There exists a deep friendship between Israel and the U.S. - between our peoples and countries. The basis of this friendship is common values, a commitment to democratic values, freedom, peace, and common interests, including the drive toward regional stability and preventing terrorism and violence.

— Ariel Sharon

We will speak up for our principles and we will stand up for our friends in the world. And one of our most important friends is the State of Israel.

— George W. Bush

The AMERICAN-ISRAELI COOPERATIVE ENTERPRISE (AICE) was established in 1993 as a nonprofit 501(c)(3), nonpartisan organization to strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship by emphasizing the fundamentals of the alliance — the values our nations share.

 






 

The objectives and purposes of AICE include:


  • To provide a vehicle for the research, study, discussion and exchange of views concerning nonmilitary cooperation (Shared Value Initiatives) between the peoples and governments of the United States and Israel.
  • To facilitate the formation of partnerships between Israelis and Americans.
  • To publicize joint activities, and the benefits accruing to America and Israel from them.
  • To explore issues of common historical interest to the peoples and governments of the United States and Israel.
  • To sponsor research, conferences and documentaries.
  • To serve as a clearinghouse on joint U.S.-Israeli activities.
  • To provide educational materials on Jewish history and culture.
  • To promote scholarship in the field of Israel studies.
  • FACILITATING PARTNERSHIPS

    • AICE's major long-term objective is to bring innovative, successful social and education programs developed and proven in Israel to the United States to help address our domestic needs and provide tangible benefits to Americans. In 1996, AICE also began to look at specific opportunities for introducing novel American programs to Israel.

    • AICE introduced Hebrew University’s innovative YACHAD peer tutoring program to North Carolina. Guilford County started a pilot project in 1996 to adapt the program. “Reading Together,” as it is now called, is improving the reading skills of second-graders and enhancing the self-esteem of the fifth grade tutors. The program was such a success it is now being used in 207 schools in 14 states.

    PUBLICITY

    One of AICE's principal objectives is to enhance Israel's image by publicizing novel Israeli approaches to problems common to both our nations and illustrating how Americans can learn from these innovations. AICE also works with individual states that are establishing and expanding their ties with Israel. In particular, we produce reports documenting how these states can and do benefit from cooperation, trade and academic and cultural exchanges with Israel. Reports on cooperation between Israel and all 50 states and the District of Columbia can be found under Israel & the States.

    RESEARCH

    AICE was created, in part, to highlight areas where Israel might contribute to the betterment of America. AICE publishes studies to identify specific programs and approaches that can benefit Americans. AICE has published the following reports:

    JEWISH VIRTUAL LIBRARY

    • The Jewish Virtual Library is the most comprehensive online Jewish encyclopedia in the world, covering everything from anti-Semitism to Zionism. So far, more than 13,000 articles and 6,000 photographs and maps have been integrated into the site. The Library has 13 wings: History, Women, The Holocaust, Travel, Israel & The States, Maps, Politics, Biography, Israel, Religion, Judaic Treasures of the Library of Congress, Vital Statistics and Reference. Each of these has numerous subcategories. Under Religion, for example, we have the complete text of the Tanakh, information on Jewish holidays and material on relations between Jews and Christians and Muslims. The Politics wing includes collections on U.S.-Israel relations, the United Nations and the peace process. The Reference section has bibliographies of more than 1,000 books and 1,000 web sites, and a glossary of more than 1,000 words and a time-line for the history of Judaism.

    •  The Library also includes the Virtual Israel Experience, an educational tool and virtual tour of Israel designed especially for students going on Birthright and other trips to Israel. Using Virtual Israel as a model, we are now creating a Virtual Jewish History Tour that allows Jewish students and other Internet users to “visit” Jewish communities around the world to learn about their history and culture. The goals are to educate visitors about Jewish heritage, the development of Judaism, the changing nature of Jewish communities and the connection between the Jewish past and present.

    • Much of the information in the Library cannot be found anywhere else in the world, such as material on joint U.S.-Israel projects, cooperation between Israel and the individual states and the treatment of Americans during the Holocaust. We received permission from the Library of Congress to put its Judaic and Hebraic treasures on our site. We have also received permission to use material from the American Jewish Historical Society, Anti-Defamation League, the Simon Wiesenthal Center, the Israeli Foreign Ministry and Prime Minister’s Office, Rabbi Joseph Telushkin (author of “Jewish Literacy”) and dozens of other sources. One of our goals is to offer visitors a single source for information so they don’t need to search thousands of other “Jewish” web sites.

    ISRAEL SCHOLAR DEVELOPMENT FUND

    To address the critical need to develop new scholars and place established Israel scholars on campus, AICE has created the Israel Scholar Development Fund (ISDF). This fund will:

    • Identify U.S. and Israeli scholars who could be placed in visiting professorships.
    • Offer universities matching funds to hire a visiting scholar.
    • Brief scholars on issues, provide them media training, and encourage them to educate the public through public lectures and media appearances.
    • Identify students who want to become Israel/Middle East scholars and offer them scholarships for graduate study.
    • Develop a strategic plan for promoting Israel studies that would involve identifying institutions that could and should have pro-Israel scholars.
    • Advise philanthropists on where positions should be created to have the greatest impact, and how to do it so their intentions are not frustrated.

    CLEARINGHOUSE 

    • AICE has built and maintains a database that contains all joint U.S.-Israel activities conducted on both a governmental and non-governmental level. The database contains more than 4,000 entries, including all recipients of grants from the three binational foundations: the Binational Science Foundation (BSF), the Binational Agricultural Research and Development Foundation (BARD) and the Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation (BIRD).

    • The Economic Partnership Databank contains information on more than 10,000 U.S. companies doing business in or with Israel. This is the most sophisticated and comprehensive collection of data on U.S.-Israel cooperation.

    FOR MORE INFORMATION

    To learn more about AICE, obtain publications, sponsor a wing of the Jewish Virtual Library, or become a member, contact:

    Mitchell G. Bard, Ph.D.
    Executive Director
    AICE
    2810 Blaine Dr.
    Chevy Chase, MD 20815
    Tel. 301-565-3918
    Fax. 301-587-9056
    Email. mgbard@aol.com