Israel launches program to recruit North American Jewish teachers

Israel has launched the National Educators Aliyah Program, a national initiative to recruit Jewish teachers from North America to address a significant teacher shortage, particularly in English, mathematics, and science. This program, a collaboration between Nefesh B'Nefesh, the Education Ministry, and the Aliyah and Integration Ministry, will assist prospective immigrants with professional recognition, licensing, and job placement before their arrival in Israel. Education Minister Yoav Kisch described it as "a national, Zionist, and educational initiative" aimed at strengthening the education system and bringing talent into classrooms. The program, expected to begin in the 2026-2027 academic year, will streamline the process for educators, allowing them to start credential recognition in North America. It will also offer ongoing support to participants and their families after they move to Israel, including job placement, Hebrew language assistance, and professional mentoring. The initiative is modeled after the successful International Medical Aliyah Program and initially focuses on English-language teaching, with plans to expand to other subjects and Jewish communities globally.