The Abraham Fund Initiatives, based in Jerusalem and New York is a not for profit, non-partisan organization. A pioneer in the field of Jewish-Arab relations, the organization was founded in 1989 by Alan B. Slifka and the late Dr Eugene Weiner and named for the common ancestor of both Jews and Arabs.

Our Mission
The Abraham Fund Initiatives works to advance coexistence, equality and cooperation among Israel’s Jewish and Arab citizens by creating and operating large-scale initiatives, cultivating strategic grassroots projects and conducting public education and advocacy that promote its vision of shared citizenship and opportunity for all of Israel’s citizens.

Our Vision
The Abraham Fund Initiatives views coexistence as the ability of people of different backgrounds and beliefs to live side-by-side in mutual respect. Coexistence is not assimilation. Rather, its objective is to enable individuals and communities to live cooperatively while maintaining their own unique cultural identities. The Abraham FundInitiatives sees civic equality for Israel's Jewish and Arab citizens as a moral and pragmatic imperative, whereby individual rights and the political, cultural and religious character of the Arab minority must be clearly and unambiguously recognized and respected.


The Abraham Fund Initiative’s board of directors is a talented, diverse and dedicated group of community leaders in Israel, North America and Europe charged with shaping policy and providing expertise and guidance.

Chairman of the International Board of Directors Alan B. Slifka Vice-Chairman Dov Lautman Vice-Chairman Judge Abd-El Rahman Zu’bi International Executive Committee Co-Chairs Jonathan Lipnick and Orni Petruschka Treasurer Gary S. Gladstein Secretary James R. Cohen International President & Chief Executive Officer Ami Nahshon Co-Executive Directors -- Israel Amnon Be’eri-Sulitzeanu and Mohammad Darawshe
Board Members:
Rawia Abu-Rabia, Esq. Dr. Thabet Abu-Ras Kher Albaz Prof. Faisal Azaiza Walter H. Beebe Michael Bernstein Mark Blank Michael Blechman James R. Cohen Rev. Anne Conroy James K. Cummings Wafa Zou’bi Fahoum, Esq. Edna Fast Asmaa Nader Genayem Bruce Gitlin Gary S. Gladstein Richard A. Goodman Marilynn Grossman Riane Gruss Dr. Ramzi Halabi Jill Collier Indyk Dr. Ronit Kark Laurence Kaye, Esq. Harvey M. Krueger Dov Lautman Sahra Lese Orna Lin, Esq. Rabbi Jonathan Lipnick Harriet Mouchly-Weiss Joyce Mueller Orni Petruschka David L. Phillips Lorre Polinger Dr. Jehuda Reinharz Alan S. Rosenberg Lior Sagie Judith Eigen Sarna David M. Schwartz Hannan Serphos Ronald A. Sedley Dr. Yuval Shamsum Doron Shohat Alan B. Slifka Howard Sohn Amalia Waxman Judge Abd-El Rahman Zu’bi

We work towards the enhancement of Jewish/Arab coexistence and equality in Israel which is vital to the future of the State of Israel, its security and stability, and the welfare of its Jewish and Arab citizens.

Our Goals
Promoting tolerance, mutual understanding, and trust between groups; Achieving an environment of social and political equality for all citizens of Israel; Nurturing respect for the differences of Israel’s ethnically mixed society and levering this diversity as a strategic asset.

In order to help focus greater attention on these critical issues, The Abraham Fund Initiatives embarked upon a series of detailed, candid conversations with Jewish and Arab experts in Israel, and with North American Jewish leaders. We examined the current status of these issues and the people and institutions working to address them, and decided to create something conspicuously absent from Israeli and American Jewish discourse: a set of basic principles of Jewish-Arab coexistence and equality, principles that could serve as the framework for a practical, concrete agenda for action.

Since the organization's founding in 1989, grassroots grant making has been a hallmark of The Abraham Fund Initiatives. TAFI grants have transformed the practice and scope of coexistence work in Israel, given birth to countless new programs and organizations and earned TAFI a central role in the field of Jewish-Arab relations.

TAFI views education for coexistence, tolerance and equality and building leadership for a shared society as key strategic goals. Simultaneously, it has identified the acute and pressing need to combat the root causes of alienation and inequality between Israel's Jewish and Arab citizens.

Coexistence Network: A National Inter-Organizational Community
An inclusive nation-wide network that promotes Arab-Jewish relations and facilitates communication and cooperation between its member organizations.

Mirkam in the Galilee: A Model Coexistence Zone
Transforming the Beit HaKerem Valley of the Galilee into a region driven by social and economic prosperity and fruitful cooperation.

Government Training & Advocacy
Leading government ministries and authorities to provide equal services and opportunities for Israel's Arab citizens.

Language as a Cultural Bridge
A groundbreaking initiative in integrating mandatory Arabic language and culture studies in Jewish public schools, which will serve as the basis for replication throughout the national educational system.

Coexistence Network: To strengthen The Coexistence Field and Increase Public and Media Awareness of Jewish-Arab Coexistence and Equality in cooperation with The Citizen’s Accord Forum.

Activities: Information exchange, dissemination of research, trends and activities in the field amongst member organizations and with wider population through workshops and website and Network Directory; Professional development, enrichment and support of organizations through training and study days, conferences; Coordination of local, regional and national coexistence activities initiated by members

Police-Community
Goal: Improvement of the relationship between the police force and the Arab communities which it serves.

In cooperation with: Department of Community and Civil Guard, Northern, Central and Southern Regions, Israel Police and MINHAL HEVRA V’NOAR (Arab Sector and Southern Divisions), Ministry of Education, Arab Local Authorities, N.Y. U.J.A. Federation.

Activities: Diversity and cultural sensitivity training programs for police staff, planning
and problem-solving partnerships between local police and Arab community leaders, joint educational programs for neighboring Arab/Jewish communities