Maestro Itzhak Perlman Performed at AMIT Kfar Batya Reveal: Israel’s $70 Million Epicenter of Educational Transformation

AMIT Children hosted ‘An Evening with Itzhak Perlman’ at Sony Hall in New York City to reveal AMIT Kfar Batya (http://kfarbatya.org), a center for educational transformation opening in 2025 in Ra’anana, Israel.

AMIT members and supporters attended an intimate performance by the reigning virtuoso of the violin, Maestro Itzhak Perlman, where he captured the highlights of his career, shared his remarkable artistry, and conveyed his irrepressible joy in making music. Rohan De Silva joined Mr. Perlman on piano. This event was co-chaired by AMIT board members Shari & Jacob M. Safra, and Joyce & Daniel Straus. The event recognized the magnificent commitment of the following donors: Layla & Evan Green, and Ellen & Stanley Wasserman. There was also a tribute to Marguerite Werrin z”l, a dedicated AMIT board member who recently passed away.

The event included an announcement that AMIT Children is dedicating The Toby and Itzhak Perlman Music Studio, with gratitude, to Itzhak Perlman and his wife, in the couple’s honor, at the AMIT State Technological High School in Jerusalem.

“We are honored that Itzhak Perlman performed at this transformative moment in AMIT’s history. Mr. Perlman’s passion, creativity, and drive for excellence are well known. His unwavering commitment to Israel and mentoring young people speaks to what AMIT is all about,” says Audrey Axelrod Trachtman, AMIT President.

‘An Evening with Itzhak Perlman’ celebrated AMIT’s 15-year commitment and 70-million-dollar investment to bring AMIT Kfar Batya campus and new The Evan & Layla Green Family Foundation Goyga headquarters to fruition. The event included a preview of the AMIT Kfar Batya campus and the unveiling of the AMIT Kfar Batya time capsule. The Kfar Batya time capsule comprised of items representing AMIT’s values, commitment, and mission that will be placed at the campus site. The article presented included:

• AMIT Founder Bessie Gotsfeld Telegram placed in capsule by Yaela Baine, her great-niece
• Dog Tag of Eliraz Peretz z’’l who bravely served in the IDF as deputy commander of Golani Brigade 12. Eliraz, son of Miriam Peretz and a father of four, fell in battle in 2010. In his memory, his high school in Petach Tikva was renamed the Eliraz High School.
• Small bible of AMIT student Dvir Mertzbach, born and raised in Tzfat in a family of nine kids, studied at Yeshivat AMIT Tzfat High School for Boys. Dvir realized his dream this year when he won the International Chidon HaTanach, or Bible competition, witnessed by all of Israel.
• Two stethoscopes intertwined of Dr. Margueritte Werrin z’’l and Dr. Walfisch. This past year the AMIT family lost an ardent and loyal board member – Dr. Margueritte Werrin, z’’l. As a physician, she was deeply committed to AMIT and dedicated to her patients. Also, AMIT Dyckman graduate professor Asnat Walfisch advanced quickly in her career and served as director of the Women’s Hospital in Belinson.
• THE AMIT Compass –– representing perhaps the most precious value- that of Klal Yisrael. Unique in the educational world, AMIT operates schools for the entire Israeli population. That’s the definition of a tough act to follow, all under one tent. These include religious Zionist, Secular, Ultra-orthodox, and traditional, as we believe that the people of Israel must be united. In today’s face of world today it’s a critical value that sits at the very core of our identity.

In 2014, AMIT launched a new methodology called Gogya as a vision to change Israel’s education system through a 21st -century lens focused on preparing today’s students for tomorrow’s economic, technological, and societal shifts. AMIT’s new cutting-edge Kfar Batya campus will serve as an incubator for the development and implementation model of innovative educational frameworks. AMIT Kfar Batya will be a place to nurture, challenge, and inspire students to develop shared values of excellence, unity, and tolerance, preparing them to become productive citizens and proud leaders of Israel. AMIT Kfar Batya will be the epicenter of practical change, a hub for education thought leaders, and the experimental teaching laboratory for thousands of teachers and students across Israel. The educational advancements and new methodologies conceived at the campus will be shared with the education community worldwide.

AMIT Kfar Batya will focus on academic excellence and be grounded in AMIT’s Torah values, with the singular goal of leveling the playing field for all Israeli children regardless of socio-economic background, disability, or personal challenges. The new campus will feature The Evan and Layla Green Family Foundation Gogya Building and Program; The Educators’ Innovation Center; AMIT Headquarters; Community Athletic Complex; The Gwen Straus Junior and Senior High School for Boys; Elementary School; Welcome Center; Memorial Park for Fallen Soldiers; and Outdoor Amphitheater.

“David Ben-Gurion once said, ‘It’s not enough to be up to date; you have to be up to tomorrow.’ This directly speaks to our goal for AMIT Kfar Batya,” says Shari Safra, AMIT Vice President, Financial Resource Development. “AMIT Kfar Batya will help establish ‘Startup Nation’ Israel as the ‘Education Nation.’”

To view the AMIT Kfar Batya website, go to http://kfarbatya.org.

About AMIT
Founded in 1925, AMIT serves 40,000 students each year across 96 schools in 32 cities throughout Israel. AMIT welcomes all children, enables students to realize their potential, and strengthens Israeli society by educating and nurturing children from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds within a framework of innovation, academic excellence, and Jewish values. For more information, please visit www.amitchildren.org.