The Van Leer Jerusalem Institute (VLJI) is a leading intellectual center for the interdisciplinary study and discussion of issues related to philosophy, society, culture, and education. The Institute gives expression to the wide range of opinions in Israel and takes particular pride in its role as an incubator and creative home for many of the most important civil society efforts to enhance and deepen Israeli democracy. The Institute was founded by the Van Leer family to advance knowledge in the realms of philosophy, society, and culture. Since 1959 it has operated as a center for advanced studies and for intellectual public discourse. Its intellectual and research goals are rooted in its commitment to public responsibility and civil ethics. With the support of the Van Leer Group Foundation in Holland and under the guidance of its board of directors, the Institute plays a central role in highly important and socially sensitive fields, touching on the main foci of tension in Israeli society. The contribution of a core of renowned scholars at the Institute has made possible the successful implementation of reforms and new approaches in formal and informal education, policy studies, civil empowerment, and cultural diversity. The Institute continues to realize its vision in the areas of culture, identity, and social unity.