Our History
Motivated by the vision of Bessie Gotsfeld, AMIT was founded in 1925 and opened the first vocational high school for girls in Jerusalem in 1933. Today AMIT is recognized by Israel’s Education Ministry as the country’s leading educational network across all measurements including quality bagrut, pedagogical innovation, pluralism and bridging the gap, lowest dropout rate and integrity.
The First 100 Years
1925
Mizrachi Women of America (MWOA) forms at the Cleveland Mizrachi Convention under the leadership of Bessie Gotsfeld, z”l.
1927
MWOA purchases first piece of land in Jerusalem.
1933
Beit Zeirot Mizrachi (BZM), the first vocational high school for girls in Palestine, opens in Jerusalem.
1934
MWOA gains its autonomy from the Men’s Mizrachi Organization.
1943
Motza Children’s Home, a haven for children who escaped Eastern Europe, opens in Jerusalem.
1946
Children’s Home for Youth Aliyah opens in Bnei Brak.
1947
The Bessie Gotsfeld Children’s Village and Farm School, opens in Ra’anana.
1951
Beit Hayeled Children’s Home opens in Techiya ,Bar Ilan Memorial High School Vocational Center opens in Kfar Batya.
1955
First Ethiopian students arrive at Kfar Batya, Bessie Gotsfeld Forest is dedicated in Jerusalem
1958
Community Center opens in Haifa and The Morris Bienenfeld Library is dedicated in Kfar Batya.
1959
Bessie Gotsfeld, founder of MWOA, passes away.
1963
Vocational High School for Girls opens in Beersheva Mizrachi Women’s Forest is dedicated.
1965
The Dutch Leeuwarden Synagogue, brought to Kfar Batya from Holland, is dedicated.
1966
Allen Cultural Center and agro-vocational center opens in Kfar Batya, The Yetty and Solomon Silberberg Seminary opens in Mosad Aliyah.
1970
Mary Schreiber Library is dedicated in Mosad Aliyah.
1973
Teachers Seminary opens in Beersheva, MWOA changes its name to American Mizrachi Women (AMW).
1974
103 students and 4 teachers from MWOA High School in Tzfat are taken hostage by terrorists. 22 students, 3 teachers, and an IDF soldier are killed.
1976
Computer courses begin at BZM, Jerusalem.
1978
Gush Dan Religious Technological H.S. opens on Bar Ilan University Campus.
1980
Gruss Agricultural & Technological H.S. opens, Kfar Batya.
1981
The Ministry of Education designates AMW as the official reshet (network) for religious secondary technological education.
1982
Kiryat Ata Technological H.S. joins the reshet.
1983
AMW changes its name to AMIT, AMIT Albert M. and Francis Frisch Beit Hayeled opens in Gilo.
1985
High schools in Azata, Beit Shemesh, Lod/Ramle and Tzfat opens. AMIT H.S. in Tzfat is dedicated to the memory of the 22 students murdered in Maalot in 1974 High schools in Azata, Beit Shemesh, Lod/Ramle and Tzfat open Gould H.S. dedicated, Rechovot.
1990
Elementary, Junior and Senior High Schools open, Beit Shemesh and Tzfat , Renanim Scientific and Academic Religious H.S. opens, Ra’anana Acco High School joins the reshet.
1993
Tzfat Yeshiva High School, a pre-army yeshiva, opens Ginsburg Bar Ilan Gush Dan Junior & Senior H.S., dedicated, Givat Shmuel.
1994
Mishpachton for teenagers from troubled homes is completed, Kfar Blatt.
1996
Yeshiva of the Arts opens in Tzfat , Bienenfeld Hevruta Yeshiva & Kollel opens, Kfar Batya.
2001
AMIT Irving I. & Beatrice Stone School for Developmentally Challenged Youth opens, Nechalim.
2002
Dr. Amnon Eldar is appointed Director General of AMIT.
2003
AMIT assumes responsibility for all religious education in Ma’ale Adumim , Israel Ministry of Education honors 4 teachers at AMIT H.S. for Girls in Haifa.
Establishment of the Spiritual-Educational Council at the AMIT Network, Establishment of AMIT Young Leadership Council, named for Roi Klein OB”M.
2004
3 elementary schools in Beersheva join the reshet Elaine Silver Technological High School is dedicated, Beersheva Evelyn Schreiber Ulpana is dedicated, Tzfat AMIT Harry and Bina Appleman Comprehensive H.S. in Beersheva & AMIT Gould High School in Rehovot are ranked among the top 10 high schools in Israel.
2007
Establishment of Midreshet AMIT at Beit Hayeled in Jerusalem.
2008
Dedication – AMIT Wasserman Torah, Arts and Sciences Jr. High School for Girls, Ma’ale Adumim.
2011
R&D Department is established to meet the need for pedagogical innovation.
2014
Gogya year 1 begins – 11 schools take part in the process.
2015
Gogya year 2 begins – 16 new schools join the process.
Dedication of the Ellen and Stanley Wasserman Campus at Kfar Blatt Youth Village.
Establishment of localized collaborative learning communities.
2017
AMIT celebrates the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem on our Yom Yerushalayim Mission.
Dedication of the Rav Zev Chamudot Junior College at the Nordlicht Religious Technological High School in Jerusalem.
2018
Dedication of the Gloria and Henry I. Zeisel and Family Junior College at Kfar Blatt.
2023
AMIT celebrates the Kfar Batya groundbreaking ceremony.
2025
AMIT launches city-wide programs in Sderot and Kiryat Shmona focusing on excellence, social emotional learning, strength, and unity.
2026
AMIT celebrates 100 years and opens its Kfar Batya campus,
