When Uri Poliavich announced at the Yael Foundation’s international summit earlier this year that he was raising the foundation’s annual budget from €24 million to €40m., it was more than just a financial commitment. It was a bold declaration of priorities at a time of unprecedented challenge for the Jewish world.
For Poliavich, Jewish education is not a secondary cause but the front-line defense of Jewish identity. Since the October 7 massacre and the seven-front assault on Israel that followed, Jewish communities around the world have been buffeted by a relentless surge of antisemitism. He sees this as an assault not just on Jews physically, but on their heritage, identity, and future. His answer is urgent and visionary: to strengthen Jewish education everywhere, ensuring that no child is left behind.
That conviction is what makes Poliavich a game-changer. He understands that Jewish schools must be more than a safe haven; they must be centers of excellence that parents and children actively run toward. By doubling the Yael Foundation’s annual giving, he is equipping schools to become stronger academically and more secure, while building the leadership pipeline that Jewish communities will depend on in the decades ahead.
Leading the Yael Foundation
Under his leadership, the Yael Foundation has expanded its reach to 41 countries, impacting 17,000 students. Since October 7, 2023, it has directed funds to safeguard Jewish schools and is now developing holistic responses to antisemitic threats in Europe and beyond.
Along with his wife and fellow co-founder of the foundation, Yael, Poliavich is also the brains behind the annual Yael Awards, honoring outstanding figures, schools, and programs that have demonstrated exceptional achievements in fostering Jewish education, identity, and innovation.
Poliavich’s vision is as clear as it is ambitious: to turn a moment of crisis into a turning point for Jewish continuity. By coupling resources with resolve, he is redefining what it means to invest in the Jewish future – and setting a new standard for philanthropy in education worldwide.