About BTJ
Our Mission
Boys Town Jerusalem provides boys from disadvantaged backgrounds in Israel with the education, support, and love they need to build a brighter future.
Our Vision
About BTJ
Founded in 1948 to provide a home and education for young immigrants to the newly established State of Israel, Boys Town Jerusalem has grown into one of Israel’s premier educational institutions.
Today, poverty remains a painful obstacle to advancement in Israel and worldwide. A 2022 study by the Israel Democracy Institute notes that 36% of Israeli children born into poverty will remain there throughout their lives. Boys Town Jerusalem is committed to breaking that cycle through education, support, and innovation.
Serving approximately 950 students in grades 7–12 and a College of Applied Engineering, our 18-acre campus is a vibrant community of youth. By integrating Jewish values with a strong foundation in academics, emotional support, and cutting-edge technological education, we empower underprivileged boys to build meaningful, independent futures.
To support our students’ physical and emotional wellbeing, Boys Town Jerusalem provides nutritious meals daily and access to a top professional staff of social workers, psychologists, and therapists—ensuring every student receives the care and attention he needs to thrive.
Certified by Israel’s Ministry of Education, our graduates go on to serve in elite units of the IDF, attend leading universities, and hold key roles in Israel’s high-tech industries.
This life-changing work is made possible by the generosity of donors around the world.
With more than 7,500 graduates, Boys Town Jerusalem is proud to be a proven model of how education and loving care can transform lives and build a stronger Israel.
Today, your support allows Boys Town Jerusalem to continue to help Israel’s most vulnerable children and bring out the best in each and every child. More than 95% come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and require substantial scholarship assistance. Join us in supporting our mission to empower the next generation of leaders.
Our partners around the world
Click on the flags to learn more
Boys Town Jerusalem Foundation of America
British Friends of Boys Town Jerusalem
Canadian Friends of Boys Town Jerusalem
Australian Friends of Boys Town Jerusalem
FAQs
When was Boys Town Jerusalem established?
The school first open in 1948.
What age are the students who attend Boys Town Jerusalem?
Boys Town Jerusalem is a high school (secondary school), the children start at age 12 and graduate at age 18.
Beyond 18, a proportion of students defer their IDF service for two years to study in the College of Applied Engineering (CAE). Students are also able to enroll in an undergraduate degree program in conjunction with the Jerusalem College of Technology. Boys Town Jerusalem is now one of very few Israeli institutions to offer the opportunity to study from 7th Grade through college.
What specific areas or services are directly supported by my gift to BTJ?
Your gift to BTJ supports several crucial areas and services, including: three nourishing meals a day, practical support such as clothing and travel expenses, full-time counseling services, one-to-one tutoring support, dedicated special education classes, and a diverse extracurricular program.
How many students are there in the school?
Numbers vary from year to year but on average 950 students attend Boys Town Jerusalem at any one time.
Since its establishment, more than 7,500 boys have graduated from Boys Town Jerusalem.
Where is the school?
Boys Town Jerusalem’s 18 acre campus has been situated in Bayit Vegan since the 1960s. The neighborhood is in southwest Jerusalem to the east of Mount Herzl and borders the neighborhoods of Kiryat Hayovel and Givat Mordechai.
Alumni Success
With more than 7,500 graduates, Boys Town Jerusalem alumni are shaping Israel’s future as soldiers, scientists, entrepreneurs, educators, and beyond. Meet a few of the inspiring men who began their journey here:
Shay Neuhaus
Shay Neuhaus graduated from Boys Town Jerusalem in 2023, where he led the Robotics team as captain of the FIRST Tech Challenge.
Since graduating, he has continued to give back by mentoring this year’s team, helping them navigate programming challenges and develop real-world problem-solving skills.
Today, Shay is studying Mechanical Engineering at the prestigious Technion University. He credits BTJ Robotics with igniting his passion for engineering.
Dr. Maru Gete
Dr. Maru Gete recently completed a clinical fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. But long before becoming a doctor, he was a young immigrant who found a home at Boys Town Jerusalem.
Arriving in Israel at age 9 without knowing Hebrew, Maru faced significant challenges. Thanks to generous supporters, he received a full BTJ scholarship—including food, housing, and the support he needed to thrive.
After graduating in 2001, he became an IDF officer and later a specialist in ENT surgery. Today, Dr. Gete is a proud husband and father of six.
Yaniv Daskal
We caught up with him at the recent FIRST Tech Challenge National Competition, where his passion for technology and giving back continues to shine.
Amitay Cohen
Amitay Cohen studied at Boys Town Jerusalem for six years, graduating in 2020 before joining the IDF as a combat soldier in the Givati Brigade. He later trained as a combat medic and transferred to the Kfir unit.
On October 7th, Amitay fought bravely against terrorists in southern Israel. He was injured during the war and now travels the world to share the truth about Israel’s fight for survival.
In his powerful story, Amitay credits BTJ with changing the course of his life.
I owe Boys Town Jerusalem a great deal… The six years that I spent here were a life-changing experience for me.
Yaakov Afflalo
IT Director
Rafa Pharmaceutical
Ayal Ben Atar
Director of Training
Magen David Adom, Jerusalem
Roni Avivi
Project Manager
Orbotech
Judge Baruch Azulai
Deputy President of Israel’s Southern District Court
Major Benny Brinder
Commander of Fighter Jet Engines Division on IAF base
Daniel C.
Deputy Commander
Israel Air Force
Yakir Damri
Systems Engineer
Rafael Defense Systems
Shai Dreizen
General Manager
Ashkelon Water Desalination Plant (click to see video)
Colonel Ben-Zvi Elyassi
Logistics Coordinator
Home Front Command in the IDF
Professor Dan Engelhard, MD
Director of Paediatrics
Hadassah Hospital
Avi Fruchter
Development Team Leader
CISCO
Meir Harel
Deputy Inspector
National Fire Department
Yossi Hasan
Computer Development
Sandisk
Shaul Hodefi
Production Supervisor
ELTA Electronic Industries, Ltd.
Shmuel Hollander
Civil Service Commissioner
Lt. Col. Benayahu Jamus
Chief Chaplain of the Israeli Navy
Moti Landes
Network Monitoring, IT Infrastructure & Info Security Manager
Coca Cola
Yechiel Levenson
Senior Product Engineer and Technical Leader, Intel
Prof. Avi Levy
President
Chemdat Hadarom University
Ohad Liebovitz
Head of Security Operations
Prime Minister’s Office
Yuval Miara
Principal
Hillel Community School
Aventura FL
Brigadier General Yoav Mordechai
Coordinator of Gov. Activities in the Territories
Captain Nir S.
Fighter Pilot
Israel Air Force
Avraham Novogrodski
CEO, Africa – Israel Industries
Raphael Ouzan
Founder and CEO of BillGuard
(online security)
Boaz Roth
Team Leader
Samsung
Dr. Moshe Suissa
Cardiologist
Hadassah Hospital
Jerusalem
Uriel Touito
Head of Religious Services
Herzog Hospital
Lior Uza
Computer Engineer
Elbit
Eli Zeitlin
Senior Development Lead
Microsoft
Dr. Maro Gete
ENT Specialist
Shaarei Zedek Hospital
