About BNEI AKIVA
OUR MISSION
Bnei Akiva of the US & Canada provides high quality religious Zionist education and programs for North American Jewish youth along with their families and communities. Basing ourselves on the principles of Torah v’Avodah, we encourage aliyah, love of the Jewish people, and love of Israel.
Bnei Akiva of the US & Canada is the premier religious Zionist youth movement dedicated to growing generations of Jews committed to building a society devoted to Torah and the Jewish people in the state of Israel.
.עם ישראל .ארץ ישראל. תורת ישראל
Our History

What We Do
Our robust programming reaches Jewish youth at every stage – from childhood to gap year, and from post-college and beyond. Thousands of children join our sniffim (chapters) in gillim (cities) across North America for weekly experiential activities and Shabbatonim focused on Israel, Zionism, the parsha, and Judaism, and led by madrichim, high school students who are trained to be volunteer leaders. During the summers, our chanichim (participants) join Bnei Akiva-affiliated camps and explore Israel during an immersive trip with their peers. Our gap year programs in Israel infuse Torah v’Avodah into our high school graduates’ daily lives. Babayit connects our young professionals to the movement they love, bringing them together for Shabbat meals, chessed projects, classes, and more.
LAUNCHING LEADERSHIP
A movement that is inspired, energized, and led by youth, Bnei Akiva hosts an array of skill-building programs for our young leaders. Kenes Manhigei Chevraya Bet, Bnei Akiva’s annual leadership conference, empowers our high school students to reach their full leadership potential with intensive training sessions, meaningful bonding activities, and creative programming workshops.

Empowering Youth to Lead

High School Volunteers
Our young leaders dedicate their free time each week by serving as Madrichim, Roshei Snif, Roshei Chevraya, and Mazkirim.

Choveret Chinuch
Every month, volunteers receive an educational guide that helps them plan Snif activities.

Hadracha Shabbaton
Each Galil hosts an annual Bogrim-led leadership training Shabbaton for their Tzevet.

Hanhala Artzit
Bnei Akiva Ideological Board Members serve as mentors and guides to our high school leaders.

Tekes Ma’avar
Glilim host a moving “transition ceremony” on the evening between Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut for communities across the country.

Each year, 38 Bnei Akiva shlichim serve in 21 schools and communities throughout the US & Canada.







Israeli Shlichim infuse Israel education into schools and shuls throughout North America, serving as Hebrew or Judaic studies teachers, youth directors, or student life directors. Shlichim Tzeirim (young Shlichim) serve for one year and Shlichim families serve for up to four years. The National Office connects Shlichim to community partners, and hosts an annual training conference for them.
OUR CORE VALUES

Torah V'Avodah
Infusing Torah into all aspects of our lives, ensuring that it guides our work and our daily activities.

Youth Empowerment
Inspiring youth to take action and to make a difference in the world around them.

Manhigut - Leadership
Creating programming for youth of all ages that is dedicated to building leadership.
Our Impact
MEET OUR TEAM
- Wayne Yaffee – Chairman
- Ellen Bayer
- Asher Goldberg
- Romy Koenig
- Leo Korman
- Hartley Koschitzky
- Avi Matanky
- Karen Meyer
- Uri Moche
- Noam Safier
- Alan Silverman
- Gary Weiss
- Rosie Gindoff - Co-Mazkira Artzi
- Aliza Goldschlag - Co-Mazkira Artzi
- Andrew Galitzer
- Dani Lewinger
- Eitan Linsider
- Elisheva Greene
- Gabi Gindoff
- Jacqueline Englanoff
- Yoni Albert
- Leora Taub
- Mendy Kanofsky
- Moshe Amar
- Natanya Ruben
- Sam Clarke
- Shoshi Fogelman
- Talya Berenholz
- Yonina Grauer