For Ido Mahatzri, CEO of TALMA the National Program for Excellence in Education, English is a tool for social mobility, a bridge to the Jewish Diaspora, and, increasingly, a way for Israeli communities to tell their own story to the world. “TALMA is a nonprofit education organization working in Israel since 2014,” Mahatzri told the audience at the Jerusalem Post Miami Summit. “We started as a small program in the north, bringing teachers from around the world to teach English in Israel’s periphery.”
The idea, he explained, was rooted in a simple insight: “English is the most important tool for social mobility that can lead to economic growth and opportunity.” Since its founding, TALMA has expanded dramatically. Today, it operates in more than 40 municipalities, focusing on both the geographic and social periphery of Israeli society. “Many of these kids lack access to quality English education,” Mahatzri said. “That gap closes doors before they even have a chance to open them.”
TALMA’s unique approach centers on its model of global Jewish engagement. By primarily recruiting educators from the Jewish Diaspora, the program creates a dual impact, as Mahatzri noted: “We gain access to excellent teachers, and we foster a deep connection between Jewish educators worldwide and Israeli students.” This bond often proves transformative for the teachers themselves. The summer program offers educators a chance to experience Israel’s education system through a month of volunteer teaching, sparking meaningful relationships with students, families, and municipalities, according to Mahatzri. Many educators return for year-round placements, with over 80 percent eventually making aliyah. “This becomes their Zionist journey into Israeli society,” he said.
Since October 7, TALMA has shifted focus to communities affected by the war, such as Kiryat Shmona and the Gaza border region, where English plays a vital role. “We’re helping kids and adults tell their stories,” Mahatzri explained. “English provides future opportunities and ensures that what happened here will never be forgotten.” With 1,500 alumni educators worldwide, TALMA’s influence continues to expand, though its need for more volunteers grows. "To sustain this work, we need more educators,” Mahatzri emphasized. "Jewish teachers worldwide are invited to volunteer and join this mission.”
Written in collaboration with TALMA