Dror Israel’s Mission to Israel: Six Days that Changed Perspectives

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, an act of solidarity.”

Beginning the mission in the Negev, meeting Nova survivors and residents of Kibbutz Be’eri and Sderot, and witnessing their extraordinary resilience.

The group traveled from Sderot and the Nova Musical Festival site to Kibbutz Be’eri, where the remnants of destruction stand alongside remarkable stories of courage and renewal. In Sderot, participants met with residents who are part of Dror’s network of community resilience leaders, individuals who take responsibility for their neighbors during emergencies and in daily life. They saw what it means to build resilience, strengthen social bonds, and assert agency even in the hardest circumstances. These local leaders embody the spirit of shared responsibility that defines Dror’s approach to social change.

The journey continued north to meet Dror educators and youth movement leaders working in communities that have endured trauma and loss. These encounters revealed the depth of Dror Israel’s work, where educators and young people create spaces for dialogue, learning, and hope.

Elementary school students describe, with stars in their eyes, the magic of their youth movement, and the excitement is contagious!

At Dror Israel’s elementary and high schools, participants saw learning rooted in creativity, inquiry, and teamwork. In one woodworking class, for example, students dismantled old machines to explore how they work, built prototypes to solve real problems, and debated which ideas worked best. Through this approach, students learn to ask questions about their world and find solutions together, taking pride in building something of their own. As in every Dror Israel setting, the school becomes a home, because it really belongs to those who create it.

Participants visit Hostage Square during the days when the bodies of hostages were finally returned home.

At the Educators’ Kibbutzim, the group met teachers and youth mentors who live their values communally, combining social activism, education, and equality. These educators shared their dilemmas and hopes in a society still reeling from conflict yet determined to move forward together. A visit to a Hanoar Haoved Vehalomed (Dror’s associated youth movement) branch, where hundreds of children and teens took part in their weekly activities, brought Dror Israel’s educational philosophy vividly to life. The delegation was deeply moved by the uniquely Israeli model of youth movements that are led by youth themselves, with young leaders guiding younger participants with passion, responsibility, and joy. They felt the energy of a generation growing up with a strong sense of purpose and belonging and saw how these movements shape both Israel’s next generation and the country’s spirit of community and activism.

The mission visited Jisr az-Zarqa, the only Arab-majority town on Israel’s Mediterranean coast, and learned about the inspiring partnership between a local surfing center and NOAL’s Arab branch.

In Majdal Shams, participants stood at the site of a soccer field where a Hezbollah rocket killed 13 children. The visit was quiet and heavy, a moment that underscored both the deep pain still present and the determination of the Druze community to heal and continue life together. They also learned how the local NOAL branch has become a central gathering place for teens, offering structure, support, and a sense of belonging during an extremely difficult period. Its role in helping young people regain stability and hope left a strong impression on the delegation. Later, in Kiryat Shmona, they joined local educators rebuilding community life after months of displacement, helping plant and restore a new community garden that symbolizes growth and hope.

One student shared that in her old school, differences were mocked, but at her Dror High School, those same differences are accepted and celebrated.

At every stop, the mission revealed a shared story of educators, youth, and families who refuse to give up on dialogue, education, and the belief that another reality is possible. One participant reflected, “This country is heartbroken, and there are so many challenges. But Dror Israel is building communities, raising children, and creating the inner strength that will bring change. It’s the most hopeful collection of work I’ve seen - it’s generational, and it’s real.”

As the journey came to an end, participants reflected on the strength and vision they had witnessed, ordinary people doing extraordinary work, each helping to shape a more just and compassionate Israel. They also saw with their own eyes educational and community programs that they, their synagogues, and their federations have supported, creating a powerful sense of connection between their communities at home and the lives being touched here on the ground.

Participants went to work in a local community garden in Kiryat Shmona.

From all of us at Dror Israel, we want to thank our partners and friends who joined this mission for your belief, commitment, and solidarity. You entered our homes and classrooms not as guests but as family. Your engagement reminds us that we are not alone in this work—that our shared vision for a better Israel is one we are building together, step by step, with hope, courage, and partnership.

This first mission was only the beginning. We look forward to welcoming more friends from around the world on future Dror Israel Missions, continuing to learn, connect, and build a shared future together.