Rabbinical Student Program

"ים בינינו - שנינו באותה סירה"

“An ocean between us, but we’re both in the same boat"

The Hannaton Educational Center - Your Encounter with Belonging & Hope

The Hannaton Educational Center invites groups from abroad – youth groups, educators and community leaders, delegations and missions – to a variety of experiential programs focusing on Jewish identity, controversy and dialogue, living in harmony with Israel’s different philosophies and societies, and building hope for the future.

Located in the heart of the Galilee, the Hannaton Educational Center offers visiting groups a wide range of short courses, full-day excursions, multi-day hospitality, and sabbatical seminars. The programs at the Hannaton Educational Center combine experiential learning, encounters with figures from the region, and deep engagement with some of the complex challenges facing Israel & the Jewish people at this time.

  1. Short Courses -

Explore concepts of plurality, dual living, acceptance and coexistence. Through study sessions, facilitated dialogue, and encounters with new realities; participants engage deeply with the complexity of shared life.

2. Short Courses -

Explore Jewish identity in Israel within the context of a diverse, multicultural society shaped by multiple traditions, communities, and narratives. Participants examine how Jewish identity is formed, challenged, and enriched through ongoing encounters with cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity in Israel.

3. Treking with Inspiration - HaGallila!

Join us for a full day in the Galilee that connects past, present and future. Hands-on tour of archaeological and historical sites, study ancient texts with a modern swing, meet with local figures and take part in individual & group building activities.

4. Shabbat with a pluralistic community in the Galil

A Shabbaton at the Hannaton Educational Center is a special experience, connecting with the pluralistic and diverse community and meeting with other educational groups that live and work in the midrasha (Pre-Military Preparatory School, Garin Tzabar).

the Hannaton Educational Center maintains a significant number of guest rooms, dining halls & classrooms, which host our different groups throughout the year.

5. Rabbinical Student Program

This multifaceted program is for Israeli rabbinical students and rabbinical students who come to Israel for an academic year.

Read More →

1. Short Courses

Explore concepts of plurality, dual living, acceptance and coexistence. Through study sessions, facilitated dialogue, and encounters with new realities; participants engage deeply with the complexity of shared life.

Courses Price Duration
Welcome to Israel - This study & conversation session explores the politics of identity in Israel, focusing on solidarity, empathy, and the challenge of truly feeling the pain of the other. Through guided texts, real-life case studies, and open dialogue, participants examine how identity shapes narratives, loyalties, and conflict. The session invites honest reflection on the possibilities and limits of mutual understanding in a deeply complex and sacred space. 1,000 NIS 1.5 hours
A Local Story - A workshop and open discussion that brings participants together with a respected local Arab figure to explore what it truly means to live side by side in a complex, shared society. Through personal stories and facilitated dialogue, the session addresses dual identity, conflict, mutual acceptance, and the everyday realities of coexistence in the Galilee. Participants gain an honest, nuanced perspective on challenges and successes of living together in Israel. The experience is designed for groups seeking meaningful, on-the-ground learning about coexistence, dialogue, and shared life in the Galilee. 1,700 NIS 1.5 hours
Living Between Societies - a visit to the Bedouin warrior memorial site. This 3–4 hour course offers an in-depth exploration of the Bedouin communities of Israel who serve in the IDF, providing a nuanced look at identity, loyalty, and civic responsibility. Through historical background, personal stories, and case studies of well-known Bedouin figures in the IDF, participants examine the value these individuals bring to Israeli society and security. The course also addresses the social and cultural price paid within Bedouin society, including tensions, challenges, and internal debate. 1,500 NIS

(Not including transport to the memorial site.)

3-4 hours
Paratrek - an experiential workshop in which we go out to the field with a "Trekker", a uniquely designed wheelchair made accessible to the outdoors. Receive a one of a kind introduction to what’s off the beaten path in Israel, with insights from classic and contemporary texts.

 

A group-building workshop that touches on the world of integration, inclusion and connection.

https://www.paratrek.org/english

5,500 NIS 4 hours

 

 

2. Short Courses

Explore Jewish identity in Israel within the context of a diverse, multicultural society shaped by multiple traditions, communities, and narratives. Participants examine how Jewish identity is formed, challenged, and enriched through ongoing encounters with cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity in Israel.

Courses Price Duration
Tolerance, Pluralism, and Multiculturalism - what do they mean and are we able to apply them in our lives? Study and conversation. 1,000 NIS 1.5 hours
Tradition & Innovation in the Footsteps of the Sanhedrin

What is the place of tradition in our lives? What do we want to preserve and what to innovate? Located on the newly dedicated “Sanhedrin Tourist Trail”, the Hannaton Educational Center provides participants with a new appreciation for our ancient sages, while weaving the story of renewal and change in our religion & culture.

1,000 NIS 1.5 hours
Rabbi Yoav Indi, Founder & Executive Director of the Hannaton Educational Center, and entrepreneur for the renewal of Kibbutz Hannaton -

Various opportunities for meeting, studying and dialogue:

●       The local story of the Hanaton community - a unique pluralistic community, building a community.

