Mandel Program for Regional Leadership in Rahat
The program is designed to help fellows develop and implement a groundbreaking vision for improving the quality of life for Bedouin Arab society in Rahat, as well as advancing the region for all Negev residents.
Program FormatOne day a week
DurationTwo academic years
Rahat is currently the largest Arab city in Israel and the second largest city in the Negev, with approximately 82,000 residents. Most Arab residents in the Negev, numbering some 300,000, are scattered in small settlements, a third of whom reside in villages that are not recognized by the State and therefore do not receive essential services such as water and electricity. Many homes in these villages also face the threat of demolition. Thus, Rahat serves as an important center for the Arab minority in Israel, the Bedouin population in the Negev and all Negev residents. The city’s growth offers tremendous potential for positive change, but the city also faces complex social, economic and educational challenges – some unique to Rahat, some specific to Bedouin society and others affecting the entire Negev.
Bedouin society in the Negev is a minority population residing in Israel’s geographic and social periphery and as such, faces a range of challenges. These include limited access to political, economic and cultural resources; a lack of basic infrastructure; inadequate health and welfare services; and generally poor quality of government services. In addition, Bedouin society is contending with the profound effects of accelerated urbanization over recent decades – a process that continues today. This rapid transition from tribal to modern society has far-reaching implications for the community.
The program is aimed at individuals with a proven ability to lead change, who are committed to advancing the region and improving the quality of life for Bedouin Arab society in the Negev. Program fellows come from different professional backgrounds, including civil society, local government, education, welfare and public agencies. This professional diversity enriches group learning and enables fellows to develop in-depth solutions to the unique issues facing Bedouin society in the Negev.
Course of Studies
The program aims to promote vision-based leadership through professional and values-based training, with a focus on increasing familiarity with the local space, creating meaningful partnerships and expanding social engagement. Fellows acquire tools to lead meaningful and sustainable change in Rahat and its environs, gain a deeper understanding of the region and their city and develop values-based and professional judgement, via theoretical, experiential and practical study.
Impact in the Field
Program fellows have significant influence in the Negev before and during the program and are expected to increase their impact afterward. The following are some examples of successful initiatives by fellows:
Emergency aid center for Bedouin families: One program fellow, a lieutenant colonel in the IDF reserves who is active in civil society, set up a emergency aid center providing help to the families of Bedouin residents of the Negev who were kidnapped and murdered on October 7.
Matriculation: A program fellow from the field of education leads educational and community activities to improve matriculation certificate eligibility in Bedouin society in the Negev. She was recognized for her work in 2023 when she received the President’s Award for Israel’s Best Teacher.
Coexistence: Another program fellow, an entrepreneur interested in environmental issues and coexistence between Arabs and Jews in the Negev, established the Thaqafat Center for Shared Culture on behalf of the nonprofit organization Hagar: Jewish-Arab Education for Equality.
About the Center
The Mandel Center for Leadership in the Negev aims to improve quality of life in the Negev by cultivating strong social, educational and cultural leadership. The Center focuses on developing a powerful community of leaders grounded in vision, values and expertise, who will lead groundbreaking initiatives, out of their commitment to all the communities of the Negev and to strengthening the shared spaces of the region.