NEW YORK N.Y., August 18, 2026 — Twenty-four Jewish educators recently returned from Jewish National Fund-USA and Alexander Muss High School in Israel’s (Muss) Educators' Mission to Israel, where participants spent eight immersive days exploring the realities of Israel and strengthening their ability to inspire the next generation of Zionists. Through visits to Jewish National Fund-USA initiatives across Israel’s North and South and experiential learning, participants gained new perspectives and resources to bring Israel education back to their schools and communities.
The annual mission was organized in collaboration with Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (KKL-JNF) as part of its Worldwide Education Seminar, which brought together more than 200 educational leaders. The Jewish National Fund-USA delegation participated in a tailored itinerary and exclusive touring opportunities.
“Bonding with fellow educators, exploring how we love Israel, and translating that into relevant, engaging programming in our classroom means so much to the communities we serve,” said Andre Ivory, Education Director at Congregation Or Tzion and Roz Goodell Religious School in Scottsdale, Ariz. “This mission showed that Israel education goes beyond pushkes (blue boxes) and pedagogy and shows the importance of people and partnerships. Partnering with Jewish National Fund-USA as we bring our communities closer to Israel is essential to how we function.”
Throughout the week, participants experienced Jewish National Fund-USA's circles of impact in action, exploring how initiatives across Israel’s North and South strengthen communities and enhance quality of life. The educators examined these efforts through the lens of Jewish values, exploring how Jewish responsibility, community, resilience, service, Zionism, and quality of life are put into action and can become meaningful lessons for their students.
In Sderot and Eshkol, educators visited Jewish National Fund-USA’s Indoor Recreation Center and GrooveTech, two secure facilities where children can play safely despite the threat of rocket attacks. They visited Jewish National Fund-USA and KKL-JNF’s 9/11 Living Memorial in Jerusalem and toured the planned site of the World Zionist Village, a global center that will bring people together to shape the next generation of Zionist leadership.
Jewish National Fund-USA's Educators' Mission participants in front of a beautified bomb shelter at the Galilee Culinary Institute by JNF in northern Israel.
Participants also volunteered alongside Muss students to prepare lunch for Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers and toured the Muss campus in Hod HaSharon, where they experienced Muss' unique educational methodology firsthand and learned how to bring Israel's history to life.
“As an alumna of Muss, returning to the campus was especially meaningful," said Naomi Elyachar, Nursery School Director at Congregation Sons of Israel Nursery and Religious School in Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. “It was wonderful to see it continuing to thrive and inspire the next generation of young people to build lasting connections to Israel.”
Following the mission, participants are working with Jewish National Fund-USA professionals to bring the organization’s programs and opportunities into their schools, including encouraging students to spend a semester abroad at Muss, traveling to Israel with Jewish National Fund-USA, and running relevant programming related to Zionist engagement and Jewish National Fund-USA's work in Israel.
For Rabbi Liora Ramati, who serves as senior rabbi at Temple Emanu-El in Miami Beach, Fla., the experience demonstrated how Jewish values can translate into tangible action.
"The Educators’ Mission showed me an organization that turns dreams into reality," said Ramati. "Everywhere we went, Jewish National Fund-USA was providing communities with not only what they needed to survive, but what they needed to build for the future. As a rabbi, I see Jewish National Fund-USA as a community of mitzvah-makers.”
For more information or to learn about Jewish National Fund-USA’s Zionist engagement initiatives, contact Zohar Vloski at 561.447.9733 x898 or zvloski@jnf.org.
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About Jewish National Fund-USA
For 125 years, Jewish National Fund-USA has helped strengthen the land and people of Israel by investing in the communities, infrastructure, and leadership that shape the country’s future. Our work is focused on making Israel’s North and South places where families can build full, vibrant lives with access to medical care, emergency response, water solutions, parks, playgrounds, jobs, and economic opportunity. Working with our donors and partners, we support underpopulated communities, help attract new residents, improve quality of life, and create the conditions for long-term growth. Our work reaches beyond projects on the ground. Through education, travel, and leadership opportunities, we connect Americans of all ages to Israel in meaningful and lasting ways. That vision continues with the World Zionist Village in Be’er Sheva, a global center that will bring people together to live, learn, lead, and strengthen the next generation of Zionist leadership. From urgent relief to long-term transformation, Jewish National Fund-USA is helping build a stronger future for Israel and creating lasting legacies for generations to come. Learn more at jnf.org.
