ORT

ORT (Organization for Rehabilitation through Training) is an international Jewish organization founded in 1880 in Russia. Its mission is to provide education and vocational training to Jewish communities around the world. ORT became active in Tunisia in the 1940s and had a significant impact on technical education, social empowerment, and economic integration for young Tunisian Jews.

Through its schools, workshops, and training programs, ORT enabled generations of students to develop skills in areas such as craftsmanship, sewing, electricity, mechanics, secretarial work, computing, and more. These often free programs were tailored to the needs of the job market and gave young people from modest backgrounds a real chance at economic independence.

In Tunisia, ORT centers were especially active in cities like Tunis and Sousse. The organization went beyond teaching technical skills—it also promoted values like discipline, excellence, and community solidarity. Even today, the legacy of ORT remains alive in the collective memory of Tunisian Jews as a symbol of resilience, education, and hope.