Jewish Education Service of North America

The Jewish Education Service of North America (JESNA) was founded in New York City, where it still resides today, on May 7, 1939 as the American Association for Jewish Education (AAJE). Its establishing mission was “to advance the cause of Jewish Education in the United States through cooperative efforts.” The collection of data on Jewish education began in 1945 with the establishment of the Department of Research. Under the tutelage of the new department, school censuses were carried out almost annually. The studies’ findings were published at least in part in the American Jewish Yearbook from 1945 to 1980. In 1959 AAJE released the results of its first major national study of Jewish education. Numerous community studies were continuously conducted, but the next national study was released not until 1964, this time focusing on adult Jewish education. This second study was prompted by the rise in adult Jewish education following World War II, and led AAJE to establish the first national conference on adult Jewish education in February of 1965.

Furthermore, the after-effects of WWII affected not only the focus of AAJE’s research but also its overall mission. In its initial years of existence AAJE’s membership was comprised of individuals and professionals. However, following the war the number of Jewish educational organizations grew considerably, and by the 1960s AAJE recognized a need to restructure its purpose and function. In 1965, AAJE became an umbrella organization for educational and congregational bodies, as well as denominational commissions. Prior to the reorganization, the American Jewish Yearbook described the function of AAJE in 1960 as: “...serves local communities with studies in educational trends, stimulation of student enrollment, recruitment and placement of teachers, and pedagogic materials.” By 1970, the American Jewish Yearbook described AAJE's activities as: “Coordinates, promotes, and services Jewish education nationally through 17 constituent national organizations and 44 affiliated Bureaus of Jewish Education; conducts and administers exchange program for Israeli teachers; sponsors and supports the National Curriculum Research Institute, the National Board of License, the National Testing Bureau, the National Council on Adult Jewish Education, the National Council on Jewish Audio-Visual Materials, the Commission on Teaching about Israel; engages in statistical and other educational resources." By 1970, AAJE was sponsoring numerous organizations and serving cities throughout the United States and Canada, and on July 1, 1981 AAJE became the Jewish Education Service of North America (JESNA).

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