Naale program
Naale Elite Academy (Hebrew: נעל"ה) is an international program that enables Jewish teenagers from the diaspora to study and complete their high school education in Israel for free. Founded in a joint effort with the Jewish Agency, Naale Elite Academy was established in 1992 to provide Jewish high school students worldwide the opportunity to live and complete their high school diploma in Israel.
The program brings Jewish teenagers worldwide to study in some of the best Israeli high schools for three or four years.
Potential candidates must be eligible according to Israel's Law of Return and must undergo a registration and testing process before being accepted to the program.
Each student on the program receives a complete scholarship funded by the Israeli Ministry of Education. The scholarship includes a flight to Israel, full tuition, health insurance, full room and board and more.
At the end of the program, graduates can choose to stay in Israel and make Aliyah or choose to return abroad with a fully recognized international diploma.
Background
Since its inception, over 17,000 teenagers have come to Israel through the Naale Elite Academy program and have completed their education in Israel. There are currently over 2,000 students studying in Naale Elite Academy schools.
Roughly two-thirds of the students are from the Former Soviet Union and a third are from the rest of the world with students arriving from the United States, South America, France, Germany, Italy, South Africa, Australia, Japan, the Philippines and many other countries.
Naale Elite Academy Alumni have made their mark on Israeli society with many opting to join the IDF, a study in Israeli universities and enter the Israeli workforce.
Naale Elite Academy Schools and Boarding Schools
Naale Elite Academy schools are located around Israel and cater to both religious and secular students. Students choose their school based on religious preference and their country of origin.
| Name | Track | Location | Languages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ulpenat Amana | Religious | Kfar Saba | English/International |
| Ort Netanya | Secular | Netanya | Russian |
| Alonei Yitzhak | Secular | Alonei Yitzhak | Russian |
| Beit Ulpana | Ultra Orthodox | Jerusalem | Russian |
| Beit Haya Mushka | Chabad/Ultra Orthodox | Kiryat Shmuel | Hebrew/International |
| Beit Chana | Chabad/Ultra-Orthodox | Safed | International |
| Hadassa Neurim | Secular | Neurim | Russian |
| CHW Hadassim Children & Youth Village | Secular | Even Yehuda | French/Spanish/Portugues/Russian |
| Hakfar Hayarok | Secular | Ramat Hasharon | Russian |
| Havat HaNoar HaTzioni (Israel Goldstein Youth Village) | Secular | Jerusalem | Russian |
| Johanna Jabotinsky Youth Village | Secular | Be'er Yaakov | Russian |
| Yemin Orde | Religious | Haifa | Russian |
| Kaduri Youth Village | Secular | Kfar Tavor | Russian |
| Kfar Galim | Secular | Haifa | Russian |
| Kfar Silver | Secular | Ashkelon | Russian |
| Kfar Tzvi Sitrin | Orthodox/ Habad | Haifa | Russian |
| Mevo'ot Eron | Secular | Kibbutz Ein Shemer | Russian |
| Mosenson Youth Village | Secular | Hod Hasharon | English/International |
| Ma'aleh Shacharut | Secular | Kibbutz Eilot | Russian |
| WIZO Nahalal Anieres | Secular | Nahalal | Russian/English/International |
| The Wizo Nahalat Yehuda | Secular | Rishon Letzion | Russian |
| Ayanot | Secular | Be'er Yaakov | English/International |
| Atid Raziel Herzliya | Secular | Herzliya | Russian |
| Ramat Hadassah | Secular | Kiryat Tiv'on | Russian |
| Yeshivat Sha'alvim | Religious | Kibbutz Shaalvim | English/International |
| Meir Shfeya Youth Village | Secular | Zichron Yaakov | Russian |
Na'ale groups over the years
Below is the list of the Naale Elite Academy groups by year:
| Year | Dates | Group name | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1992 - 1993 | "Machzor Alef." | |
| 2 | 1993 - 1994 | "Machzor Bet." | |
| 3 | 1994 - 1995 | "Machzor Gimmel." | |
| 4 | 1995 - 1996 | "Machzor Daled." | |
| 5 | 1996 - 1997 | "Machzor Heh." | |
| 6 | 1997 - 1998 | "Yovel." | In honour of Israel's 50th birthday |
| 7 | 1998 - 1999 | "Dror." | |
| 8 | 1999 - 2000 | "Zohar" | In honor of Zevulun Hammer |
| 9 | 2000 - 2001 | "Noam." | In honour of extending the program to the West |
| 10 | 2001 - 2002 | "Asor." | In honour of Naale Elite Academy's 10th year |
| 11 | 2002 - 2003 | "Ilan." | |
| 12 | 2003 - 2004 | "Revava." | In honour of Naale Elite Academy's 10,000th student |
| 13 | 2004 - 2005 | "Gil." | |
| 14 | 2005 - 2006 | "Yedid." | |
| 15 | 2006 - 2007 | "Ma'alot." | |
| 16 | 2007 - 2008 | "Galil." | |
| 17 | 2008 - 2009 | "Ariel." | |
| 18 | 2009 - 2010 | "Chai." | |
| 19 | 2010 - 2011 | "Or." | |
| 20 | 2011 - 2012 | "Shahar." | |
| 21 | 2012 - 2013 | "Shamir." | in honour of Yitzhak Shamir – one of the founders of Naale Elite Academy |
| 22 | 2013 - 2014 | "Aviv." | |
| 23 | 2014 - 2015 | "Shefer." | |
| 24 | 2015 - 2016 | "Solelim." | |
| 25 | 2016 - 2017 | "Dor." | |
| 26 | 2017 - 2018 | "Sarid" | In honor of Yossi Sarid |
| 27 | 2018 - 2019 | "Ami." | |
| 28 | 2019 - 2020 | "Ofek." |