Founded by Artists and Musicians for Israel (A.M.I.), Neshima uses musical and artistic educational workshops to explore and strengthen Jewish identity and promote unity among Israeli youth.

“Neshima” means “breath” in Hebrew, and is linguistically associated with “Neshama”, the Hebrew word for soul. With a focus of “Breathing new life into Jewish identity”, Neshima utilizes a pluralistic approach to touch the souls of thousands of Israeli students each year .

Neshima was created in response to a lack of Jewish identity in Israel, where the students are politically and militarily active and aware, but for whom 30% (according to a recent survey), Judaism is “of little or no importance” in their lives. Unique in its ability to reach all sectors of society, Neshima offers student workshops as well as teacher training, staffed by popular Israeli musicians to engage with the audience. Recognizing music is a universal language, A.M.I. uses this powerful tool as a unifying factor, creating opportunities to open the hearts and minds of youth and allow them to embark on a journey of spiritual self exploration and discovery.

Music has always played an important part in Jewish history. Sources record that Jewish tradition believes that music is a tool for touching souls and, indeed, it is more than just an invaluable part of our heritage, but serves as an essential tool in reaching the depths of our souls, exploring our identity, and bringing us together as a nation.