The Alliance Israélite Universelle was founded in 1860 to promote the social and economic advancement of Jewish communities in the Middle East and North Africa, primarily through the establishment of schools. Its network has since widened to encompass Europe and Israel, and today, in addition to the 73 schools it operates directly, it plays a vital role in all aspects of Jewish education internationally.

The Ecole Normale Israélite Orientale, the organization’s educational hub and traditional home in Paris, has been rebuilt and expanded with the Foundation’s assistance. The new facility, known as the Centre Alliance Edmond J. Safra, includes a primary school, an institute for Jewish education and research that draws on the Alliance’s vast library and archival holdings, and a renovated and enlarged synagogue/auditorium.