Israel launched a national program to recruit Jewish educators from North America and place them in Israeli schools as the country confronts a growing shortage of qualified teachers.
The National Educators Aliyah Program, announced by Nefesh B’Nefesh in partnership with the Education Ministry and the Aliyah and Integration Ministry, will provide prospective immigrants with assistance in obtaining professional recognition, completing licensing requirements, and finding employment before they arrive in Israel.
The initiative is expected to begin during the 2026-2027 academic year and aims to place its first group of immigrant teachers in Israeli classrooms for the 2027-2028 school year.
Israel has faced persistent teacher shortages, particularly in English, mathematics, and science.
According to the organizations behind the program, the shortages are especially severe in the country’s central regions, while thousands of educators already employed by the school system lack full certification or teach subjects outside their areas of expertise.
'A national, Zionist, educational initiative'
“The teacher shortage is one of the greatest challenges facing Israel’s education system, and we are committed to addressing it with every tool at our disposal,” Education Minister Yoav Kisch said.
Kisch described the project as part of a wider effort to expand Israel’s teaching workforce and direct qualified educators toward the subjects and regions where shortages are most acute.
“This is a national, Zionist, and educational initiative that strengthens our education system, brings exceptional talent into our classrooms, and reflects our commitment to ensuring that every student in Israel receives the best education possible,” he said.
Under the current system, immigrant educators often begin applying for recognition of their degrees, teaching credentials, and professional experience only after moving to Israel.
The new program will allow candidates to start those processes in North America, reducing the time between their arrival and entry into the Israeli workforce.
The Education Ministry will map vacancies according to subject, professional skills, school district, and geographic region.
A centralized database will then be used to match candidates with schools and educational networks seeking teachers with their qualifications.
Dedicated educator aliyah fairs are planned across North America during 2026 and 2027. Candidates will be able to meet Israeli education officials, examine potential job opportunities, receive guidance on professional licensing, and begin the recognition process for their academic degrees and teaching certificates.
The program will also hold webinars, information sessions, and smaller community meetings.
Support will continue after the educators move to Israel. Participants are expected to receive help with job placement, required coursework and certification, classroom-level Hebrew, and professional mentoring from experienced immigrant teachers.
Their families will also have access to an accompanying support network.
Emphasis on English-language teaching
The initiative will initially emphasize English-language teaching, while seeking qualified educators in other subjects where Israel’s schools face staffing gaps.
Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer said the program was designed to allow teachers to enter their profession soon after arriving.
“When the government removes barriers, actively facilitates professional licensing and credential recognition, and supports new immigrants as they transition into the workforce, the results speak for themselves,” Sofer said.
The educators program is based on the International Medical Aliyah Program, which Nefesh B’Nefesh launched in 2024 with several government ministries and the Jewish Agency.
According to Nefesh B’Nefesh, the medical initiative has helped more than 1,000 physicians immigrate to Israel and enter the healthcare system over the past two years.
Tony Gelbart, co-founder and chairman of Nefesh B’Nefesh, said the organization believed the medical program’s model could be used to address shortages in other essential professions.
“This new initiative connects the mission of aliyah with one of the country’s most significant national priorities, strengthening the education system,” he said.
The organizers said they hope to identify hundreds of potential educators during the program’s first stage. Sofer said the government would eventually seek to expand the initiative to additional Jewish communities outside North America.