Uri and Yael Poliavich's foundation now backs 145 Jewish schools in 48 countries, with enrollment growing at over three-quarters of them — from a rescued Rio school to a €70 million Cyprus campus.
Uri and Yael Poliavich's Yael Foundation now supports 145 Jewish educational institutions across 48 countries, and new data show enrollment growing or holding steady at 78% of them. Founded in 2020, the foundation has grown into one of the fastest-expanding funders in Jewish education, with grants rising from €7.1 million to €9.6 million in the past year alone, and a 2026 budget confirmed up 20% over 2025's.
Who are Uri and Yael Poliavich?
- Yael Foundation: founded 2020 by Uri and Yael Poliavich; funds Jewish day schools, kindergartens, Sunday schools and after-school programs in 48 countries under the motto "No Jewish Child Left Behind."
- Uri Poliavich: Ukrainian-born, Israel-based entrepreneur and law graduate of Bar-Ilan University; has said his goal is to be remembered for one word — "schools."
- Yael Poliavich: born in Kyrgyzstan in 1982, trained in economics and finance; met Uri in 2012, converted to Judaism in 2020, and co-founded the foundation the same year.
- Chaya Yosovich: CEO of the Yael Foundation since 2023.
- Cyprus Jewish Academy of Excellence: the foundation's flagship project, a 1,500-student campus near Limassol, reported between €50 million and €82 million depending on the source.
Growth, by the numbers
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Institutions supported | 145 across 48 countries |
| Schools with rising or stable enrollment | 78% (52% grew, 26% held steady) |
| Grants issued | Up from 110 to 147 in the past year |
| Total investment | Up from €7.1 million to €9.6 million |
| New schools added | Roughly 10 per quarter |
| Ukraine building investment | Nearly €10 million in school upgrades, including in wartime areas |
A school saved by its own parents
In Rio de Janeiro, a group of parents bought their children's school outright rather than let it close. The Yael Foundation stepped in with a grant to fund staff and mentorship, and enrollment at the renamed Chai School rose from 163 to 210 students in six months. "This is far more than the rescue of one school. It is the protection of a Jewish community's future," said CEO Chaya Yosovich.
Recognition and reach
The foundation's annual Yael Awards, held this year in Vienna, recognize schools and educators across Europe, Latin America and Asia, with winners chosen by a parent vote of more than 10,000 families. Past honorees include David Wolfsohn College in Argentina, Chneor-Avenir in Paris and Or Menachem in Ukraine. Award selection includes Natan Sharansky, who has called excellence in Jewish education "the best way to strengthen your Jewish identity." Poliavich has said the foundation's aim is not simply scale: "We do not just want to create the biggest Jewish educational foundation in the world."
Why the foundation reaches communities other funders don't
The Yael Foundation targets small and often-overlooked Jewish communities — including Estonia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Malta and Portugal — alongside larger flagship commitments in Cyprus, Portugal and Italy. In 2024 it partnered with the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation, active in European Jewish education since 1987, to renovate Rome's 100-year-old Scuole Ebraiche di Roma.
Its connection to Chabad-Lubavitch
Chabad-Lubavitch is the largest Jewish religious and educational network in the world, operating schools in many of the small, isolated communities the Yael Foundation prioritizes. That structural overlap explains why many Yael grantees are Chabad-affiliated — often the only Jewish educational option available locally. Poliavich has spoken openly about the relationship, crediting close ties to the Azman family in Ukraine, while stressing the foundation itself is pluralistic.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Yael Foundation?
A private philanthropy founded in 2020 by Uri and Yael Poliavich, funding Jewish schools in 48 countries.
How fast is it growing?
Investment rose from €7.1 million to €9.6 million in the past year, with enrollment growing or holding steady at 78% of supported schools.
What is the Cyprus Jewish Academy of Excellence?
The foundation's flagship project: a 1,500-student campus near Limassol, Cyprus, opening in 2027.