February 19, 2026
by Ariel Lapson and Melissa Rivkin l February 2026 What happens when 130 Jewish educators from across the United States and Canada gather to rethink how […]
December 15, 2025
Often when asked what I do for a living, I will respond “I make Upstanders.” This is usually met with “But how do you know?” In […]
November 24, 2025
The Pacific Northwest is a vast geographical region, with pockets of thriving Jewish life. Each of the twelve Jewish day schools and Yeshivot, located in the major cities of Oregon, Washington State, and Vancouver are distinctive. What works at one school might not apply at another school, yet all are working to strengthen their Hebrew language programs as members of Hebrew at the Center’s Cascadia Project, thanks to the wisdom and generosity of funders who appreciated the value of this community-wide Hebrew language initiative.
November 13, 2025
The Jewish Education Innovation Challenge (JEIC) brought its national network and signature energy to Seattle on May 12-13 for the 2025 Innovators Retreat, uniting over 90 educators, leaders and funders under the theme “Mission Possible.” The two-day event, co-hosted by the Mayberg Foundation and the Samis Foundation, marked the first time the retreat was held on the West Coast and in partnership with a local community funder.
November 11, 2025
The Jewish Education Innovation Challenge (JEIC) will bring its annual Innovators Retreat conference to Seattle for the first time on May 12-13. JEIC, an initiative of the Mayberg Foundation, organizes a free, invitation-only event each year for Jewish day school educators across North America, focused on professional development, collaboration, and innovation.
November 6, 2025
A 2020 review of Jewish educational offerings in Washington State by the Samis Foundation found that most Jewish youth engaged in formal Jewish education were doing so through local Hebrew schools. This insight shaped the Foundation’s next step: a three-year, $1 million Youth Enrichment and Engagement Grant Initiative designed to expand access to intensive, immersive Jewish education.
September 8, 2025
In 2021, the Samis Foundation released its 5-year Strategic Plan for Philanthropy, outlining four key goals. As we head into the final year of the plan, the results have exceeded expectations across all stated objectives.
July 30, 2025
By Connie Kanter, and David Ellenhorn | May 14, 2025 In the wake of Oct. 7, 2023, with antisemitism flaring on college campuses and across many […]
July 11, 2025
The Samis Foundation Board of Trustees is proud to announce new grants totaling over $1 million to initiatives in Israel. While the situation in Israel remains […]