Each year, The Jewish Agency for Israel sends between 1,500 and 1,750 Israeli emissaries – Shlichim – around the world to strengthen Jewish identity and connection to Israel. These Shlichim are selected from more than 10,000 applicants, and represent the best of Israel. They are placed at schools, synagogues, JCCs, camps, universities, youth movements and Federations all over the globe. In training before and throughout their service, The Jewish Agency gives them tools for building Israel-education programs for their audiences.
The variety and credentials of our Shilchim help ensure that any Jewish institution, anywhere, can provide a personal connection to the Jewish State, a staff member who can speal authentically about Issues of Zionism, and an Israeli role model to children and youth.
In 2017 we did this through:
- 85 Israel Campus Fellows, who met one-on-one with more than 22,750 university students and attracted more than 37,000 students to Israel-education events.
- 113 Service Year Shlichim, 18-year-olds who have deferred their mandatory Israeli military service to serve as young Israeli ambassadors.
- 1,1346 Summer Camp Shlichim to North America, who interact with tens of thousands of campers. An additional 430 young, Russian-speaking Israelis served as camp counselors in the former Soviet Union (FSU).
- 94 Community Shlichim, Organizational Shlichim, and Worldwide Community Representatives, who serve as central resources for Israel education or supervise other Shlichim.
- 80 Youth Movement Shlichim, who worked with thousands of teens in Zionist movements.
- 32 instructors of Zionist Seminars, an educational program of 2–8 weeks that imparts Jewish-Zionist values through experiential activities.
