Department Mission

Our mission: "To intensify the multi-dimensional and unique significance of Israel in connecting the next generation to its heritage, people and homeland".

Many Jewish communities around the world are shrinking in size. Fewer people are committed to their Jewish identity and the sense of connection to the Jewish People and to Israel is declining. Assimilation and intermarriage are becoming more common and the spiritual rescue of young Jews and the Jewish People is becoming more challenging. In response to these threats, the Jewish Agency's Department for Jewish Zionist Education is increasing its efforts to ensure the future of a large and vibrant Jewish community.

As a result of the Intifada in Israel, participation of young Jews in Israel Experience programs is extremely low. After years of increasing participation in educational programs in Israel, including the success of Birthright, fewer youngsters are now having a quality educational experience in Israel.

After years of under investment in institutions and personnel to educate children and adults, the Jewish community is attempting to catch up. Jewish educational systems, both formal and informal, suffer from a severe shortage of human resources. The demand for professional teachers, informal education leaders, curricula, methodologies and so forth is greater today than ever.

Smaller Jewish communities find it particularly difficult to maintain the vitality of their Jewish educational systems without external help and without ongoing connections to resources outside of their own communities. Even large communities are finding it hard to locate people with appropriate knowledge, skill and commitment to build and staff their institutions. There is an acute need for educators who can present a compelling case for why a young person would want to be connected to the Jewish people and to Israel.

In addition to the personnel shortage, there is a great need for innovation in Jewish education. The Education Department works to develop new educational models, new ways of presenting Jewish content and new points of engagement for young people.

There is an urgent need to address the issues of Jewish Peoplehood and identity in the context of modern day Israel. The Jews of Israel conduct their lives in the Hebrew language, live the rhythms of the Jewish calendar and hike the trails of the ancient land. Yet they are in danger of losing their connection with their Jewish cultural and religious roots and with their brethren throughout the Jewish world. The Education Department works to enhance the Jewish identity of young Israelis and to nourish their personal sense of belonging to the Jewish people.

It is important that the next generation feels that it belongs to the Jewish People, a people with a proud history and a promising future. Only through a global concerted effort to upgrade the quality of formal and informal educational institutions and personnel can we sustain a functional Jewish educational system capable of meeting the enormous challenges in this area. This must go hand in hand with utilizing the educational resources of Israel to create opportunities for the young generation to enable them to have positive Jewish and Israel experiences.

In addition to the on-going activities of the department that appear on this site, some of the key strategic directions for the coming year include:

• Revamping the shlichut map for youth movements/organizations, increasing the number of young, volunteer shlichim
• Encouraging and expanding "Gap Year" programs, year-long Israel experience for high school graduates
• Academization of professional development
• Intensified content assistance and support for all Israeli educators world-wide through e-learning
• Multi-year planning for Israel Experience, birthright and long term programs
• Innovative informal engagement with Israel in day schools
• Content development for Israel education worldwide
• Jewish Peoplehood initiatives with post high school Israelis