The High-School Leadership Program is an educational initiative that brings together university and high school students from diverse communities to collaboratively explore the challenges and opportunities of Israel's identity as a "Jewish and democratic" state. Through structured activity days that feature mixed-group lectures and discussions, the program encourages participants to develop solutions for building secure and stable communities while bridging societal gaps. This program addresses the fundamental issue of division within Israel's education system, which is segregated into Hebrew state, Religious-Zionist, Ultra-Orthodox, and Arab state education sectors, as highlighted by President Reuven Rivlin in his 2015 "Four Tribes" speech.
Project summary
Status:
Mentorship:
Elad Caplan, Faculty of Law; Hila Nadav, Faculty of Law
Impact Fund investment:
NIS 150,084
Project goals
The program addresses a fundamental challenge in Israeli society: an education system divided into different communities with almost no interaction between them. There are nearly 2.5 million students in the Israeli education system. According to the Knesset’s Research and Information Center, 40% of these students study in Hebrew state education, 14% in Religious-Zionist education, 23% in Ultra-Orthodox education, and 23% in Arab state education. In 2015, this challenge was highlighted by Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin in his “Four Tribes” speech. Rivlin noted that “demographic and cultural processes have reshaped Israeli society in recent decades, from a society composed of a clear majority and minority to a society composed of four major sectors,” and therefore, “a new conception of partnership is required—partnership between the various sectors that make up Israeli society.”
Key changes, enhancements and challenges (2024-2025)
Due to the current situation, the program has been significantly revised. Group sizes have been reduced to allow for more meaningful engagement, the training for facilitators has been expanded, and the curriculum has been adapted to better address sensitive issues. The revised program now includes single-nationality workshops held before joint sessions to allow participants to prepare and facilitate more productive mixed-group interactions. A multicultural workshop, facilitated by both an Arab and a Jewish instructor who also serve as external consultants, has been introduced, significantly enriching the program’s content. The favorable feedback received from participants and schools indicates the program’s potential for success and its capacity to promote meaningful dialogue even in these difficult times.
The program was recently approved by the Ministry of Education as an educational initiative. As part of this recognition, plans are in place to provide training to educational teams in schools not currently participating in the program, enabling the program’s values to reach more communities and amplify its overall influence.
Israeli society is facing unprecedented challenges. In this reality, organizations that promote a shared society are being sidelined, despite the crucial importance of their work. Donations are focused on addressing the immediate needs of Israeli society, and organizations fostering inter-sector cooperation are struggling with a decline in financial backing. Nonetheless, it is essential to emphasize that these organizations are critical in strengthening Israel’s social resilience. Building a shared society that fosters mutual understanding and cooperation is integral to Israel’s ability to cope with current and future challenges.
To honor the birthday of Jane Stern Lebell, please consider contributing to The Jane Stern Lebell Community Impact Fund.
