(Courtesy of Naale) Growing numbers of observant high school children in North America are looking for a new way to connect with their Jewish heritage and express their Zionism. Their parents are looking for new solutions to the growing expense of Jewish education. The Zuckerman family from Ontario, Canada, have found a surprising alternative—Israeli boarding school. Naftali and Avital Zuckerman are now studying as part of the Naale Elite Academy programs at Shaalavim Yeshiva, near Modiin, and Amana Ulpana in Kfar Saba.
“You have to work and be motivated to come here. You absolutely see the results of your hard work because the teachers are very supportive and you learn to adapt and challenge yourself,” revealed Avital, who is currently in the 11th grade at Amana.
Naale’s unique program offers all students a full scholarship, regardless of means. Naale students make up 10-15 percent of the student body at Shaalvim and Amana. The full scholarship includes the cost of tuition, a free flight to Israel, room and board, pocket money and more. Teenage boys and girls can spend their formative years connecting to their roots and discovering the land of Israel all while being fully prepared for college and graduating with an internationally recognized high school diploma.
Naftali, who is in the 12th grade at Shaalvim, added, “Not every school in North America is suited for every child’s needs. Naale allows you to integrate into Israeli society with the ulpan program, as well as taking you on trips to see the country. You make friends quickly in this environment and the rabbis are there for you, whether before, during or after class to discuss all matters.” Students start the program in either ninth or 10th grade. During the first year students follow an intensive Hebrew “ulpan” program so that by the end of their first year they are able to speak, read and write in Hebrew. Once they have a grasp of the language students are able to study in classes given in Hebrew.
Naftali and Avital were initially interested in Naale thanks to the positive buzz they received from childhood friends in Hamilton, Ontario, who were already enrolled in a Naale program. “Even though I had always planned on living my life in Israel someday, we both had the usual fears or jitters about leaving home and adapting to a new environment,” Avital admitted. “But after a short period of time I was able to adapt because of the support I received from friends and the Amana staff.”
Rav Nevo Zuckerman, a prominent educator and spiritual leader, has noticed the changes in both of his children. “I know that through the Naale program, I can see how Israel has touched and impacted their lives. They are in an environment that is allowing them to learn and mature,” he said. “My wife and I can see the difference in the way they speak and how they now perceive the world, what they want out of life, more than many students who go to schools in North America. They have learned to be mature, learning to be responsible by showing up to class on time and learning to be independent by traveling by themselves across the country. This is why Naale exists and targets students who want to grow and want to be with chevra, making friends and experiencing Israel in a very different way than just coming for a summer trip or camp.”
Since its inception with the Jewish Agency, more than 16,000 high school students have come to study on the Naale program. For more information on how you can enroll in this one-of-a-kind program you can visit Naale’s website at: https://www.naale-elite-academy.com/en/
