This story is about how a simple belief gave life to a project that transcends borders. About the Yael Foundation, a modern model of philanthropy that places education at the heart of Jewish identity.
Today, we often forget that the pace of change usually outpaces learning. Uri Poliavich and Yael Poliavich chose to invest where time holds the greatest value, in children. For them, education is an obligation and part of the legacy. Their foundation grew from the conviction that every Jewish child, no matter where they live, deserves access to high-quality education.
The Yael Foundation acts as a bridge between communities and the future. Under the guidance of Uri Poliavich, it works with schools and community organizers to make education a living experience. Every initiative from contemporary school programs to summer camps that combine learning with belonging has a shared goal in strengthening identity.
Teaching a child means investing in a future that unfolds beyond your own time. That quiet patience defines the spirit of the Yael Foundation — philanthropy that seeks no recognition, only lasting results that shape generations to come.
Who Is Uri Poliavich?
Born in Ukraine and raised in Israel, Uri Poliavich is an entrepreneur and philanthropist who believes in the power of education to transform communities. From an early age, he understood that material success is not the final goal, but a means to build something greater than oneself. Together with Yael Poliavich, he founded the Yael Foundation — an organization dedicated to supporting education worldwide. The foundation funds organizations that are already active in their local communities, including schools, kindergartens, after-school programs, and educational initiatives.
From the start, the mission was stated as:
“Ensuring equitable access to high-quality education for every Jewish child, regardless of their location or community size.”
This principle became the backbone of the Yael Foundation, which now supports dozens of communities.
At the heart of every Yael Foundation project lies the idea of adaptability and connection. For Uri Poliavich, it has always been important that education develops around the real needs of people and communities, rather than through universal solutions. For that reason, the foundation prioritizes access to Jewish education, focusing on regions where such opportunities are limited or financially out of reach, and supports programs tailored to each community’s culture and needs.
Its guiding values are simple yet profound:
- Adaptive engagement: meeting the real needs of every community.
- Relationship building: maintaining constant dialogue with partners to create a global network of educational leaders.
- Continuous improvement: treating every grant and program as an opportunity to grow and deliver more value to children.
These principles define how the Yael Foundation operates.They transform philanthropy into collaboration and action into lasting social impact.
The Yael Foundation continues its mission under the leadership of Uri Poliavich and Yael Poliavich, focusing on helping today’s students grow into tomorrow’s thoughtful leaders. Key values emphasized by the foundation include quality, accessibility, innovation, and sustainability in education. Rather than imposing a single model, the foundation supports those who are already making a lasting difference in their communities.
The Life Journey of Uri Poliavich
Before speaking of foundations, ideas, or philanthropy, one must look at the life that shaped them. To understand Uri Poliavich and his vision for the Yael Foundation, it helps to trace the path that led him here. Every chapter adds a new tone to the story!
Early Years
Uri Poliavich was born in 1981 in Soviet Ukraine. His earliest memories were shaped by the absence of light, of choice, of freedom — a childhood defined less by comfort than by a deep hunger for change. Those early years taught him that transformation begins long before opportunity arrives.
“I wanted to change this color, this gray color, and create something bright and colorful in my own life and in the life of my family,” he would later recall.
Life in Soviet Ukraine during the 1980s was defined by limited resources and constant adaptation. Children grew up within limits that shaped both their choices and their hopes. In that environment, imagination became the only space untouched by restriction. For young Uri Poliavich, the dream of change was not rebellion — it was a way to move forward.
In Jewish families of that era, respectable professions were few and clearly defined and even stereotypical, we must say: doctor, lawyer, accountant. Poliavich chose law. The discipline’s precision and structure would later shape his approach to leadership and problem-solving. But beneath the surface of legal codes and textbooks was a restless curiosity and a conviction that knowledge only matters if it helps you build something new.
The Move to Israel
At the age of 14, Uri Poliavich and his family moved to Israel. Migration meant starting again from scratch. Yet, for him, it was rather an awakening.
Here, in the schools and open conversations of Israel, he saw a society where ideas were debated and curiosity was rewarded. This environment shaped the foundations of his future values.
He completed high school and, after military service, studied law at Bar-Ilan University. The years of study taught him that discipline and creativity can coexist. The law offered clarity, but life required vision.
