Founded in 1979 as a non-profit volunteer-based organization, ESRA is Israel's largest English-speaking community network, aiding the successful integration of immigrants while working toward bridging equity gaps in Israeli society through its education and welfare projects.

As an English speaking community, ESRA’s main goal is to provide quality services and activities to its members as well as to the wider English speaking population for a range of age groups and stages of the Aliya processes. Activities and services include social and cultural events, help in dealing with the various systems of Israeli society, opportunities for volunteering in the community, and personal support services.

As ESRA developed and expanded, so too did its commitment to social causes, with the addition of new and clearly defined aims. ESRA works to close equity gaps in Israeli society through initiating and managing community projects focused on improvement of children's educational achievement, programs of excellence, and enhancement of personal and social skills conducted in a safe and supportive environment.

English speaking olim are integrated into these projects as volunteers. This serves to enhance their integration into Israel while feeling a useful and contributing member of society. In this way ESRA promotes both of its main objectives – decreasing equity gaps while promoting successful integration.

Both ESRA and its founder and honorary life president, Merle Guttman, have received numerous awards for their initiatives and achievements, including the President's Award for Volunteering, presented for contributions to Israeli society and immigrant absorption, and the Midot Seal of Effectiveness awarded for ESRA's commitment to results driven projects, constant improvement, leadership, and social impact.