Support Orchestra For Social Change in Jerusalem

Help Us Build a Youth Orchestra in Jerusalem!

The Goal:

We are raising funds to purchase violins, violas, and cellos for The Bridge Orchestra, a youth orchestra project in Jerusalem that uses music as a bridge to unite students from East and West Jerusalem — Israeli and Palestinian students alike, as well as other marginalized communities. Our goal is to use music as a tool to cultivate skills of leadership and collaboration, inspired by the work of El Sistema and the Jerusalem Youth Chorus.

Why This Matters:

Jerusalem is a city deeply divided by conflict, but music has the power to build bridges. Our orchestra not only teaches students how to play music but also fosters mutual understanding and empowers them to become compassionate leaders in their communities.

Who We’re Helping:

Our program, launching in Spring 2025, is open to youth (ages 14-18) from diverse and underserved backgrounds. Many of these students do not have access to instruments, and we want to remove this barrier so they can fully participate.

How You Can Help:

Every donation will go directly toward purchasing instruments for our students. Here’s how your support makes a difference:

$100 helps cover repairs for a donated instrument

$250 funds a rented violin or viola for a student

$500 purchases a full-size violin or viola

$1,200 provides a cello for a student

Any amount brings us closer to our goal!

Other Ways to Support:

If you have an instrument to donate, please reach out, even if it's not a string instrument!

Share this campaign with your friends and networks.

ָAbout the founders:

Kai Jack, born in 1994 in the U.S. and raised in Norway, earned degrees in Double Bass Performance from Gothenburg University (B.Mus.) and the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance (M.Mus.). He co-founded the Dream Orchestra, a youth project for refugee and migrant children in Sweden, and later volunteered with Israel's African asylum seeker community, using music as a tool for empowerment. As a freelancer since 2018, he has performed with Israeli orchestras and ensembles, serving as acting co-principal double bassist in the Israel Camerata Orchestra during the 2022-2023 season. During the pandemic, he launched the Mediterranean Double Bass Forum to connect bassists globally and founded the Jerusalem Double Bass Quartet to expand the instrument's reach. Kai has also taught at Israeli and Palestinian conservatories, championing music's role in fostering social integration, leadership, and resilience.

Amalia Zeitlin, born in 1995 and raised in Las Cruces, New Mexico, developed a passion for music and social justice early in life. She earned degrees in violin performance from Boston University and New Mexico State University and studied abroad at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. In 2017, she co-founded Camerata Del Sol, a professional chamber ensemble in Las Cruces, serving as its executive director for six seasons and leading over 200 performances that emphasized accessibility and diversity. She also volunteered in Tamil Nadu, India, as a teaching artist for rural youth from marginalized communities. Amalia is now exploring civil dialogue initiatives, focusing on music’s potential to foster pluralism, bridge divides, and inspire transformation.

A huge thanks is already owed to the Dorot Fellowship in Israel. As fellows for the 24-25 year, we have been given the opportunity to dedicate our time and energy to making this dream a reality in a way that would not have been possible otherwise! In addition to financial support, the DFI has also been essential for networking and creating connections with inspiring mentors and vital partners in this journey.

With your help, we can make sure every student has an instrument to play on. Thank you for being part of this journey!