Livnot U’Lehibanot

What Livnot U’Lehibanot does

Livnot U'Lehibanot is a non-profit educational institution founded in 1980 by Aharon and Miriam Botzer in Tzfat (Safed), Israel, operating experiential Israel programs centered on volunteer rebuilding, Jewish heritage education, hiking, and community living. The primary customer base is young Jewish adults aged 21-40 with limited prior Jewish education, recruited through partnerships with Birthright Israel, the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), and Masa Israel Journey, alongside direct website enrollment and a 45-year-old global alumni network (Alumot). Core products include an 8-day volunteer program, a joint Birthright & Livnot 8-day experience priced at $975, subsidized Shabbat retreats, and a "Rebuild for a Day" short-term group program. The organization has completed 3,000+ home repairs, 400+ shelter renovations since 1980, and 350+ rebuilding projects since October 7, 2023.

The infrastructure is physical rather than technological. Two accommodation assets sit in Tzfat's Old City: a historic campus with 16th-century stone arches and the Blue Khan Guest House (sleeping up to 35 with a 70-seat dining hall). The Livnot Visitor Center offers a seven-level underground tunnel experience with a sound and light show, and Beit HaKahal is a 700-square-meter National Heritage Site developed with the Israel Antiquities Authority, featuring ancient cisterns, a historic mikveh, and a 500-year-old stone oven used for signature challah and pita baking workshops. There is no proprietary technology platform; the organization runs on Google Forms for applications and Stripe, PayPal, and Meshulam for payments. A US support entity, American Friends of Livnot (501C3, Tax ID 13-3500786, Highland Park, NJ), channels US tax-deductible donations.

The revenue model is a hybrid of subsidized participant fees, donations, and ancillary venue/workshop revenue. Program fees are deliberately below cost ($250/week for ages 21-40; $1,500/week for ages 41+; $100 Shabbat retreat; $975 for Birthright including flights at a $2,500+ stated value). Donations span tiered sponsorships ($150 for one participant-day up to $12,000 for a full cohort scholarship) plus campaign-specific asks (e.g., the $200,000 Support Our Soldiers goal). Campus rentals for retreats and family gatherings, plus walk-in workshop fees, provide a third revenue layer. Go-to-market is institution-led (Birthright, JFNA, Masa, municipalities, educational institutions) supplemented by direct-to-consumer website, social, email, and the self-organizing Alumot alumni network.

Name

Livnot U’Lehibanot

Legal name

Livnot U'Lehibanot

Website

https://livnot.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Livnot U'Lehibanot is a non-profit founded in 1980 in Tzfat, Israel, running volunteer rebuilding, Jewish heritage, and hiking programs for young Jewish adults (ages 21-40) through partnerships with Birthright Israel, JFNA, and Masa, anchored on a 16th-century National Heritage Site.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Service-Learning & Experiential Jewish Education

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Historical Sites (71212), Historical Sites (712120), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Hotels & Motels (7011)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based & Mission Service Programs (EDAIAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Religious Retreats & Spiritual Wellness Travel Agencies (THAKAHAM), Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE), Jewish Heritage & Israel Pilgrimage Travel Agencies (THAKAHAC), Holistic & Alternative Therapy Retreats (Naturopathy, Energy Work) (THAGAMAI), Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL)

Keywords

• Service learning programs
• Volunteer tourism
• Jewish heritage education
• Experiential education
• Community rebuilding

Headquarters

HQ city

Zefat

HQ country

Israel

HQ region

Middle East

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Participants pay subsidized program fees for volunteer experiences. Birthright/Livnot program: $975 including flights (valued at $2,500+). Standard volunteer programs: $250 for ages 21-40, $1,500 for ages 41+. Shabbat Retreats: $100 subsidized rate.
2. Donations: Individual donations from supporters worldwide. U.S. donors can give via American Friends of Livnot (501C3). Israeli donors can give via PayPal or Meshulam for tax-deductible donations (form 46). Donation tiers support participants ($150/day, $1,200/week) or fund scholarships ($12,000/cohort).
3. Campus and Venue Rentals: The Old City campus and Blue Khan Guest House are available for group rentals, retreats, Shabbatonim, and family gatherings. Accommodations include rooms sleeping 3-5 people with private bathrooms.
4. Workshop Fees: Hands-on workshops including Challah/Pita Baking, Art and Kabbalah, Music and Meditation, and Musical Kabbalat Shabbat are open to visitors for separate fees.
5. Support Our Soldiers Campaign: Fundraising campaign to provide meals, hospitality, and care for soldiers. Goal of $200,000 with donation tiers ($400 for 5 soldiers/night, $750 for Shabbat, $2,800 for one week).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Livnot U'Lehibanot is a non-profit educational institution that runs multi-day volunteer and heritage-immersion programs for young Jewish adults in Tzfat, Israel. Its core offerings include the 8-Day Volunteer Program, the Birthright & Livnot joint trip, Shabbat Retreats, the Rebuild for a Day group volunteering program, hands-on spiritual workshops (challah baking, Kabbalah, music and meditation), and a Visitor Center tour of underground tunnels connected to the Beit HaKahal 16th-century National Heritage Site. Supporting products include the Alumot alumni network, the Support Our Soldiers fundraising campaign, and campus/guest-house rentals (Old City Campus and Blue Khan Guest House) for retreats, Shabbatonim, and family gatherings.

