Twelve Jewish educators from across North America arrived in Israel this week as the inaugural cohort of a new fellowship launched by Nefesh B'Nefesh's Zionist Education Initiative (ZEI), a program designed to help educators teach Israel, Zionism and Jewish identity in Jewish high schools.
The educators, who come from schools from across the U.S. and Canada, are participating in a five-day summer intensive in Israel before beginning a year-long fellowship that will support the rollout of a new Zionism curriculum in their schools starting in the fall of 2026.
Gallery
The fellowship is part of a broader effort by Nefesh B'Nefesh to expand Zionism education beyond its existing gap-year programs
(Photo: Kavana Films)
The fellowship is part of a broader effort by Nefesh B'Nefesh to expand Zionism education beyond its existing gap-year programs and into Jewish high schools across the Diaspora. According to the organization, the Zionist Education Initiative has already taught Zionism courses to more than 50,000 gap-year students studying in Israel. It has also developed a dedicated high school curriculum that has been piloted in more than 10 Jewish schools across North America.
The organization is now partnering with Koren Publishers to develop what it says will be the first textbook on Zionism created specifically for Diaspora high school students. The new fellowship is intended to train educators who will introduce the curriculum in their own schools while collaborating on its continued development.
The inaugural class includes department chairs, school administrators, veteran teachers and educational leaders whose schools collectively serve thousands of Jewish students.
During the week in Israel, participants will study Zionist history, Jewish peoplehood, archaeology, Israeli society and contemporary approaches to Israel education. The program combines classroom seminars with site visits to locations including the National Library of Israel, the Bible Lands Museum and the City of David, where participants will examine historical documents and archaeological evidence connected to the Jewish people's historical ties to the Land of Israel.
In addition to historical and academic study, fellows will participate in workshops focused on curriculum design, student-centered learning and classroom engagement. The organizers say the goal is to provide educators with practical teaching resources they can immediately incorporate into their classrooms.
During the week in Israel, participants will study Zionist history, Jewish peoplehood, archaeology and Israeli society
(Photo: Kavana Films)
"When we invest in educators, we invest in the next generation of Jewish identity," Rabbi Josh Spodek, director of the Zionist Education Initiative, said. "The ZEI Fellowship brings together exceptional teachers who will carry what they experience here in Israel and throughout the year back to hundreds of students across North America."
The fellowship was developed in partnership with Kadima Coaching and Unpacked for Educators. Following the Israel seminar, participants will continue meeting throughout the academic year in monthly cohort sessions that include individualized coaching, collaborative curriculum development and professional learning. The program will conclude with a Celebration of Learning in New York, where fellows will present educational projects developed during the fellowship.
Tikvah Wiener, founder and CEO of Kadima Coaching, said the initiative reflects growing demand among educators for resources to teach Israel and Jewish identity in an increasingly complex environment.
"We are excited to welcome an extraordinary cohort of educators to Israel for the ZEI Fellowship," Wiener said. "At a time when young Jews are facing growing challenges around Israel and Jewish identity, this fellowship aims to equip educators with the knowledge, tools and inspiration to teach with depth, nuance and confidence."
Organizers say the fellowship is built on the premise that teaching Israel and Zionism extends beyond historical instruction, emphasizing Jewish identity, peoplehood and the relationship between Jewish communities in Israel and the Diaspora. Rather than focusing solely on classroom content, the program seeks to strengthen educators through ongoing professional development and collaboration.
The Zionist Education Initiative operates under Nefesh B'Nefesh, which works with Israel's Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, The Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael and Jewish National Fund-USA on programs aimed at strengthening ties between Jewish communities worldwide and Israel.