“TALMA was founded in 2014 with a simple but powerful belief,” says Ido Mahatzri, CEO and Executive Director, who will be speaking at the upcoming Jerusalem Post Miami Summit. “Spoken English is a key to opportunity, and in Israel, it can be a meaningful tool for closing social and geographic gaps. What began as a summer program has evolved into a comprehensive initiative that impacts learners from early childhood through entry into the workforce. Our mission goes beyond language acquisition; English is a gateway to confidence, global citizenship, and economic mobility.”
At the heart of TALMA is the encounter between an educational mission and Israel. The organization offers summer and full-year fellowships for Jewish educators looking to deepen connections with Israel. Each year, Jewish educators from around the world come to Israel to teach, volunteer, and engage with Israeli society. For many, this experience becomes values-driven and transformative. Through education, they build a strong connection to Israel, to its people, and to its future. A significant number choose to stay, and some go on to make aliyah. In this sense, TALMA is also a Zionist story, connecting young Jews worldwide to Israel through meaningful service and shared responsibility for the next generation.
Mahatzri says that one example of TALMA’s impact can be seen at the temporary school in Kfar Aza. “Some of the students there are children who returned from Hamas captivity and are coping with deep trauma,” he shares. “Experiential English learning has provided a safe space for expression, creativity, and storytelling. English became a voice, a way to process experience and to share their story with the world.”
TALMA partners with Israel’s Ministry of Labor to position English as a pathway to employment, he adds. Spoken English is a practical tool that opens doors to professional opportunity and economic resilience, notes Mahatzri.
“As a nonprofit supported by Jewish federations and donors worldwide, TALMA’s work depends on partnership,” he concludes. “Supporting TALMA means investing in Israel’s human capital, in education, resilience, connection, and hope for the future.”
The Jerusalem Post Miami Summit, to be held on January 13 in partnership with The Shul of Bal Harbour and Israel Discount Bank, will explore the most pressing issues facing the Jewish and Israeli communities today, with a forward-looking focus on innovation, leadership, and global impact. The event will feature prominent voices from government, business, diplomacy, and community leadership, with dedicated sessions on the future of Diaspora Jewry, Israel’s role globally, and strengthening US-Israel relations.
Written in collaboration with Talma