Israeli Education Ministry Reports Record 195,000 Students Touring Biblical Heritage Sites

The Israeli Ministry of Education announced a significant milestone in its 'For Me the Bible' program, with approximately 195,000 students from around 2,800 schools participating in tours of biblical heritage sites across Israel during the 2022-2023 school year. This marks a 32% increase in student participation compared to the previous year. The program, initiated by Education Minister Yoav Kisch as part of the national 'Roots' initiative to strengthen Jewish and Zionist identity, aims to connect students directly with the historical and biblical narratives of the Jewish people.

According to official data, 2,795 educational institutions took part in the program, representing a 24% rise from 2,258 schools in the prior academic year. The experiential tours focus on sites of deep biblical, historical, and national significance, including the City of David, the Cave of the Patriarchs, the Patriarchs' Path in Gush Etzion, Tel Shiloh, the water aqueduct, and Nahal Shiloh in Judea and Samaria.

Minister Kisch emphasized that the Bible tells the story of the Jewish people and that the 'Roots' program reconnects Israeli students with the places where their history was written. He highlighted the substantial growth in participation as evidence of the program's success and strong demand from schools, pledging to continue expanding the initiative to deepen future generations' connection to their heritage.