Humanitarian
A
Hub
JNF-USA’s Alexander Muss High School in Israel – an epicenter of Jewish learning – doubles as a crisis center after recent Iranian attacks
by Emma Dixon
B efore, during, and after Israel’s recent 12 days of war against the Iranian regime, Jewish National Fund-USA and its affiliates mobilized at every level to provide care and support to the people of Israel. For example, when the city of Be’er Sheva was struck by ballistic missiles, the Alexander Muss High School in Israel (AMHSI) was mobilized as a critically needed shelter. AMHSI’s Be’er Sheva campus was transformed from classrooms into a large-scale hub distributing clothing and providing logistical, medical and mental health support, food, and activities for children. The campus assisted more than 1,400 evacuees directly impacted by the destruction, and more than 200 displaced people also used the school for temporary accommodations. That isn’t the normal environment, of course, at the high school in Israel, but JNF-USA and AMHSI jumped in to do whatever they could to help the Be’er Sheva community during a time of crisis. AMHSI is a fully accredited, premier high school offering students in grades 10-12 a unique blend of academic coursework and immersive learning, with programs ranging from six weeks to a full semester. An Immersive
fundraising and global partnerships. A second campus opened in 2023 at Be’er Sheva, in the Negev region of southern Israel. Through its Israel studies curriculum, the high school offers students an immersive journey through Jewish history in an environment of academic excellence. The course consists of a chronological survey of 4,000 years of Jewish and Israeli history, covering ancient civilizations to contemporary developments. The program is taught onsite across the country, turning Israel, itself, into a living classroom. AMHSI runs a variety of session formats – semester programs, mini-mesters (shorter, intensive sessions), and several summer options. During these sessions, students balance classroom learning with frequent field trips across Israel, including opportunities to hike historic sites, visit the Dead Sea, and explore Jerusalem, Masada, Galilee, and other iconic locations. The high school, which has more than 30,000 alumni, has a long-standing reputation for combining academic excellence with leadership development, nurturing a love of Israel while fostering each student’s Jewish identity. Numerous financial aid programs are in place to increase accessibility, including regional scholarships, Dream Israel grants, and the Plant Your Way to Israel crowdfunding campaign.
EXPERIENCE Fo unded in 1972 by Rabbi Morris Kipper, the first location opened in Hod HaSharon, a suburb of Tel Aviv. The school is fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, enabling participants to continue their high school studies seamlessly while abroad. In 2013, the school merged with JNF‑USA, expanding its reach through
42 J LIFE | FALL 2025
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online