These early experiences laid the groundwork for what would later become the philosophy of the Yael Foundation. Education must, of course, inform. But it’s useless if it doesn’t shape belonging, pride, and moral strength.
The Power of Bold Choices
One day, while browsing a newspaper, Uri Poliavich came across an advertisement for a business development position abroad. It was a small notice, yet it changed the trajectory of his life.
“I just opened a newspaper and read about a job in Central Asia. I found myself managing a business of 100 people. It was a big adventure, and it changed my life,” he later said.
That single decision marked the beginning of his journey into global business. It revealed one of his defining traits, courage. The courage to take the first step, even when the destination is uncertain.
Later, as he and his wife Yael Poliavich built their shared life in Europe, they faced a familiar choice: security or vision. With limited resources, they had to choose between buying an apartment and investing in a business. They chose the second. That risk later became the foundation of everything that followed.
Every decision Uri Poliavich made followed a consistent pattern. He once described leadership as:
“True leadership is empowering good people to accomplish great deeds.”
That principle remains at the heart of everything he builds today.
The Meaning of Success
As Uri Poliavich’s professional path unfolded, the theme that leadership means responsibility remained constant. Those who have worked with him describe his approach as calm, analytical, but profoundly human. He values precision, but also trusts intuition; he looks for innovation, but never loses sight of people.
The values formed in Uri Poliavich’s early life continued to guide his worldview, emphasizing that success matters most when it benefits others. The cooperation and mutual support that helped people through difficult times became his model for building stronger teams and communities. As his career developed, he focused increasingly on creating opportunities for others to grow. When success came, Uri Poliavich directed it outward — what began as personal ambition evolved into a shared purpose.
The hunger for change from his childhood transformed into the desire to give others what he himself once lacked. Together with Yael Poliavich, he founded the Yael Foundation, transforming his private convictions into a global educational mission.
Today, the Yael Foundation supports thousands of children and educators around the world, acts as a catalyst for change, supporting strong, existing community-led efforts.. It stands as a reflection of everything Uri Poliavich believes. Foremost, that success, in its truest sense, is measured by how many lives it touches.
In the end, the story of Uri Poliavich is of steady vision. Through the Yael Foundation, that same energy continues to grow quietly, shaping the future and supporting the vision he once dreamed of bringing to life.
The Mission of the Yael Foundation
After exploring the journey of Uri Poliavich, it is time to look at his greatest creation, the Yael Foundation. In fact, a living reflection of his belief that education builds both the mind and the soul of a community.
Founded in 2020 by Uri Poliavich and Yael Poliavich, the foundation grew out of a simple conviction that every Jewish child, no matter where they live, deserves access to high-quality Jewish and general education. Later on, the Yael Foundation turned this conviction into a measurable impact.
It operates in 37 countries, supports thousands of teachers, and funds hundreds of programs.
“You know what’s missing? It’s full of oil. What’s missing is spark, and the spark, that’s you guys. I can give the oil, I can give the cash, but without you guys, this thing will never light.”
This metaphor captures the philosophy of the Yael Foundation. Money fuels projects, but passion brings them to life.
Main facts and figures of Yael Foundation:
- Founded: 2020
- Founders: Uri Poliavich and Yael Poliavich
- Geographic reach: 37 countries
- Number of projects: 100+ educational initiatives
- Students reached: over 13,500
These figures are impressive, but behind every number stands a story. A story of teachers who found resources, of schools, of children who discovered pride in their identity.
Core programs and priorities of the Yael Foundation include:
- Yael Camp — offering Jewish youth a cost-free summer experience to connect across backgrounds and celebrate identity. The program fosters friendships, leadership, and a strong sense of belonging among young participants.
- Yael International Summit — an annual gathering of educators from around the world to share practices, build community, and strengthen Jewish education. It creates a platform for collaboration, idea exchange, and long-term partnerships across borders.
- Yael International Leadership Program — empowering school principals and educational leaders with peer learning, innovation, and support to drive excellence globally. The program helps strengthen educational leadership and encourages continuous improvement in schools.
