The Schocken Foundation

Though Schocken’s vision of living as a German-Jew was shattered by the rise of the Nazi regime, his spiritual legacy of building cultural and social bridges has remained dear to members of the Schocken family. Today, these values are upheld in the philanthropic activities of the Schocken Foundation.

Since its establishment after Schocken’s death in 1959, the Schocken Foundation has supported hundreds of non-profit projects. The foundation seeks to promote a variety of social, educational, and cultural causes, mostly in Israel and in the United States. Between 2015 and 2023, the  focus of the foundation to foster social equality, social mobility, and community growth through partnership and dialogue. Especailly, the Schocken Foundation gave special emphasis to closing social and economic gaps between the Jewish majority and the Arab minority in Israel. In the United States, the Schocken Foundation focused on projects that alleviate the lives of immigrants and refugees in situations of economic and social injustice.

Since 2023, the foundation’s main focus is the promotion of Civic Education for Democracy in israel and the US.  

The foundation is ran by members of the Schocken family. As an operating rule, all projects are initiated by family members. The foundation receives no unsolicited applications.