Our History
The Jerusalem Institute for the Blind (JIB), known in Israel as Beit Chinuch Ivrim, was established over 120 years ago. Its origins trace back to a life-changing moment when a merchant walking on the streets of Jerusalem caught sight of a young child nearly trampled to death by camels, and immediately ran over to help.
He soon discovered that the child was in fact blind, illiterate, and lacking the basic skills necessary to navigate life. He also learned that there were many others like this child, aimlessly and hopelessly roaming the streets of Jerusalem. Unable to put this potentially tragic incident out of his mind, he reached out to his prominent contacts, and soon after the first bricks of JIB were laid.
Officially founded in 1902 and located in Kiryat Moshe, JIB has grown into a respected Jerusalem landmark. Today, it operates a school serving children aged 6 to 21, alongside a wide range of extracurricular activities and supportive programs. These initiatives aim to educate, enrich, and empower children, teens, and young adults living with blindness—helping them lead independent, dignified, and meaningful lives free of crippling dependency.
At JIB, children are taught to view blindness as a challenge to overcome, not as a limitation that defines them. Our vision is to foster a world of acceptance and inclusion, where individuals with blindness can thrive as equal, active members of society. This commitment is exemplified by our students’ achievements, including a recent bronze medal at the Paralympics.
Following the Abraham Accords, JIB has also been invited to share its best practices with neighboring Arab countries, strengthening regional collaboration in empowering blind children and teens.
None of this would be possible without the support of our generous partners in the USA. JIB offers its benefactors a unique and transformational impact: every blind child guided through our school and enrichment programs emerges with the tools, confidence, and independence to lead a fulfilling life. At JIB, we inspire every child and teen to realize their full potential and become active, contributing members of their communities and society at large.