●       The Galilee as the testing grounds for Israeli society

●       Hanaton Preparatory School and Garin Tzabar -  Young leadership programs in the midrasha, the personal and social significance and their impact.

1,600 NIS

 

1.5 hours
The Hanaton Mikvaot - Join a local guide to learn about the fascinating and unique stories of Hannaton’s mikvaot; - visit a 2000-year-old Mikvah that was saved from demolition and relocated to Hannaton, and learn about our one-of-a-kind, egalitarian Mikvah. 1,500 NIS 1.5 hours
Sorry for Asking - A dynamic meeting with a group of Hannaton women with very different lifestyles & views. How do you live together when you think differently religiously, politically, and more...? 2,300 1.5 hours

3. Treking with Inspiration - HaGallila!

Join us for a full day in the Galilee that connects past, present and future. Hands-on tour of archaeological and historical sites, study ancient texts with a modern swing, meet with local figures and take part in individual & group building activities.

Each course lasts approximately 6 hours, with a price 2,400 NIS*.

The Subject The Place The Plan
Pluralism in the Galil The Hannaton Educational Center Introduction to the Hannaton Educational Center as a unique phenomenon in Israeli society in the Galilee:

How do you build a community? The story of the founding of the renewed Hanaton

A visit to the egalitarian synagogue of Hanaton, a joint study on the subject of pluralism.

The story of the ancient 2000-year-old mikveh that was moved to Hanaton and the one-of-a-kind modern egalitarian mikveh.

Artzot Hachaim: Sanctity of Man and the Sanctity of the Earth Beit Shearim, Hashomrim Cemetery, Alexander Zeid memorial statue Visit some of the most beautiful archaeological and historical sites in the country, and learn about some of the most significant leaders shaping our Jewish and Zionist identity - Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi and Alexander Zeid.

 

Get deep into the thick of things with a study-session and joint discussion on the question of sanctification of God versus sanctification of the land in the Zionist perspective.

Mul-ti-cul-tur-a-lis-m…

 

Ancient Zippori Life in a multi-cultural city and the dilemmas that come with it; then & now.

A tour of the magnificent site of the ancient city of Zippori - the theater, the Beit Midrash, and the synagogue as an example of life in a multi-cultural city.

*The price is for the tour guide only, and does not include entrance to sites, transportation, hospitality & meals.

 

4. Shabbat with a pluralistic community in the Galil

A Shabbaton at the Hannaton Educational Center is a special experience, connecting with the pluralistic and diverse community and meeting with other educational groups that live and work in the midrasha (Pre-Military Preparatory School, Garin Tzabar).

the Hannaton Educational Center maintains a significant number of guest rooms, dining halls & classrooms, which host our different groups throughout the year.

Proposed Shabbaton Schedule
Friday Evening

Kabbalat Shabbat with a young Israeli vibe. *During the year, when the Mechina is on campus.

A “traditional” Hannaton-style Kabbalat Shabbat at the Kibbutz’s egalitarian synagogue.

Friday night dinner in the Center’s remodeled dining hall.

Shabbat Day

Morning prayers in either the Orthodox or Egalitarian minyan.

An enjoyable short trek through the Hannaton forest.

Shabbat Lunch

Courses & Discussions

The story of Hannaton, a thriving pluralistic community & kibbutz. A guided tour of the kibbutz, including a visit to the community’s unique Mikvaot. A 2,000 year old Mikva that was saved from demolition and transported to Hannaton, as well as the only egalitarian Mikva.

Additional Shabbat time slots and discussions can be incorporated from the content list.

Seuda Shlishit with Rav Yoav Ende, Founder and Executive Director of the Hannaton Educational Center, and entrepreneur leading the revitalization of Kibbutz Hannaton.
Havdala with song & dance

For more information about Shabbat, visiting and learning at Hannaton, please contact Gabe at reservations@echannaton.org

5. Rabbinical Student Program

This multifaceted program is for Israeli rabbinical students and rabbinical students who come to Israel for an academic year. 

The program lasts four weeks, including weekends, during which participants delve deeper into contemporary Israeli issues, as they experience it through the historical, social, and geographical distinctiveness of the Galilee. This experience inspires them to take on the challenges of a communal role in Israeli society.

The rabbinical program has four themed components:

  • The transition of Jewish leadership from Jerusalem to the Galilee. 
  • Jewish-Israeli entrepreneurship and leadership in communities.
  • Israeli societal challenges in peripheral towns and villages.
  • Jews and Arabs living side by side in the Galilee.

 

Each component includes a tour in the Galilee, guest lecturers and study sessions, beit midrash study, and a meeting with a social activist/entrepreneur.

Participants enjoy evening recreational activities and receive individual and group mentoring and guidance. They also take part in Mechinat Hannaton’s Cheshbon Nefesh days in the lead up to the high holidays. 

Participants develop a close relationship with the Hannaton community which hosts students for community events, meals, and Shabbat services at their egalitarian synagogue. These interactions create affinity and familiarity with an inspiring, pluralistic-traditional community. 

For more information about Shabbat, visiting and learning at Hannaton, please contact Gabe at reservations@echannaton.org