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 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.
June 10, 2025
A new PJ Library initiative aims to celebrate the breadth of Jewish experience. By Naomi Pefferman This story originally appeared in the summer 2025 issue of PROOF, […]
May 4, 2022
Years of Service: 3 Committee(s): Executive Committee, Grants Chair, Finance/Audit Committee, Ex Officio member of day school, experiential education, Israel sub-committees What did you know about […]
April 12, 2022
Samis Foundation’s state-wide grants give Jewish youth more opportunities to connect with culture and community.
January 30, 2022
A conversation with Sam Israel’s great-nephew, avid investor, and passionate Jewish community member, Dana Behar Years of Service: 9 Committee (s): Endowment/Investment Committee, Grants Committee Did you have […]
December 8, 2021
Initiative Seeks to Increase Accessibility to Programs and Participation Rates of Jewish Youth in Experiential Education SEATTLE, December 8, 2021 – The largest Jewish philanthropy in […]
September 2, 2021
In 1919 a 20-year-old young man who never went to high school arrived in Seattle from the Isle of Rhodes. A century later his estate has […]