REACHING YOUTH ACROSS ISRAEL
REDEFINING ISRAEL’S LEADERSHIP PIPELINE
Aharai! is one of Israel’s most effective large-scale engines for youth leadership development. Founded in 1997, Aharai! has built one of the most robust infrastructures in Israeli civil society. Its enormous reach allows it to do what other youth movements can’t: bring together Israeli youth from all backgrounds.
Aharai!’s programs serve more than 10,000 teens and young adults every year, with a particular focus on underserved communities. These young people represent the full diversity of Israeli society – religious and secular, ultra-Orthodox and Arab, from cities and the geographic peripheries – learning and leading side by side. Through culturally adapted leadership, educational, and pre-military programming, Aharai! prepares youth for meaningful military and civic service, both powerful gateways to upward mobility in Israeli society.
The results are staggering: participants build trust, mutual understanding, and a shared sense of responsibility. They go on to outperform national averages across military leadership, higher education, socio-economic advancement, and civic engagement. It’s not just incremental improvement, but lasting upward mobility at scale.
It’s all part of a bold vision to close systemic gaps, strengthen national cohesion, and build a stronger, more united Israel.
Aharai! has spent nearly three decades building one of the strongest infrastructures in Israeli civil society. They are among the few organizations with the ability to scale rapidly and effectively.
Whereas most Israeli youth movements serve specific, homogenous groups, Aharai! is different: it brings together young people from all faiths, ethnicities, and abilities, and delivers tailored programming to meet their needs.
Aharai! is led by top-tier mentors and program directors, many of whom are graduates of the program themselves.
Aharai! has an exceptional track record. They consistently deliver measurable impact and proven results on a national level.
Aharai! partners with Israel’s most prestigious, influential institutions, including the Ministry of Education, IDF Unit 8200 (Israel’s elite tech-intelligence unit), and the Jewish Agency.
NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR RESERVIST SUPPORT
In 2026, Aharai! was selected to receive the Defense Minister’s Shield, honoring its exceptional work on behalf of Israeli reservists and their families. Presented by the Minister of Defense and the IDF Chief of Staff, the distinction recognizes Aharai!’s sustained, exceptional support for those serving in Israel’s reserve forces and the families who carry that burden alongside them.
AHARAI! IN ISRAEL’S TIME OF NEED
In the wake of October 7th, Aharai! became a key national partner in rebuilding Israel's next generation of military leadership. Selected as a strategic partner of the IDF Personnel Directorate, Aharai! rapidly scaled its pre-military programming to prepare thousands of young people for meaningful service. With deep roots in communities across Israel and a nationwide infrastructure already in place, Aharai! was able to meet the challenge, establishing new regional hubs and developing culturally adapted tracks.
Today, one in five active-duty combat soldiers in the IDF is an Aharai! graduate. This expansion has also opened pathways for young people historically underrepresented in combat service and leadership roles, including youth from Israel’s social and geographic peripheries, Ethiopian-Israeli and Haredi communities, Bedouin youth, and at-risk populations.
At the same time, Aharai! launched two additional initiatives: 810 and the Reservist Support Program. 810 was a specialized leadership initiative for high school students in Israel's Gaza Envelope. Built in collaboration with trauma and mental health experts, the program combined Aharai!'s proven leadership curriculum with trauma-informed support, helping participants process loss, build resilience, and reconnect with their communities.
The Reservist Support Program helped reservists both within and beyond the Aharai! community navigate the lasting impact of extended military service. Through personalized career guidance, employer connections, and mental health resources, participants overcame disrupted careers and successfully transitioned back into civilian life. To date, thousands of reservists have translated their service into renewed opportunity and meaningful new chapters.
As Israel's needs continue to evolve, Aharai! continues to stand beside the soldiers, reservists, and emergency responders who safeguard the country's future. Their courage and sacrifice fuel our work, and, together with the global Jewish community, we remain steadfast in ensuring they never face that responsibility alone.
WHERE AHARAI! OPERATES
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KEY MILESTONES
FIDF
Aharai! and Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) are proud to have launched a strategic partnership to bring Aharai’s mission to FIDF’s network of philanthropic supporters across the United States. Together we are investing in Israel’s next generation – building leadership, resilience, confidence, and a sense of responsibility among Israeli youth, while continuing to stand alongside our alumni throughout their military service and beyond.
FUNDING SOURCES
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