Both organizations highlight the timeliness of transition amid new digital landscape; ISRAEL21c’s Digital Ambassadorship program for storytellers will continue and grow
May 28, 2025 – New York, NY – OpenDor Media, whose digital platforms educate tens of millions of people about Israel, Judaism and the Jewish people, is acquiring ISRAEL21c, the long-running website that reaches more than 20 million people a year with uplifting content elevating Israeli stories, places, and people over politics.
“OpenDor Media is a leader around digital content production and reach; they don’t just educate people, they shape the narrative around Israel,” said Amy Friedkin, Board Chair of ISRAEL21c and a longtime supporter. “Our vision with ISRAEL21c was always to show a large audience of both Jews and non-Jews, the ingenuity, achievements, and uniqueness of Israel and its people. OpenDor Media can scale this vision by tapping into the myriad ways that people, especially young ones, consume information. We are very excited for this new phase and know it’s the right move at the right time.”
With financial support from ISRAEL21c, the Friedkin Foundation, and other key supporters, OpenDor Media will now expand its video, podcast, social media and curricula production and add more influencers to its Amplified Creator Community focused on Israeli culture, society, and innovation. OpenDor Media will also absorb and expand the ISRAEL21c Digital Ambassadors program, bringing new curriculum and reach to the 8-month immersive experience that cultivates the next generation of digital storytellers for Israel.
“Adding ISRAEL21c to the OpenDor Media family is a strategic leap forward,” said Andrew Savage, OpenDor Media’s CEO. “Their proven, upbeat storytelling and audience give us an immediate platform to further scale across video, audio, social and classrooms—multiplying our reach and accelerating our mission to shape the global conversation about Israel.”
Noam Weissman, OpenDor Media’s EVP, added, “ISRAEL21c has spent two decades celebrating Israeli creativity, innovation and everyday life. By weaving that content into our ecosystem we can give learners a fuller, more colorful picture of Israeli society—moving beyond the conflict narrative and modeling the nuanced, values-driven education we champion.”
Founded in 2001, ISRAEL21c broke from the media’s traditional depiction of Israel to cover who Israelis are and what inspires, motivates, and challenges them. The platform aimed to both educate and initiate meaningful conversations. ISRAEL 21c’s Digital Ambassadorship program, launched in 2014, has trained some 400 18-25 year old college students in creating innovative social media content covering positive stories about Israel. Friedkin, past President of AIPAC, has been a Board member since 2004 and has led the organization over the last decade.
Founded in 2009, OpenDor Media is a world-leading educational media organization dedicated to deepening young people’s understanding of Israel, Judaism, and the Jewish experience. The nonprofit works with more than 12,000 educators. Through its digital-first content, immersive resources for educators, and network of global partners, OpenDor Media empowers millions of young Jews and their peers to explore these topics with nuance, empathy, and authenticity across its Unpacked, Unpacked for Educators, ConnectED and Amplified brands.
Added Friedkin, “Now more than ever we need to unite and join efforts across the Jewish world to achieve greater impact, together. An acquisition like this can be a gamechanger toward that end. We’re thrilled to join with OpenDor Media so that more young people from all backgrounds will be exposed to important content on Israeli culture and society.”
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