Jerusalem to Host Global Education Summit in 2026

Jerusalem will host the first international education conference, Jerusalem EduCon 2026, on November 9-10, 2026, at the Binyanei Ha'uma convention center. The event, supported by the Jerusalem Municipality and initiated by Deputy Mayor Hagit Moshe in partnership with KKL-JNF, aims to bring together thousands of educators, administrators, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders from Israel and abroad to shape the future of education. The conference will be free and open to the public, featuring a TEDx Jerusalem talk titled "Growth in Uncertainty."

Shalom Jarbi, Director of KKL-JNF's Education and Community Division, revealed in an interview that KKL-JNF has become a significant international education force with a substantial budget. He explained that the Education and Community Division now holds KKL-JNF's largest budget, reflecting a strategic understanding that education is key to the organization's future. This investment is divided between international and domestic fronts.

Internationally, KKL-JNF is investing over 100 million shekels to engage Jewish communities worldwide, particularly in response to rising antisemitism on global campuses. Their efforts include leadership training, providing tools to combat incitement, and organizing seminars for hundreds of international educators and community leaders annually to reconnect them with the Jewish people and Israel.

Domestically, KKL-JNF supports informal education, including youth movements, organizations, and pre-military academies, viewing them as crucial for developing leadership and personal responsibility. The division also runs the "Youth with Opportunity" model, investing over 60 million shekels in programs for at-risk youth, rebranding them as "youth with opportunity." A flagship initiative is the network of KKL-JNF Excellence Centers, with five centers already operating in cities like Beit She'an and Acre. Each center involves an investment of approximately 20 million shekels for infrastructure and technology, plus a 2 million shekel annual operating budget, offering after-school academic and social support, STEM education, soft skills development, and career guidance.

Jarbi, a reserve lieutenant colonel who fought on October 7, rejected claims of a values crisis among the younger generation, stating the recent war proved the success of Israeli education. He cited the mobilization of 300,000 reservists who flew in from around the world to fight, emphasizing the unity across religious and political divides. Jarbi stressed the role of educators in fostering connection, respecting shared heritage, and setting politics aside.

Jerusalem was chosen as the conference venue due to its educational leadership efforts and KKL-JNF's work connecting Israeli students to the capital. Through the "Nation Month" program, KKL-JNF funds trips for tens of thousands of students and teachers from peripheral areas to educational tours in Jerusalem, often their first visit to the city and the Western Wall. The EduCon conference aims to highlight the intersection of roots, identity, and pedagogical innovation.