Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish Life

The Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish Life (formerly Jewish Life Network/Steinhardt Foundation) is a New York based non-profit foundation, which funds projects and programs aimed at improving Jewish education and identity.

The foundation was founded by former hedge fund manager Michael Steinhardt in 1994, who disbanded his financial practice to focus on philanthropy. Since then, the JLN has disbursed over $100 million[1] to various educational, cultural and service causes, including starting and/or funding the Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education in 1997; Makor at the 92nd Street Y; the Steinhardt School of Education and the recent Steinhardt Social Research Institute at Brandeis University.[2] Along with the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, The Steinhardt Foundation sponsors the annual Grinspoon-Steinhardt Awards for Excellence in Jewish Education.

In 1999, JLN initiated one of its signature programs, Taglit-Birthright Israel, to provide young Jews, age 18 to 26 years old, the opportunity to tour Israel for the first time.

The current acting president of the foundation is Robert P. Aronson, who succeeded the founding president Rabbi Irving "Yitz" Greenberg in the fall of 2007.

Since 1998, the foundation has published "Contact" a quarterly journal aiming "to stimulate discussion throughout the community on the most effective programs and ideas that will help to revitalize American Jewish life."