Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute

The Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute (MJB) is Israel’s leading center for applied social research. We strengthen Israeli society by using meticulous study, rigorous research and our extensive knowledge to help improve decisions that impact people’s wellbeing. The Institute identifies and examines key social challenges. We use our research to help inform policy, advise programming, and improve services for individuals, families, and communities. We work to strengthen Israeli society and the wellbeing of all its members.

MJB has been a pioneer in bringing the issues facing the Arab population into the mainstream of applied social research in Israel. We play a central role in evaluating innovative initiatives of the government, JDC-Israel, and other organizations to address the many challenges of the Arab community. Equally important is our role in ensuring that the cultural needs and sensitivities of Arabs are addressed in major national policy initiatives. In this regard, MJB is uniquely positioned because of our role in evaluating many of these initiatives.

MJB makes a special effort to include Arab as a special population within national studies. We also work to ensure that the instruments used are culturally appropriate and that the interviews are carried out in the appropriate language. Moreover, attention is given to subgroups within the Arab population, such as the Druze and the Bedouin. Doing so provides critical comparative data on the wellbeing of Arabs, which is central to program and policy development.

Today, the Government of Israel is implementing a number of long-term national programs to provide a response to the social and economic needs of the Arab population. MJB's Research Team on the Arab Population is uniquely positioned to evaluate these kinds of complex intervention programs, and to contribute professional knowledge and expertise to their development.