Product overview

Livnot U'Lehibanot is a non-profit educational institution offering a portfolio of experiential Israel programs centered on volunteer rebuilding, Jewish heritage education, and community living in Tzfat. The core offerings include multi-day volunteer programs (8-day Volunteer Program, Birthright & Livnot), Shabbat Retreats, and Rebuild for a Day group volunteering. The visitor experience is anchored by the Livnot Visitor Center (underground tunnels) and Beit HaKahal National Heritage Site, both used for heritage workshops. Supporting services include the Alumot alumni network, Support Our Soldiers campaign, and two accommodation facilities—the Old City Campus in historic 16th-century buildings and the Blue Khan Guest House. The company operates as a unified mission-driven organization rather than a platform-with-modules architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Livnot Visitor Center
• Beit HaKahal
• 8-Day Volunteer Program
• Birthright & Livnot Program
• Shabbat Retreats (Shabbaton)
• Rebuild for a Day
• Workshops (Challah, Kabbalah, Music & Meditation)
• Old City Campus Rentals
• Blue Khan Guest House
• Alumot Alumni Network
• Support Our Soldiers Campaign

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,000+ homes repaired for elderly and terror victims since 1980
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Israel Antiquities AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the Israel Antiquities Authority for the restoration and development of Beit HaKahal National Heritage Site. The Authority collaborates on excavation, preservation, and development of the 16th-century site.
• Birthright IsraelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative offering 8-day volunteer experiences in Northern Israel combining hands-on rebuilding work, Jewish learning, hiking, community, and Shabbat in Tzfat. Birthright provides funding for participants.
• Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative with Birthright Israel providing volunteer programs in Northern Israel. JFNA contributes funding and organizational support for the partnership.
• Masa Israel JourneycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Masa to deliver meaningful service and educational experiences for longer-term program participants in Israel.
• Municipalities & Educational InstitutionssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking with Israeli municipalities and educational institutions to deliver meaningful service and educational experiences while responding to real needs across the country.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Jewish National Fund (JNF-USA): Established Jewish nonprofit focused on land development and infrastructure in Israel. Overlaps with Livnot in Northern Israel rebuilding work and donor base, but operates at vastly greater scale and as a portfolio organization.
• Hillel: Largest Jewish campus organization serving the same 18-40 demographic. Comparable as a Jewish identity-building organization that channels young adults into Israel experiences, though its primary footprint is on US university campuses.
• Hadassah: Major American Jewish nonprofit with Israel-based programs spanning education, healthcare, and youth engagement. Comparable as a 501(c)(3) with a US fundraising arm supporting Israel-focused programming, though broader in mission scope.

Direct peers

• Birthright Israel Foundation: The principal funder and channel partner for Livnot's 8-day Birthright & Livnot program, offering subsidized Israel trips to young Jewish adults. Directly comparable in serving the same 18-32 demographic with mission-driven, subsidized Israel experiences.
• Young Judaea: Long-running Zionist youth movement running summer programs, year courses, and Israel experiences. Directly comparable as a multi-decade Jewish youth organization with Israel-based service and educational programming for similar age cohorts.
• Bnei Akiva: Worldwide Religious Zionist youth movement offering Israel programs, gap-year options, and volunteer experiences. Comparable in combining Torah learning, Israel engagement, and community service for the 21-40 demographic.
• Masa Israel Journey: Long-term Israel program provider for young Jewish adults that lists Livnot as a partner. Shares the same target demographic, faith-based framing, and service-learning model, though Masa programs are typically longer in duration.

Emerging players

• Israel Experience: Israel travel and experience provider for diaspora youth. Comparable in channeling Birthright and similar participants into curated Israel programs, though with a broader tourism-style portfolio rather than a service-learning focus.
• World ORT: Global Jewish educational network with programming for young adults. Partial overlap in faith-based educational mission and Israel engagement, but ORT emphasizes STEM and vocational training rather than service-learning.

Regional players

• Tamar Ziv: A representative sample of the niche Tzfat/Galilee tour and workshop operators (e.g., Kabbalah walking tours, mikveh experiences) that compete with Livnot's visitor center and Beit HaKahal workshops. Operates in the same geography with overlapping heritage-tourism offerings, though typically with smaller scale and no volunteer-program component.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Livnot U’Lehibanot