The unique Israeli reality – including ongoing security challenges, social complexity, cultural and geographical diversity – requires original thinking and tailored solutions that exist nowhere else. It is precisely from this complexity that Israel's social creativity thrives at its best. When practical knowledge meets field experience, and when insights from research are integrated with the wisdom of daily action – a foundation is built that can help tackle present challenges and prepare for the future.
Throughout its years of activity in Israel – even before the establishment of the state – the JDC has initiated and operated dozens of programs, services, and social initiatives. Every action was accompanied by learning, measurement, and the extraction of insights – with a clear belief: This knowledge is not meant to remain within the organization, but to continue serving the entire social system. Thus, the digital library was born – a repository that allows anyone working toward social change to find the tool, model, or inspiration that can help them move forward. The library was established as part of the activities of the JDC-Va’ad Campus, with the generous support of the Morris and Vivian Wohl Foundation, for the dissemination and implementation of advanced, practical, and innovative social knowledge developed at the JDC, in the social field, and in broader circles of influence.
Israel’s Largest Knowledge Library
"The knowledge we've accumulated at the JDC over the years is a national asset, but it is not meant to be kept with us – it's meant to be passed on," says Dr. Hadas Minka Brand, CEO of JDC Israel.
Today, the library is one of the largest, most diverse, and professional resources in Israel for professionals in the social field. Over 1,200 guides, studies, dashboards, videos, podcasts, and practical tools – all open and accessible to the public, free of charge.
This repository of insights has been built over years of working with diverse communities – from old age to early childhood, from dealing with disabilities to employment, health, resilience, and social mobility – both in routine and emergency situations.
"We share the knowledge out of the belief that when it meets the field – the heart, the experience, the needs – something new is created. Making knowledge accessible enables connections, inspiration, and more precise action, especially in moments that demand answers and tools," adds Minka Brand. "This is another way we contribute to the resilience of Israeli society – not just through an immediate response, but through shared long-term growth. Even if you're not a professional, there is a place for you too – guides, insights, and tools that can be integrated into community, educational, family, or personal activity."
Not Just Preservation – Activation, Development, Innovation
Knowledge is not just a means of preservation – it is a driver of action.
At the JDC, knowledge serves as a foundation for joint thinking, connecting partners from different sectors, and driving initiatives from vision to field. It is not just passed on – it evolves, updates, and creates new collaborations in motion.
"At the JDC we believe that knowledge is not just a result of a process – it is an integral part of it. It enables the creation of a common language, connects different actors in the field, and turns ideas into shared discussion and coordinated action," explains Daniela Jano, Knowledge Partnerships Manager, JDC-Va’ad Campus.
"When our knowledge moves between sectors – from social to business, from academia to the field, and from community to military – it stops being just the product of action, and becomes its engine. Some of the tools in the library were born from long-standing partnerships – and others themselves became the basis for new collaborations. This is not just knowledge dissemination – it is a foundation of connections, of inspiration, and of smarter, more precise action."
What makes the library unique is not only its concentration and accessibility – but the fact that it is living knowledge: Tested in the field, updated based on accumulated experience, and ready for immediate implementation.
Here Are Three Examples Demonstrating How Such Knowledge Drives Real Change:
Digital Literacy for All Populations
The field of digital literacy illustrates how knowledge created in the field can grow innovative responses. With broad partnerships, the JDC developed a map of interventions to promote digital literacy from childhood to old age – addressing the challenge across the entire life cycle, in key life domains, and among diverse populations: People with disabilities, Arabs, Haredim, youth, and residents of the periphery.
The data speaks for itself: Only 70% of people with disabilities use the internet in the job market, only 45% of those aged 65+ perform banking actions online, and only 49% of Arab households consume digital government services.
"The digital gaps create gaps in opportunities – and this is exactly where practical knowledge can reduce real social disparities," explains Dr. Michal Halperin Ben-Tzvi, a digital inclusion expert at the JDC. "To reduce digital gaps, we look at promoting digital literacy and how digital platforms are made accessible to different populations."
One prominent product of this knowledge is the national guide for developing digital products for diverse populations, developed by Dr. Halperin Ben-Tzvi: "It is the first guide of its kind in the world, called ‘LOG In,’ which has received international recognition, including from the Royal College of Art."
But international recognition is just the beginning. In Israel, Clalit Mushlam adopted the guide’s principles on its reimbursement request website, and within months, the rate of digital submissions by those aged 65+ rose by 18%. This is exactly the kind of power professional social knowledge holds: Knowledge born of understanding Israeli reality, tailored to local needs, creating tangible and measurable change.
The guide is not just intended for designers – but for anyone involved in developing public services and wishing to make them accessible to all populations.
Who Gives and Who Receives?
Another example is the guide “For a Change”, which addresses the inclusion of youth with disabilities in volunteer activities. This is a field that had not received sufficient attention – but creates real change, both for the youth themselves and for the surrounding community.
The guide was built on a methodology developed over four years of work, in collaboration with schools, coordinators, families, and young people with disabilities – and is fully available in the library, for the benefit of anyone who wishes to implement, include, and make accessible.
There Is a Way to Understand. And a Way to Fix
The shortage of workers in essential professions is a systemic challenge – not a decree of fate. One of the strongest examples of the connection between knowledge and action is the roadmap for shortage analysis, developed as part of the "Professions in Shortage" program.
The map outlines the "path to professional integration" – from entering studies, through training, to field persistence – and helps identify breaking points: Unsuitable entry conditions, geographic distance from training, burnout, lack of career outlook, and outdated perceptions about new professions.
The tool is intended for broad use – from health and education systems to local and national government bodies – and is fully accessible through the library.
The Power of Sharing
The digital library is not just a repository – it is infrastructure. A different mode of action that strengthens national resilience – not only as an immediate response, but as a long-term investment in knowledge, innovation, and the ability to work together smarter and more efficiently.
In a world where any good solution can become a model, and every local success can serve as inspiration – knowledge sharing is not just a gesture, but a mission. A smart investment in a shared future.
And when social knowledge meets Israeli creativity – tools are created that work, solutions that make a difference, and hope that translates into action.
The JDC Israel Knowledge Repository Is Open to All
Guides, research, videos, dashboards, and practical tools – conveniently divided by fields and populations:
Click here to access the digital library >>
In collaboration with the JDC organization.