Julia (Yael) Poliavich
Julia (Yael) Poliavich (born 1982, Kyrgyzstan) is a philanthropist, entrepreneur, and co-founder of the Yael Foundation, a charitable organization supporting access to education for Jewish children worldwide.
The Foundation believes that all Jewish children, regardless of where they live or the size of their community, should have access to quality Jewish and general education. It works to ensure that no Jewish child is left without educational opportunities and is currently active in 37 countries, supporting 18,000 students.[1][2][3][4]
Biography
Early Life and Education
Julia (Yael) Poliavich was born in 1982 in Kyrgyzstan. Her mother worked as a music teacher at the M. Abdraev Republican Secondary Special Boarding Music School in Bishkek. This early exposure to education influenced Poliavich’s later interest in philanthropy and educational development.
From 1999 to 2004, she studied at the The Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic named after Zh. Abdrakhmanov earned a degree in Economics, Finance, and Credit.[5]
In 2012, Julia (Yael) Poliavich met Uri Poliavich and moved from Kyrgyzstan to the Republic of Moldova.
She worked as a finance professional until 2021, gaining experience in business operations, financial planning, and organizational management.
Conversion to Judaism and family
In 2020, Julia (Yael) completed the giyur (conversion to Judaism) process, successfully passing the rabbinical examination in Ukraine under the supervision of Joseph Hanoch Brodbecker from Kyiv, Ukraine, is a rabbi whose conversions are recognized by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.
Following her conversion, she was married under a chuppah (traditional Jewish wedding canopy) to Uri Poliavich, an entrepreneur and philanthropist.
Philanthropy
In 2020, together with her husband, Uri Poliavich, she co-founded the Yael Foundation, a philanthropic initiative dedicated to ensuring equitable access to high-quality education for Jewish children worldwide.[6]
The foundation works to strengthen Jewish educational institutions, support teachers and community leaders, and enhance both academic and Jewish studies standards. Its mission is to make Jewish schools and programs the preferred choice for families by improving accessibility, quality, and relevance across diverse communities.[7][8]
The Yael Foundation closely collaborates with other philanthropic foundations and initiatives, educators and community leaders worldwide to create educational opportunities that are both accessible and tailored to their unique landscapes. By empowering schools and programs with resources to enhance their Jewish and academic standards, they emerge as the preferred choice for Jewish families.[9][10][11][12]
The Foundation runs several key programs and initiatives. Yael Camp is a summer educational program for children,[13][14][15] while the Yael International Summit brings together Jewish educators and leaders each year.[16] Through Innovation in Education, the Foundation promotes modern teaching methods and the use of technology in Jewish education. The Jewish Academy of Excellence supports schools in achieving both academic and Jewish educational excellence. In addition, the Yael Award of Excellence recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Jewish education and leadership.[17][18][19]
References
- ↑ Busindess Insider, – (26 March 2025). "A commitment to culture and innovation". Business Insider. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ JNS, – (12 September 2024). "Major foundations partner to 'support Jewish education across Europe'". JNS. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ Jerusalem Post Staff, – (21 September 2025). "No. 19: Uri Poliavich: A game-changer for Jewish education and identity". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ Botbol, Amelie (13 March 2025). "Uri Poliavich aims to remodel Jewish education across Europe". JNS. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
- ↑ "History of the Academy". www.apap.kg. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
- ↑ Gross, Judah Ari (14 February 2025). "Formed in 2020 and now with a $42 M budget, education-focused Yael Foundation looks to balance rapid growth with quality". eJewishPhilanthropy. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
- ↑ JNS, – (29 August 2024). "'Start-Up Classrooms' aims to ensure Jewish pupils choose Jewish schools". JNS. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ Yael Foundation, –. "Who We Are". Yael Foundation. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ Dayanim, Nira (14 February 2025). "As it grows, Yael Foundation looks to balance quality with quantity". eJewishPhilanthropy. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
- ↑ JNS Staff, – (2 April 2025). "Yael Foundation launches International Jewish School Leadership Exchange". JNS. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ Poliavich, Uri (4 May 2025). "Jewish Excellence: Our only option". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
- ↑ Cramer, Philissa (14 November 2025). "Yael and Lauder Foundations partner to support Jewish education across Europe". Jewish News. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
- ↑ Israel Hayom, – (13 September 2023). "Yael Camp unites youngsters from diverse backgrounds to explore Jewish heritage". Israel Hayom. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ Arutz Sheva, – (31 August 2023). "Yael Camp in Warsaw unites Jewish youngsters from diverse backgrounds". Israel National News. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ Peizer, Uriel (30 August 2023). "Camp brings Jewish youth together in Poland from across the world". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
- ↑ Botbol, Amelie (4 February 2025). "'Education and Beyond': Yael Foundation summit gets underway in Cyprus". JNS. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
- ↑ Greyman-Kennard, Danielle (15 February 2025). "No Jewish child left behind: Educators unite in Cyprus for the Yael Foundation summit". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
- ↑ Kelaty, Eliya (29 May 2025). "The educational value of Jewish summer camp". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
- ↑ Arutz Sheva, – (31 August 2023). "Yael Camp in Warsaw unites Jewish youngsters from diverse backgrounds". Israel National News. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)