A US-sponsored charity is urging Israeli families to eat dinner together on Friday nights.

Shishi Mishpahti (Family Friday) was created in December with a $5 million grant from US Jews to encourage Israelis to embrace tradition and to spend quality, family time together at least once a week. Prominent names involved with the initiative include former basketball star Tal Brody and former Justice Minister Ya'akov Ne'eman.

Nearly 75 percent of Israeli families never eat meals together, though most religiously observant families say they eat together at least once per week.