Establishing a New Library and Resource Center for the Ha’Baal Shem Tov School in Tel Aviv

Providing resources to support and facilitate learning and teaching

throughout the school

A PROJECT OF THE TEL AVIV FOUNDATION

Meeting the evolving needs of the City of Tel Aviv-Yafo through the establishment of Social Services, Educational, Cultural, Environmental

and Innovation projects.

The Ha'Baal Shem Tov Elementary School serves over 300 Modern-Orthodox students from

kindergarten through sixth grade in the Southeast Neve Eliezer Neighborhood of Tel Aviv. The student

population hails primarily from 2nd and 3rd generation Sephardic, religious low-income homes and the

families rely heavily on municipal facilities to provide an academic future for their children.

Additionally, thirty students stem from Ethiopian and Bukharin backgrounds. The School provides a

unique educational setting that instills life lessons based on Jewish principles that nurture the

student’s religious, social, and national identity. The staff provides a program of study that stretches

the mind, encourages academic achievement and expands social awareness. Core academic

curriculum at The Ha'Baal Shem Tov Elementary School includes Hebrew, mathematics, science and

history, with a strong emphasis on religious studies.

THE NEED

The Tel Aviv-Yafo Foundation seeks to establish a new state-of-the-art Library and Resource Center

for The Ha'Baal Shem Tov School to provide resources to support and facilitate learning and teaching

throughout the school. It is fundamental that students be exposed to literature and modern resource

materials from an early age. A fully equipped school library and resource center advances educational

development and student growth. This new library will be utilized as a locale for learning,

collaboration, idea sharing, inquiry, and information gathering for the students and faculty. The

library will serve as the center for the myriad of activities that take place in the school and will be

active throughout the day with lessons, story hours and book exchanges. Students will also utilize the

library as a place to receive additional academic support as needed.

This well-equipped library and resource center will enable teachers to delve deeper into subjects to

enrich academic curriculum and expose students to literature and modern resource materials to

contribute to their educational growth and development.

The Yadin Tadmor Architectural Firm designed a 150 square-meter Library and Resource Center at

the Ha'Baal Shem Tov Elementary School.

The library will include:

A Screen and Lecture Stage with Audio-Visual capabilities

A Reading Hall Complete with Age appropriate Tables and Chairs

A Welcoming Children's Lounge

Portable Laptops

Periodical and Book Displays

A Librarian's Desk

Book Shelves

THE COST

TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT: $290,000 Matching Funds: $145,000 Requested Donation: $145,000

ABOUT THE TEL AVIV FOUNDATION

The Tel Aviv Foundation, chaired by Mayor Ron Huldai, partners with donors from around the

world to meet the evolving needs of the City of Tel Aviv-Yafo. The Tel Aviv Foundation has

generated momentum to the city and proudly serves as a beacon of progress, elevating the

city’s quality of life through innovation, education, the arts, sports, social services, and the

environment. Responsive and purposeful, the Foundation provides for the needy and creates

opportunities for a better future for all the residents of Tel Aviv-Yafo. The Foundation was

founded in 1977 and has established more than 800 projects to date, raising over $700 million

worldwide.

By matching contributions dollar-for-dollar and by allowing donors to designate their funds,

the Foundation ensures accountability, promotes collaboration between donor and recipient,

and strengthens the bond between the Diaspora and Israel.

To learn more about the Tel Aviv Foundation please visit:

www.telavivfoundation.org