bringing to Israel education.

In 2009, Be’eri expanded to 19 Israeli secular high schools throughout the country reaching an estimated 20,000 students and expects to expand to 120 schools over the next five years.  The quality of Jewish educational experience that Be’eri affords has earned it national recognition, most recently signified by Tel Aviv University’s conferral of the distinguished ‘Dr. Jaime Constantiner Prize in Jewish Education’ on Be’eri school ‘Tichon Hadash’ in Tel Aviv.

Below is a listing of Be’eri schools:

For more information, please click the following link to be directed to the Be’eri website:  http://beeri.hartman.org.il/About_Us_View_Eng.asp?Cat_Id=193&Cat_Type=About