America–Israel Friendship League

AIFL's certificate of incorporation, dated March 8, 1971, stated that the organization would “promote, foster and develop mutual friendship and understanding” through the interchange of cultural, educational, religious, artistic, scientific, and economic knowledge and ideas.[2] The organization describes its contemporary mission as increasing Americans' understanding of contemporary Israel — including its entrepreneurship, culture, medical research, and environmental-protection initiatives — and building grassroots support for the U.S.–Israel relationship.[4]

AIFL says it works with Americans across faiths, ethnic backgrounds, age groups, and political persuasions.[4] Its core activities include leadership delegations to Israel, alumni outreach, Pastor/Educator Seminars, an annual Youth Ambassador Student Exchange, and a Think Tank that explores issues of Zionism and Judaism.[4][7] The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists AIFL among web resources on Israel–United States relations.[6]

AIFL was formed in 1971 to develop U.S.–Israel friendship through people-to-people engagement.[4] Senators Frank Church, Hubert Humphrey, and Jacob Javits were among those who played major roles in creating the League.[3]

The organization's first youth program, launched in 1977, sent 29 New York City high-school students to Israel for a month-long immersion in Israeli social, cultural, and educational life.[4] Between 1985 and 1990, AIFL also operated a Young Journalist Exchange Program involving 15 Israeli young professional journalists and 15 American journalism students. The program was funded by the U.S. Information Agency through the President's International Youth Exchange Initiative.[4]

By 1984, Representative Thomas J. Addabbo was praising AIFL's president in Congress as “a major force in trying to educate Americans about Israel's position” and for working toward peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors by educating the public about the subject's complexity. Addabbo also noted that the League's president had received the Dr. Harris J. Levine Award from B'Nai Zion for work strengthening ties between the two countries.[8] Mortimer Zuckerman later served as president of AIFL. He was also publisher of the New York Daily News and chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.[3][9]

AIFL's flagship initiative is the Youth Ambassador Student Exchange (YASE), a month-long, chaperoned program for tenth- and eleventh-grade students. Participants live in one another's homes and attend school with their hosts; AIFL describes the exchange as designed to create long-term bonds.[7] The program has involved more than 5,000 students.[5] A complementary initiative, the Youth Ambassador Technology Exchange (YATE), targets high-school students with an interest in STEM and tasks them with jointly designing, assembling, and launching nano-satellites while learning about each other's cultural traditions.[7]

The reach of these exchanges is illustrated by the experience of Saleela Salahuddin, an American Muslim who served as AIFL's 1995 Youth Ambassador to Israel. At her Israeli host sister's suggestion, Salahuddin visited the Western Wall and placed a paper prayer there expressing hope “for peace and democracy to prosper in our world.” She later described maintaining contact with her host siblings, Maya of Netanya and Roy of Arad, and spoke at the Tucson chapter's 1996 Partners for Democracy Dinner.[1] Program participants often remain involved long after an exchange ends, becoming “ambassadors who carry the message of friendship and goodwill from one generation to the next.”[1]

AIFL also conducts multifaith outreach engaging Buddhists, Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, Evangelicals, Hindus, Mainline Protestants, Muslims, Sikhs, and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, among others. The initiative seeks practical humanitarian cooperation and dialogue without a proselytizing component.[10] Leadership delegations bring American community, religious, business, and political figures to Israel, and the organization hosts annual events celebrating U.S.–Israel commercial ties — previously at the New York Stock Exchange and currently at NASDAQ.[7]

During the COVID-19 crisis in March 2020, AIFL launched its Friends-in-Deeds campaign, developing virtual programming to bring Israel into participants' homes and providing Israeli snack-food donations to frontline workers.[7] In March 2021, the organization convened a 12-member National Engagement Cabinet charged with expanding AIFL's partnerships, membership, and donor base across all 50 U.S. states.[7]

The AIFL Think Tank, established in 2011, explores Zionism and Judaism with an emphasis on independent and fresh thinking. Its participants come from varied professional backgrounds, many had not previously been involved with Jewish causes, and the Think Tank has issued dozens of position papers.[4][7] Gol Kalev serves as chairman of the Think Tank and authors its position papers.[11]

AIFL established the Partners for Democracy Award in 1991 to recognize individuals who have been champions and activists for democracy; the organization describes it as its highest award.[4] The award is presented each year to Israeli and U.S. counterpart recipients and honors efforts to cultivate stronger relationships, bonds, and mutual respect between the two countries.[2]

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon delivered the keynote address at the 2001 Partners for Democracy Awards Dinner.[4] Other listed recipients have included George P. Shultz, Bernard Lewis, Henry A. Kissinger, Michael Bloomberg, President George W. Bush, President Reuven Rivlin, Stanley Fischer, and Nir Barkat.[2] AIFL's awards history lists Yitzhak Tshuva and Itzhak Forer among its 2006 recipients.[2]

The Kenneth J. Bialkin Leadership Award, established in 2020, recognizes figures in business, politics, and innovation who promote better U.S.–Israel relations. It is awarded annually to a business leader whose organization has promoted commercial activity between the two countries.[2] Boaz Levi, CEO and president of Israel Aerospace Industries, received the award at an AIFL annual dinner. The award was described as symbolizing Israel Aerospace Industries' contribution to Israel's defense in wartime and peacetime.[12] The Herbert Tenzer Lifetime Achievement Award, established in 2005, honors individuals who have promoted the shared values of the two democracies through contributions to AIFL.[2]

AIFL's historical timeline says that in 2013 it arranged an Israel delegation for senior Presbyterian clergy after a divestment campaign led by church members and that the church subsequently abolished the divestment resolutions at its General Assembly. This causal account comes from AIFL itself; the available sources do not independently establish that the delegation brought about the church's later decision.[4]

As of September 18, 2026, AIFL's listed leadership includes Eric J. Gertler as chairman and chair of the Executive Committee, Ambassador Ido Aharoni as chairman of the Israel Board, Richard Brody as treasurer, Ruby Shamir as a vice president, Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Dani Rothschild as deputy chairman of the Israel Board, and Daniella Rilov as executive director.[13]

Earlier leadership identified in the Congressional Record included Mortimer Zuckerman as president, Kenneth Bialkin — a partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom — as chairman of the board, and Ilana Artman as executive vice president.[3] AIFL's membership and leadership historically drew from political, religious, labor, business, and community circles across different faiths.[3] The organization maintains its United States office in New York City.[4]