Israel’s education system has long been recognized for its academic excellence, producing some of the world’s brightest minds. In recent years, the country has seen a surge of inspiring success stories from its students, showcasing their resilience, innovation, and commitment to making a positive impact on the world.
Overcoming Challenges: Israeli Students Shine in 2023
The Start of the School Year
The 2023-2024 school year in Israel began with a mix of excitement and challenges as 2.5 million students returned to their classrooms. Despite staffing shortages and political tensions, Israeli students have continued to excel and achieve remarkable accomplishments.
Amalya Lewin: Heilicher Alumna Dedicated to Serving LGBTQ+ Youth
One such success story is that of Amalya Lewin, a graduate of the Heilicher Jewish Day School in Minnesota. After earning a master’s degree in social work from the University of Chicago, Amalya has dedicated her career to providing accessible and affirming care to clients with intersecting marginalized identities, including LGBTQ+ youth.
Amalya’s commitment to tikkun olam, or repairing the world, was instilled in her from a young age at Heilicher, where she was encouraged to volunteer and give back to her community. This foundation has carried through to her work as a therapist, where she helps her young clients develop emotional literacy and understand their own and others’ emotions.
Inspiring the Next Generation: Israeli Students Advocate for Change
Advocacy on Campus
Beyond individual success stories, Israeli students have also been at the forefront of advocating for important causes and driving positive change in their communities. In the spring of 2024, college and university campuses across the United States and beyond witnessed a surge of protests in solidarity with the Palestinian people. These demonstrations, which called on educational institutions to leverage their financial influence and other means to pressure Israel, were a response to Israel’s military operations in Gaza and the broader concerns regarding the country’s long-standing blockade of Gaza and occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.
The Impact of Student Protests
While the protests had limited success in achieving their specific demands, they have brought Palestinian human rights issues into the public eye and sparked important conversations about the complex geopolitical landscape in the region.
The BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) movement, which has been a driving force behind many of these protests, has three primary goals: ending Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, dismantling the separation wall in the West Bank, and achieving full equality for Palestinian citizens of Israel and the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their ancestral homes. While the movement has faced opposition in Israel and the United States, the student-led protests have helped to amplify these demands and keep the conversation around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the forefront of public discourse.
Embracing Diversity and Unity in 2024
Addressing Political Divide
As the 2023-2024 school year progressed, Israeli leaders and educators recognized the need to address the sharp political divide that had been exacerbated by the government’s contentious judicial overhaul. In response, the Education Ministry introduced a program called “Education by all accounts,” which aimed to provide resources to teachers to facilitate constructive dialogues on these issues and promote unity within the country.
Fostering Kindness and Acceptance
During the first day of school in 2023, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited a first-grade classroom and encouraged the students to “be friends of one another, and be kind to one another.” He also distributed rubber bracelets that called against “Cherem,” the Hebrew word referring to shunning and ostracization as a form of bullying, highlighting the importance of embracing diversity and acceptance.
Similarly, National Unity party leader Benny Gantz emphasized the necessity to “teach our children to see that which unifies us, to know the other, accept them, and remember that we are all one people.” President Isaac Herzog echoed these sentiments, wishing for the country to “stay united, safe, with a strong and stable democracy, and that we will get to know each other so we know that we all live here together.”
Addressing Staffing Challenges
Teacher Shortages
One of the key challenges facing the Israeli education system as the 2023-2024 school year began was an inadequate number of teachers. Education Minister Yoav Kisch acknowledged that this shortage was a product of the “diversity in Israeli society that requires lower teacher-student ratios,” and noted that the ultra-Orthodox and Arab school systems were currently overstaffed with teachers. To address this issue, the government worked with the finance ministry and high school teachers’ union to reach an agreement that would provide teachers with raises and additional benefits, helping to attract and retain qualified educators.
Birthright Israel: Fostering a Sense of Responsibility
Impact of Birthright Israel
The Birthright Israel program has also played a significant role in shaping the experiences and perspectives of many young Israelis. While the program is often associated with instilling a newfound love for Israel in participants, one student’s story demonstrates how it can also inspire a sense of responsibility and activism.
From Jewish Student to Jewish Activist
Raised in the modern orthodox Syrian Jewish communities of Mexico City and Deal, New Jersey, the student had always been connected to Israel, with family trips and daily reminders of its importance in their lives. However, when he arrived at college, he initially wanted to distance himself from his Jewish identity and focus on other interests and causes. That all changed when he encountered a group of Jewish students handing out Israeli flags on campus. Moved by their commemoration of victims of terror, the student joined them in singing Hatikvah and celebrating Israel’s existence.
However, this joyful moment was quickly disrupted by anti-Zionist protesters who burned the Israeli flag and disrupted the gathering. Feeling a sense of responsibility to stand up for Israel and his Jewish community, the student filed a lawsuit against the university for failing to protect its Jewish students from discrimination and harassment. His actions led to one of the first settlements openly addressing antisemitism as a form of discrimination under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. This experience, rooted in his Birthright Israel trip, transformed the student from a Jewish student into a Jewish activist, dedicated to defending his community and the right of Israel to exist.
As the 2023-2024 school year in Israel continues, the country’s students have demonstrated remarkable resilience, innovation, and a commitment to making a positive impact on the world. From individual success stories like Amalya Lewin’s to student-led advocacy for important causes, these young Israelis are inspiring the next generation and paving the way for a brighter future. By embracing diversity, promoting unity, and addressing the challenges facing the education system, Israel is ensuring that its students have the support and resources they need to thrive.
The Birthright Israel program has also played a crucial role in shaping the perspectives and sense of responsibility of many young Israelis, empowering them to stand up for their communities and the country they call home. As we look ahead to the coming years, the success stories of Israeli students will undoubtedly continue to inspire and captivate audiences around the world, showcasing the incredible potential of the country’s youth and the bright future that lies ahead.
