ByJERUSALEM POST STAFFJULY 22, 2026 13:36Israel’s Education Ministry has allocated NIS 26 million for regional excellence centers serving communities along the northern border, expanding educational programs as the region continues to recover from war, evacuation and prolonged disruption.The initiative will provide programs in advanced technology, STEM, arts and sports through partnerships among local authorities, regional clusters, academic institutions, industry and philanthropic organizations. The Jewish Federations of North America said the plan builds on a regional model it helped develop with Homeward/Habaita.Homeward/Habaita was established following the mass evacuations after the October 7 massacre, based on the view that consistent, high-quality education is essential to restoring communities. Education, employment and security are among the main considerations affecting whether families return to northern Israel, according to the organizations.The Secret of the Kibbutz Magic, Kfar Masaryk. (credit: MEITAL SHARABI)Education seen as key to families’ return“Rebuilding and securing Israel’s northern border requires more than temporary relief,” said Rebecca Caspi, director-general of JFNA’s Israel Office and senior vice president for Israel and Overseas.Caspi said investment in education was needed to restore stability for children and give families confidence that they could build a long-term future in the region.Jewish Federations initially provided emergency funding for Homeward/Habaita programs in southern Israel, where educational and enrichment activities were organized for children displaced from Gaza-border communities.The initiative was later expanded to the Galilee in cooperation with local authorities, regional clusters, the Education Ministry and academic institutions. Its work has included recruiting educators and developing regional education programs for communities affected by the fighting.More than 300 teachers, counselors and informal educators had relocated to communities in northern and southern Israel through the Homeward initiative by July 2025, according to figures previously released by the organization.Regional centers to pool resourcesThe new funding is intended to establish regional frameworks capable of serving several smaller municipalities rather than requiring each local authority to develop its own programs independently.Supporters of the model argue that pooling facilities, professional staff and partnerships can give children in remote communities access to programs that individual municipalities may struggle to provide.“This decision reflects two core principles that guide us at Homeward/Habaita: excellence and regional collaboration,” CEO Sigal Moran said.“Excellence is a way of life,” Moran added, describing the objective as creating a wide range of opportunities that allow children to identify and develop their individual strengths close to home.Moran said Homeward/Habaita had chosen to work with regional clusters to strengthen education and excellence across the North, alongside local government leaders and the Education Ministry.Federations shift focus toward long-term rebuildingJFNA said the government’s decision demonstrated how philanthropic organizations can test new approaches before they are expanded through public funding.The federation system launched its Israel Emergency Campaign immediately following the October 7 attacks. The campaign raised approximately $908 million and distributed support through more than 4,200 grants to hundreds of organizations working in Israel, according to JFNA figures.The organization has since shifted toward its multi-year Rebuild Israel framework, which focuses on community recovery, education, trauma treatment, economic development and the rehabilitation of areas affected by the wars.JFNA said its support was coordinated with partners including the Jewish Agency for Israel and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.For northern communities, the Excellence Centers are intended to support both current residents and families considering whether to return, while helping the region compete with educational opportunities available in central Israel.Follow us on Google