Nefesh B’Nefesh has launched a Zionist Education Initiative fellowship to train North American Jewish high school teachers to teach Israel and Zionism using a new curriculum, the organization announced on Monday.
The ZEI Fellowship, described as a major investment in Jewish educators, will open its first cohort with an immersive program in Israel on July 6-10, 2026, followed by a year-long course of guided study, mentoring and professional development.
Applications are now open to teachers at Jewish day schools in North America who teach Israel, Zionism, Jewish history, Tanach or related subjects.
In 2025, the Zionist Education Initiative taught Zionism and Jewish peoplehood to 13,700 participants, mostly gap-year students, summer teen programs and overseas student groups, a 26% increase from 2024, and developed a Zionist curriculum now used by tens of thousands of students in Israel and North America.
“The ZEI Fellowship is a transformative step toward reshaping Israel education across North America and a central pillar of Nefesh B’Nefesh’s mission,” said Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, co-founder and executive director of Nefesh B’Nefesh, adding that the goal is to provide “a serious and compelling education rooted in truth, history and meaning.”
The fellowship’s year-long component will be led by Kadima Coaching, which will provide individualized coaching and collaborative, student-centered professional development aimed at helping teachers lead nuanced, intellectually honest conversations about Israel in their classrooms.
A 10-unit Israel and Zionism curriculum is being piloted in Jewish high schools across North America, with a full textbook slated for publication this year by Koren Publishers Jerusalem.
