Israel has launched a new national program to recruit Jewish educators from North America to address a persistent shortage of qualified teachers within its school system. The initiative, known as the National Educators Aliyah Program, was announced by Nefesh B’Nefesh in collaboration with the Education Ministry and the Aliyah and Integration Ministry.

The program, expected to commence in the 2026-2027 academic year, aims to assist prospective immigrant teachers in securing professional recognition and completing licensing requirements before arriving in Israel. The first group of immigrant educators is anticipated to begin teaching in Israeli classrooms during the 2027-2028 school year.

Teacher shortages in Israel have been a growing concern, particularly in subjects such as English, mathematics, and science. Officials highlight that these gaps are most acute in central regions of the country. Additionally, thousands of teachers currently employed often lack full certification or teach outside their areas of expertise, exacerbating the challenge.

Education Minister Yoav Kisch emphasized that the shortage represents one of the education system’s most pressing issues. He described the new program as part of a broader effort to expand the teaching workforce and strategically allocate educators to regions and subjects experiencing the greatest need. “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,” Kisch stated.

Unlike the current process, which requires immigrant teachers to begin credential recognition upon arrival, the new program allows candidates to initiate this procedure while still in North America. The Education Ministry will maintain a centralized database mapping vacancies by subject, skillset, school district, and location to facilitate efficient matching of candidates to schools.

To support recruitment efforts, a series of educator aliyah fairs will be held across North America in 2026 and 2027. These events will enable candidates to meet Israeli education officials, explore job opportunities, and receive guidance on licensing and certification processes. Additional outreach will include webinars, information sessions, and community meetings.

Once in Israel, participants will receive continued assistance with job placement, certification coursework, Hebrew language acquisition tailored to classrooms, and mentoring from experienced immigrant teachers. Support networks will also be available for the educators’ families.

Initially, the program will prioritize filling positions in English-language teaching, while also seeking educators in other academic subjects with documented staffing shortages. Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer noted the importance of minimizing barriers to employment by streamlining professional licensing and credential recognition for new immigrants. “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 National Educators Aliyah Program draws inspiration from the International Medical Aliyah Program launched in 2024. That initiative, also led by Nefesh B’Nefesh in cooperation with various ministries and the Jewish Agency, has successfully assisted over 1,000 physicians in relocating to Israel and integrating into the healthcare system within two years.

Tony Gelbart, co-founder and chairman of Nefesh B’Nefesh, highlighted the potential to apply the medical program’s blueprint to other critical professions, describing the educators’ initiative as a vital step linking aliyah with Israel’s educational priorities.

Organizers aim to identify hundreds of potential teachers during the program’s initial phase and foresee expanding recruitment efforts to Jewish communities beyond North America in the future.