“We heard about what happened and felt deep pain and real difficulty in processing such a severe and disturbing racist incident.”  Students from Dror Galil address the school community, sharing words of solidarity, standing against racism and violence.  These were the words read aloud by students from Dror Galil, one of Dror Israel’s Social High Schools located on Kibbutz Ravid, when they arrived at Ibn Khaldun School in Sakhnin last week. Students and educators came to stand

Tom Shay is a Dror Israel educator and community builder who moved with his family to Israel’s north to work in Kiryat Shmona and help build a new Dror Israel kibbutz. In this interview, he shares why rebuilding is so urgent in 2026 and how community gardens are helping residents regain hope and agency. Tell me a little about yourself My name is Tom Shay, I’m 41 years old, a father of three, and I’ve been an educator for 15 years, teaching both high school and elementary scho

This reflection was written by Miryam, a senior Dror Israel educator who has been leading educational journeys to Poland for more than 25 years with groups from Israel and Jewish communities around the world. The piece reflects on her experience leading a group of Jewish teens from Sydney, Australia on a Jewish Roots Journey to Poland during Hanukkah, at the very moment when news of the Bondi Beach terrorist attack reached the group. Miryam wrote this reflection to mark Inter

This past week, a group of young adults visiting Israel with Kane Street Synagogue in Brooklyn spent a meaningful day volunteering in Dror Israel’s Educational Orchards at Kibbutz Ravid. They came to connect with the land, to experience Israel firsthand, and to take part in work that is grounded, hands-on, and deeply needed. With focus and care, they contributed to the kind of agricultural work that demands effort, precision, and commitment, and that truly supports the people

There are places that hold our memories so strongly, they feel almost alive. Kfar HaHoresh Forest is one of those places. For generations of HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed (NOAL) participants and Dror Israel educators, this campsite has been a home away from home, a first taste of independence, and the beginning of friendships that last a lifetime. Dror Israel educators, NOAL participants, families, and friends gathering at Kfar HaHoresh Forest for the annual tree planting day. Each

This week, we celebrate 28 years since the establishment of Kibbutz Eshbal, one of the clearest reflections of who we are and what we believe at Dror Israel.  Twenty-eight years ago, a group of idealistic young educators chose to move to Eshbal, in the heart of the Galil, to try something bold: to live collectively, to work side by side with diverse communities, and to build a more just and egalitarian society not in theory, but in daily life. They came with dreams, values, a

Over the past weeks, Dror Israel has been leading a nationwide educational campaign against social exclusion, reaching children and teens in schools and in HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed (NOAL) youth movement branches across the country. Through thousands of activities and conversations, the campaign confronts a painful social reality and gives young people the tools and confidence to stand up for one another. At NOAL youth movement branches across the country, kids are coming toget

Hanukkah is a reminder that light grows when it is shared. Throughout this week, Dror Israel carried that light into neighborhoods, schools, and communities across the country. Through gatherings, journeys, and moments of care, the holiday became a way to bring warmth, connection, and hope into everyday life. Rambam Neighborhood, Rishon LeTzion Dror Israel educators and our associated NOAL youth movement turned a local youth center in the Rambam neighborhood into a welcoming

Special Hanukkah gatherings bring light during challenging times, honoring seniors and the strength passed dor l’dor, from generation to generation. As part of the Dror Community Network for the Elderly, Dror Israel’s nationwide system of programs that combat loneliness, strengthen community bonds, and empower seniors, the Havruta program (a guided companionship and learning group for seniors) has become a meaningful home for hundreds of older adults since its creation shortl

Two weeks ago, “The Jam” in Akko hosted a powerful evening in honor of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The event brought together music, personal stories, visual art, and community. It was a meaningful expression of the mission that has guided The Jam since its founding. Local artists bring women’s words to light. The Jam was created in 2009 by educators from the Dror Israel Educators’ Kibbutz in Akko. These young educators, living in the

Honored to feature a Times of Israel  piece by Ruth Kaplan, a longtime friend and partner in dreaming and building a stronger, more compassionate Israel. Her words capture the heart of her experience on Dror Israel’s inaugural Mission this November. A must-read: Druze Counselors from Dror Israel Mourn the Loss of Children in Majdal Shams due to Hezbollah Attack on Soccer Field For those of you who are still with me in reading my reflections on my recent journey to Israel, you

This past week something extraordinary happened, at a time when our region feels more divided than ever. In Paris, the WeAreMENA Network was officially launched: a bold coalition of 15 moderate youth organizations from across the Middle East and North Africa, choosing cooperation over fear, dialogue over hatred, and a shared future over despair. After 4+ years of hard work, courage, and hope - including two years of war - 15 moderate youth organizations from across the Middle

Established in 1924, NOAL has grown to over 80,000 youth in 350 branches across Israel. Our activities in Arab communities involve 20,000 youth in 55 branches. Although the gap between Jewish and Arab Israelis has widened since the war, through activities emphasizing commonality while celebrating diversity, we are bridging that gap: ·       Teaching personal responsibility for self, community and society ·       Promoting values of coexistence, leadership and volunteerism ·  

For the first time, Dror Israel hosted an international Mission to Israel, bringing together fourteen participants from Los Angeles, Portland (Oregon), Massachusetts, and New Hampshire for a six-day journey across the country. It was not a vacation but an immersion into the heart of Israeli society, where questions of identity, resilience, and hope are lived every day. As one participant put it, “Coming to Israel is never a vacation. It’s always more- a pilgrimage, a mission,

This year marks the 30th anniversary since the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin z”l, who was murdered in 1995 during a rally in Tel Aviv in support of his program for peace. Dror Israel launched a nationwide educational initiative to commemorate Rabin’s life, legacy, and assassination. More than 20,000 students in over 700 classrooms and 100 schools took part in meaningful discussions and activities led by dozens of Dror Israel educators. Teens across Israel are

Just two weeks ago, two groups of Israelis in their 20s and 30s who take part in Dror Israel’s community-building programs for young adults seeking connection, purpose, and a sense of belonging set out together on a meaningful and thought-provoking journey to Poland. The group, made up of about 50 participants aged 21 to 35, reflected the rich diversity of Israeli society, including several Haredi participants.   The groups visited historic synagogues, exploring the roots of

This weekend, youth members and counselors from HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed (NOAL), Dror Israel’s associated youth movement, gathered across the Upper Galilee Regional Council to celebrate the traditional Chag HaMa'alot. This year’s ceremony was especially meaningful, as it marked the first time in two years that the event could take place in its full form, after a long period in which communities were displaced, evacuated, and deeply affected by the ongoing Iron Swords War. Afte

A big Mazal Tov to NOAL (HaNoar HaOved VehaLomed) – the youth movement associated with Dror Israel – which is celebrating its 100 th anniversary! Here are some things that you may not know about this incredible and historic youth movement, which brings together youth ages 9-19 throughout the country for after-school activities, weekend trips and hikes, special leadership programs, summer camps, and much more: NOAL was founded in 1924 by a group of teens working in a match fa

These are emotional days, ones that are hard to put into words. Watching families embrace their loved ones again feels like a hug that belongs to all of us. We stand with them, in our hearts, at the Hostages Square, and in the ongoing struggle to make sure no one is ever left behind. And now, we continue to stand with them, as they come home. Alongside the relief and joy, there’s also deep pain. We remember the families of those hostages who were murdered, who are still waiti

As we enter the High Holidays, a time of reflection, renewal, and new beginnings, we are deeply aware of the heavy weight that the past...