Following the October 7 attack, the communities of Israel's Western Negev have faced an unimaginable reality of loss, displacement, and trauma. Local leadership has been called upon to play a crucial role in sustaining and supporting the communities impacted by the Hamas onslaught and to address immediate and long-term challenges in education, housing, healthcare, and infrastructure. To support these leaders in rebuilding their communities and transforming tragedy into an opportunity for growth and renewal, the Mandel Center for Leadership in the Negev launched the Mandel Program for Regional Leadership in the Western Negev in November 2024.

The program, directed by Dr. Rotem Bresler-Gonen, was created in response to appeals from key figures in local government and individuals in the field who were attempting to make decisions tailored to the challenges of different communities across the region. It aims to develop a group of community leaders from seven municipalities and regional councils in the Western Negev that were directly affected by the events of October 7: Ofakim, Netivot, Sderot, and the regional councils of Eshkol, Hof Ashkelon, Sdot Negev, and Sha'ar HaNegev. This group will play a vital role in the rehabilitation of the communities of the region, will work together based on shared values and spirit, will formulate a common vision for the Western Negev, and will plan for a future of hope and continuity.

The 18 fellows selected to participate in the program hold leadership positions within their communities, regional authorities, local government, and civic initiatives, and are all driven by a genuine sense of mission. As key figures in municipal, community, and civic life, they are working to strengthen their communities and shape the future of the region.

The program fosters collaboration, leadership development and values-based decision-making, providing a platform for leaders to engage in crisis recovery while planning for long-term renewal. Its curriculum includes the foundational elements of the regional leadership training programs of the Mandel Center for Leadership in the Negev: clarification of values and world view; study of society and place; study of governance, policy, and local government; and leadership and management. The program also focuses on personal reflection on leadership during times of crisis, values-based dialogue within and between communities, the challenges of memory and commemoration, and clarification of the state's role in the region versus the responsibility of local and regional bodies operating in the Western Negev. As part of the program, fellows also participate in narrative writing workshops dealing with themes of memory and forgetting, which enable them to process the community and personal events they experienced during and after October 7.

The Mandel Program for Regional Leadership in the Western Negev is one of a series of responses that reflect the deep commitment of the Mandel Foundation and the Mandel Center for Leadership in the Negev to act during crisis. In a time of profound challenge, this program offers a foundation of hope for the future of the Western Negev.