In just a few years, the Yael Foundation has evolved from a small family initiative into a steadily expanding educational community. Uri Poliavich emphasizes that growth should always be balanced with a commitment to quality.
“It’s like running a marathon and sprinting at the same time,” said executive director Chaya Yosovich.
The foundation’s approach combines data and empathy. It measures outcomes but values the human touch. The Yael Foundation proves that philanthropy can be both structured and soulful. It shows that vision, when rooted in values, can reshape entire communities. Uri Poliavich and Yael Poliavich indeed created a whole new movement.
Strategy and Philanthropic Approach
After exploring the mission of the Yael Foundation, it is worth asking a practical question: how does Uri Poliavich manage such a vast and fast-growing organization? The answer lies in three core pillars: technology, management, and partnerships.
The Technology of Human Connection
For Uri Poliavich, innovation is not defined by technology or tools, but by people. True progress comes from the ability to listen, to notice curiosity and motivation in students, and to recognize when educators feel supported and inspired.
At the Yael Foundation, “data” means more than metrics. Of course, there are some important numbers, such as thousands of students and dozens of programs. But the objective measure of success lies in the emotions that remain after the class ends. In this sense, Uri Poliavich built a foundation that treats empathy as infrastructure. The Yael Foundation’s technology is about staying human in a world of systems.
Management in Motion
In April 2025, the Yael Foundation launched the International Jewish School Leadership Exchange. This is a six-month program that unites educators from Europe, Latin America, and the United States.
The initiative brings together veteran school leaders from Italy, Spain, Mexico, and the U.S. for virtual and in-person collaboration. Through mentorship sessions, classroom visits, and open discussions, they explore leadership structures, curriculum design, and ways to build inclusive Jewish education.
“For too long, Jewish schools were islands working on their own,” said Uri Poliavich. “This program is an expression of our belief that strong leadership and partnerships are the key to a vibrant Jewish future.”
The case embodies Poliavich’s management philosophy. It lies in knowledge that should circulate, not concentrate. Thus, the Yael Foundation does not dictate from above. But rather connects equals, creating a horizontal system of growth where experience becomes a shared resource.
Partnerships that Shape the Future
One of the strongest examples of the Yael Foundation’s approach to collaboration came in 2024, when Uri Poliavich partnered with Ronald S. Lauder and his foundation to launch a major educational initiative in Europe.
The two organizations joined forces to renovate and expand the Scuole Ebraiche di Roma, a century-old Jewish school serving nearly a thousand students. The joint investment contributed by the Yael Foundation and the Lauder Foundation, aims to transform the school into a model of modern Jewish education.
“Growing up in a place that lacked such opportunities, I feel personally compelled to ensure that Jewish children have access to exceptional education,” said Uri Poliavich.
The Yael Foundation proves that philanthropy can be strategic without losing its soul. Under Uri Poliavich’s guidance, it functions like a living organism.
Through this triad, Uri Poliavich has built an ecosystem of change. One that measures progress in something far less tangible than millions of dollars and far more lasting. We are talking about the sense of belonging that begins in the classroom and continues through generations.
Bottom Line
The path of Uri Poliavich and the mission of the Yael Foundation show that philanthropy in the twenty-first century is no longer about wealth alone. It is about responsibility, the conscious decision to turn success into shared progress.
The impact of Uri Poliavich reaches far beyond the schools and communities his foundation supports. It lies in the model he offers to other leaders. That generosity can be structured, that kindness can be strategic, and that education is the most sustainable form of investment. The Yael Foundation teaches that progress is measured in endurance and in the way ideas grow roots in the hearts of children.
This model of philanthropy feels modern because it combines business logic with human warmth. It values data but listens to emotion. It builds infrastructure but never forgets its purpose. In a time when many look for quick solutions, Uri Poliavich reminds us that real change grows gradually — built through patience, consistency, and a commitment that extends beyond one lifetime.
The story of the Yael Foundation is not finished; it continues with every child who learns, every teacher who inspires, and every community that rediscovers its strength. It shows that the boundaries between business and giving, between ambition and compassion, can dissolve when guided by vision.
For leaders and entrepreneurs everywhere, this story offers a challenge and an invitation: to build with purpose, to give with intent, and to believe that every meaningful act, however small, can become a spark that lights the future.