Mandel Program for Youth Leadership
The program aims to create a diverse network of leaders in non-formal education who are committed to advancing social solidarity and equal opportunity for all.
Program FormatOne day a week
DurationTwo academic years
Youth movements and youth organizations have played an important role in the history of Israel and the Zionist movement, shaping many of the nation's leaders. Today, their role is to help young Israelis become active, responsible citizens, to support their personal and educational growth and promote greater equality and cohesion within Israeli society.
However, non-formal education organizations face several challenges, including limited opportunities for professional development, insufficient physical, technological and research infrastructure and a need to strengthen the leadership capacity of those working directly in the field.
Program fellows are senior leaders in the field of nonformal education, actively engaged in Israel’s youth movements, youth organizations, post-high school volunteer programs, community centers, nonprofit educational organizations and municipal youth and community departments. United by a shared commitment to improving Israeli society and shaping the vision and activities of their organizations, these fellows represent a broad spectrum of backgrounds. The program brings together Jews and Arabs, religious and secular, right-wing and left-wing—who might not otherwise come into contact with one another. This diversity not only enriches the learning experience but serves as a model for future collaboration and mutual learning among different organizations in the nonformal education sector.
Course of Studies
The program offers an intensive curriculum at both the group and individual levels, enabling fellows to define their educational identity, deepen their theoretical and applied knowledge and improve their understanding of the following core content areas:
Conceptual approaches in education and the history and philosophy that underpin the unique field of non-formal education
A group and individual exploration of the complexities and challenges of Israel’s diverse society
Preparing fellows to examine and strengthen their leadership roles within the complex realities in which they operate
These key content areas empower fellows to develop a clear educational and social vision and translate it into practice, guided by the values of justice, inclusion and equal opportunity.
Impact in the Field
Graduates of the program are making a difference in the field of non-formal education through their leadership in a variety of organizations and initiatives. Examples include: > Promoting minority communities and the Periphery: A program graduate is the CEO of the Ma’ase Center, a nonprofit organization that, among other activities, runs a groundbreaking program promoting volunteerism and leadership in Israeli society. The program places special emphasis on the Arab, Druze and Bedouin communities, as well as other groups in the country's periphery. > Community services in Beer Sheva: A graduate of the program serves as the director of the community administration in the Beer Sheva municipality, overseeing all community activities in the city – from early childhood programs to services for the elderly – serving some 210,000 residents. > Community services in the city of Rishon LeZion: Another graduate directs the community administration in residents, spanning all age groups. > Leadership in youth movements: A graduate was appointed secretary general of Ezra, Israel's first national religious youth movement. Today, Ezra remains the country's second largest national religious youth movement, with around 20,000 members in approximately 70 branches nationwide.
About the Institute
The Mandel Leadership Institute believes that vision-driven leadership, grounded in a broad and deeply rooted worldview, has the potential to contribute greatly to the flourishing of Israeli society, inspired by the values of Israel’s Declaration of Independence. Our fellows are people with proven leadership experience from the fields of education, culture, and society, from the public sector and civil society, from the IDF and the Haredi community, and from all regions and communities in Israel. Graduates of the Institute hold key positions in Israeli society and work to advance a just, inclusive, compassionate and democratic Israel.