Belgian ORT was established in 1946 primarily to educate Jewish children who had returned from the camps so that they could enter regular schools.
Over the next 20 years thousands of people – most of them minors – were trained in fields as varied as electromechanics and dressmaking across three vocational schools, 20 training workshops and an agricultural centre. ORT provided pupils with monetary assistance, food and clothing parcels.
In the 21st Century, the organization has operated as a fundraising arm, using missions and school visits to raise money. International trips have included to countries such as France, Lithuania, Argentina and Ukraine.
Belarus
Until 2022 ORT was active in Belarus through two KesherNet centres, located outside the country’s capital, Minsk.
Italy
ORT works in Italy with two Jewish schools: ORT Liceo Renzo Levi, in Rome, and Scuola della Comunita Ebraica, in Milan, both of which provide excellence in general and Jewish education.
Costa Rica
More than 60 years ago, the Instituto Dr. Jaim Weizman was established in Costa Rica’s capital, San José. The school joined the ORT network in 2022 as an affiliate school.