‘Not just a destination, but a living classroom’

Over 40 Australian and South African educators, Jewish and non-Jewish, travelled to Israel for a Jewish National Fund (JNF) education seminar.

The seminar sought to combine professional development with direct encounters with Israel’s social, historical, environmental, and security realities. The itinerary included educational activities, volunteering, visits to kibbutzim, historical and archaeological sites. Participants also visited sites of the devastating October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks including Sderot, Kfar Aza and the Nova festival memorial.

Manager of KKL-JNF’s Education and Community Division Sar Shalom-Gerbi said he was honoured to welcome the educators. “Their visit to Israel, just weeks after the Bondi Beach shooting and amid rising antisemitic incidents abroad, is a powerful testament to hope, resilience, and the enduring spirit of the Jewish people. Through this seminar, educators experience Israel firsthand, its history, communities and strength, returning home ready to inspire and nurture Jewish identity and fortitude in their own schools and communities.”

JNF Australia education coordinators Eden Abrahamov and Hilli Lam told The AJN, “This delegation was special in every sense. Jewish and non-Jewish educators, primary and secondary teachers, school leaders and lifelong learners came together with a shared goal to deepen their understanding of Israel, its land, people, history, culture and challenges, through an educational lens. Over 10 days, Israel became not just a destination, but a living classroom. We are very proud to represent JNF, and even more proud to share it to the educators who took part in this tour.”

They added that visiting JNF Australia projects was inspiring. “At the Kinneret Innovation Centre we learned how education and technology are shaping Israel’s future, while in Beit Yitzhak and the Hosen Healing Centre in Kibbutz Magen we witnessed communities rebuilding hope and resilience. At HaYarkon Park we felt the connection between environment, identity and belonging. These were not abstract initiatives, but real places changing real lives, reminding us how meaningful JNF Australia’s impact truly is.”

The JNF education coordinators noted that the impact of the trip will be felt by not only the educators but their many students to come, “Collectively, these educators reach tens of thousands of students every year. The ripple effect of their learning, their questions, their emotional connections and their renewed sense of purpose will be felt far beyond the tour bus. It will live in classrooms, staff rooms, assemblies and conversations across our community.”

To learn more visit /jnf.org.au/tours/ or call 1300 563 563