IsraelCast host Steven Shalowitz welcomes Amit Meir, CEO & Founder of Adam V’Adama, a Jewish National Fund-USA high school network launched with Hashomer HaChadash, another of the organization's affiliates, to strengthen Israeli agriculture and deepen young Israelis’ connection to the land. Speaking from one of their campuses in Israel's South, Meir traces his journey from a farming family and an elite Israel Defense Forces Search & Rescue unit to building a bold alternative to traditional schooling—one rooted in responsibility, leadership, and Zionist purpose.
According to Meir, Israel’s farming population has sharply declined. The average farmer is nearing retirement age, and farmers face rising costs and agricultural crime. Adam v’Adama responds by training high school students (grades 9–12) through a rigorous daily rhythm—early mornings working in the fields, afternoons completing full matriculation studies, and evenings focused on personal growth, teamwork, and preparation for national service.
Meir says he's proud of the program's lightning-fast growth, which launched its first cohort in 2015 and has since grown to seven schools and 450 students.. Shalowitz also spotlighted Jewish National Fund-USA’s partnership in expanding campuses, especially in border regions central to Israel’s resilience and food security.
Amit Meir is the Founder and CEO of Adam V’Adama, the educational network of HaShomer HaChadash dedicated to strengthening local agriculture and deepening the bond between communities, volunteers, and Israel. He joined HaShomer HaChadash more than a decade ago as an educator in its pre-army gap-year program and founded Adam V’Adama in 2015, blending his passions for education and agriculture.