About the Mandel Graduate Unit

The Mandel Foundation–Israel, through the Mandel Graduate Unit, provides ongoing support for graduates in their continued development as leaders and in their work in the field after they have completed their training programs and helps them deepen and expand their impact on Israeli society. The Unit aims to support graduates in their complex working environments, to enable them to continue to ask moral and philosophical questions — such as: What is my purpose? On whose behalf? For whom? And who pays the price? —and to serve as a professional home throughout their continuing journey as leaders of change.

The Mandel Foundation–Israel’s training programs are the starting point of our leadership development process—a process that continues throughout the professional lives of Mandel graduates. Transitions between roles and between organizations and of course the frequent changes in the realities facing them, continue to affect the personal and professional worldviews of graduates and present them with new challenges. The nature of these challenges is also constantly changing. Israeli society is laden with problems, the solutions for which demand knowledge and experience, as well as cooperation and collaboration. This has been exacerbated by the events of the last two years which have shaken Israel and its leadership to an unprecedented degree.

Four graduates standing together wearing matching t-shirts

The Unit was established for graduates of the Foundation’s core programs – over 2,400 leaders – who have taken it upon themselves to actively advance development and prosperity within Israeli society. While the Unit continues to emphasize the importance of the individual in acts of leadership, it also recognizes the power and value of bringing together multiple perspectives and working collaboratively. To this end, the Unit encourages partnerships among graduates, creating force multipliers that drive sustainable social change.

Work Processes

The Unit offers a wide range of opportunities for graduates, including expanding their knowledge and perspectives, improving their capabilities for leading change, providing direct support and guidance for their field initiatives and organizing graduate gatherings that foster connections and trust – thereby strengthening social change processes. The Unit also develops ongoing learning processes that promote the unique Mandel approach to leadership – emphasizing the examination and clarification of values and ideas through close reading of texts, thoughtful discussions and more.

Learning Sessions
Learning Sessions
These sessions deal with major themes such as Israel after October 7, education for democracy and the intersection of leadership and technology. Additional sessions focus on expanding graduates’ leadership tool kits through imagination development, in-depth ethical exploration and re-examining leadership approaches for the challenges of today.
Support and Guidance for Graduate Initiatives
Support and Guidance for Graduate Initiatives
Graduates receive tailored support for their activities, from the idea stage through planning and execution, to maximize the impact of their initiatives. Guidance is adapted to the particular stage and goals of each project.
Support for Graduate Action Groups
Support for Graduate Action Groups
The Unit assists graduate-led action groups working to address complex issues, such as reducing violence in Arab society, developing welfare professionals in Haredi society and improving the status of teachers.
Facilitation of Connections and Collaboration
Facilitation of Connections and Collaboration
The Unit creates both physical and digital spaces for graduates to connect and collaborate, harnessing the collective power of the graduate community’s to drive meaningful change, with guidance and assistance available as needed.

About the Mandel Foundation–Israel

The Mandel Foundation–Israel aims to advance Israel as a Jewish and democratic state that is inclusive, just and pluralistic, by training visionary leaders in the fields of education, society and culture in Israel.