Avi Chai Foundation

The Avi Chai Foundation is a private foundation endowed in 1984 by Zalman Bernstein, a well-known successful investor and founder of Sanford Bernstein. Zalman Bernstein became a Modern Orthodox Baal teshuva (a returnee to Orthodox observance) who wished to further the cause of outreach to alienated and assimilated Jews worldwide. Avi Chai allocates resources in the United States and in Israel. Until 2003, Avi Chai functioned in Russia and other former Soviet Union countries.

The Avi Chai Foundation

The Beit Avi Chai building in Jerusalem (photographed in 2023), the flagship project of the Avi Chai Foundation in Israel
Founded	1984
Founder	Zalman Bernstein
Location	New York, NY, United States
Area served	United States, Israel
Revenue	$12,881,895[1] (2015)
Expenses	$34,180,384[1] (2015)

The foundation is preparing to spend-down its remaining endowment by 2020. As of 2010^[update], the endowment had a value of $600 million.^[2]

Established by the AVI CHAI Foundation in 2007, Beit Avi Chai is housed, purpose-built facility located at 44 King George Street in Jerusalem, Israel and serves as a hub for the creation, development and expression of Jewish texts and ideas.^[3]

Board

Avi Chai's Board has included :^[4]

• Mem D. Bernstein, Chairman of the Board^[5]
• Arthur W. Fried
• Samuel "Buddy" Silberman (Trustee Emeritus)
• Dr. Meir Buzaglo
• Lauren K. Merkin
• Henry Taub (Trustee Emeritus, died 2011)
• Dr. Avital Darmon
• George Rohr
• Dr. Ruth Wisse
• Alan R. Feld, Senior Managing Director of Sanford Bernstein’s private client business.^[6]
• Lief D. Rosenblatt