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...

This October marks two years since the horrific attacks of October 7, 2023, two years of war in Israel, of hostages still held, of grief...

This past May, as families began returning to Kiryat Shmona after a year and a half of evacuation, Dror Israel, together with the...

From the battlefield to the soccer field, the Reservists’ Soccer League is giving Israel’s reserve soldiers a chance to breathe, to...

This year, like last, Dror Israel's educators and students, from preschools to high schools across the country, begin their studies in...

This summer, nearly 500 educators from across Israel came together for Dror Israel’s annual Educator training seminar on Social Pedagogy....

Educators today must believe that hope is not yet lost – even when it is hidden. Originally published in The Jerusalem Post Kiryat Shmona...

Just last week something remarkable happened in a quiet forest in northern Israel: 900 teens from across Arab society, Muslim, Christian,...