A Stand against Injustice
A Step toward Equality
Beit Tzipora promotes understanding, acceptance, and equality through youth education and support.
Continuing the
Wiesel Vision of
Hope and Humanity
The Beit Tzipora Centers for Study and Enrichment in Israel are an initiative of The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, rooted in Holocaust remembrance and the belief that a just society goes beyond tolerance, actively embracing and including all citizens in its advancement.
Marion Wiesel played a pivotal role in confronting the racism she witnessed as a young American woman in the 1950s. Decades later, as Israel welcomed thousands of Ethiopian Jewish children making Aliyah in response to violence in Africa, she took action to help these new immigrants overcome the barriers they faced.
In the mid-1990s, Marion founded The Beit Tzipora Centers for Study and Enrichment in Israel – named after Elie Wiesel’s younger sister who was murdered in Auschwitz—to provide Ethiopian Israelis and other community members with critical resources and support, advancing their socio-economic and educational integration into Israeli society.
We created Beit Tzipora because there was a great need for the Ethiopian children to feel they were learning and being cared for in general. They give the children a sense of importance and give them similar learning privileges that other children in Israel enjoy. Visiting the Centers, it is so rewarding to see how happy the children are and how wonderful their teachers are.
Today’s Impact:
Removing Barriers, Providing Opportunities and Shaping Futures
While one-third of Ethiopian Israelis do not graduate, 80% of Beit Tzipora students earn their diplomas — matching Israel’s national average.
Beit Tzipora serves 600 students annually in Ashkelon and Kiryat Malachi, with a focus on academic remediation, social leadership, and educational support for parents. By strengthening the connection between the classroom and home, we ensure the success of the entire family.
Our programs empower students through community-driven initiatives and innovative teaching, helping them overcome language and social barriers to fully integrate into Israeli society. By providing STEM education, Beit Tzipora prepares students for success in Israel’s high-tech economy, competitive military programs, and university opportunities.
- Educational Remediation
- Digital Literacy
- Emotional Wellbeing
- Community & Family Support
- Extracurriculars
Amid the ongoing threat from missiles and terrorism, the Centers have become a pillar of emotional refuge and resilience. With many fathers on reserve duty, we provide families with the support they need to navigate the challenges of daily life and security-related stress, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help alleviate anxiety.
Our mission remains just as vital today as when the Centers were first created — inspiring younger generations to care, connect, and lead.
Shaping the Future:
Expanding Our Impact And Empowering Future Leaders
With nearly 200 children waitlisted at each Center, the demand for our support far exceeds our current capacity. Limited space and resources mean we’re unable to reach every child in need, leaving many without the critical care and guidance they deserve.
Our vision is to build a society rooted in understanding, acceptance, and equality—where there is no waitlist, and every child and family receives the support they need.
To make this vision a reality, we aim to expand our programs and reach more students, helping them become the future leaders who’ll address evolving community needs.
This growth depends entirely on donations that sustain and amplify the impact of Beit Tzipora.
We want to improve the world we all live in. In Israel, we created two centers – and this is mainly Marion’s personal project – for twelve hundred Ethiopian children. Because of their background, they encounter obstacles in school. When they arrive, they are the last in class. Later they become the first.
Help us continue this life-changing work.