Friends of BGU The Halutz Initiative for Global Leadership

Join an elite community of future leaders learning to make a difference

Now accepting applications for Cohort IV, March 30-April 6, 2025

Now in its fourth year, the Halutz Initiative serves as an incubator for a new kind of pioneer: forward-thinking, entrepreneurial, socially minded supporters of Israel equipped with leadership qualities and a nuanced understanding of the most critical issues of the day.

Through virtual meetings and an intensive week-long seminar in Israel led by scholars and scientists from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, the program prepares a select group of promising individuals to turn their passions into practical solutions – for BGU, the Negev, Israel, and the world.

Unlock your potential to help build a better world

For further details on the program and to apply, see below:

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Benefits

In return for fellows' investment of time and energy, BGU invests in them: in their personal and philanthropic growth, their professional horizons, and their potential to make a measurable difference for Israel and the world. Benefits include:

International Connections: Fellows grow their circle of professional connections to include business and community leaders from around the world.

Meaningful Friendships: Fellows meet like-minded people who share their core values, commitments, and connection to the Jewish people and Israel.

Leadership Development: Fellows learn new ideas and best practices for becoming effective, influential leaders in their professional and/or communal lives.

Unique Encounter with Israel: Fellows see an Israel that most others cannot, including tours of top researchers' laboratories, visits to innovative community programs, and meetings with scholars, policymakers, and leaders changing the face of the Negev and Israel.

Opportunity for Impact: Now, more than ever, the Negev needs support in rebuilding. Fellows gain the knowledge and tools to inspire others to support strategic, sustainable change in Israel and at home.

First Cohort of the Halutz program on their visit to BGU's Marcus Family campus

Goals

Fellows share their knowledge of key issues and potential solutions with bold thinkers, savvy investors, and business and community leaders in their home countries. In this way, they build networks of support for BGU research and activities and help advance a better Israel and world.

Program

Fellows participate in a fully funded, week-long seminar held in Israel in the Spring of each year (March or April). Designed to deepen fellows' knowledge of the most pressing problems facing Israel and the world, the seminar also exposes them to the innovative solutions developed at BGU.
In addition, fellows join three virtual group meetings: two pre-seminar sessions in November and January, and one post-seminar session in May.

Tentative schedule for the 2025 seminar in Israel

Day 1 (Sunday, March 30, 2025): Connecting

Arrival in Israel and welcome dinner at the home of Jeff Kaye, Vice President for Public Affairs and Resource Development at BGU, in the Jerusalem hills.

Day 2 (Monday, March 31, 2025): Learning

Meetings in Jerusalem with policymakers, community leaders, and change agents for an overview of Israel's most pressing security, economic, social, and environmental challenges.

Days 3-5 (Tue.-Thu., April 1-3, 2025): Experiencing

Sessions at BGU's Marcus Family Campus in Beer-Sheva with leading researchers from various faculties and institutes, including the Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, the National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, and the Yazamut 360° Center for Entrepreneurship; the Azrieli National Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research; and more.

There will also be sessions at Sde Boker's Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, home to the world's leading institute for water research and leading institutes for research in drylands agriculture and energy, as well as the School of Sustainability and Climate Change and the Ben-Gurion Research Institute for the Study of Israel and Zionism and the Ben-Gurion Archives.

There will be opportunities to meet individually with BGU faculty working in specific areas of interest, and tours of programs in partnership with and for the benefit of the Negev's diverse communities.

Day 6 (Friday, April 4, 2025): Reflecting

A day at Sde Boker's Isrotel Kedma, a desert-inspired luxury hotel in the traditional Nabatean style. A chance for an afternoon swim and spa, followed by Shabbat dinner and discussions about issues explored in the seminar.

Day 7 (Saturday, April 5, 2025): Planning

Optional desert activities, including a walk to David Ben-Gurion's desert home, as well as a concluding session on translating learning into action in fellows' home countries.

Candidates

The Halutz Initiative accepts exceptional individuals (in the age range of around 30-50) who are committed to Israel and care deeply about social change. Ideal candidates exhibit intellectual curiosity, demonstrated leadership abilities, and are motivated to take part in a demanding yet rewarding one-year educational experience.

Commitment

The Halutz Initiative covers all fellows' travel and related program costs. Fellows should understand and be comfortable with the expectations from them, recognizing that the program is both a financial and time-intensive investment in them. They will not be asked to commit to a philanthropic gift, but will be comfortable with the expectation that they will repay this investment in some manner in the future.

Application

Suitable candidates should express their interest in applying to the program to the head of their local BGU association, and complete the application form below.

The association will submit the candidate's application to BGU's Global Development Committee, at jeffkaye@bgu.ac.il.

Applicants will be interviewed in August-September, and letters of acceptance mailed in late September.

Halutz Application Form_2024.docx

Testimonials from Past Halutz Missions

"Aside from being astonished by the scientific achievements of BGU, the Halutzim Program left me with a sensation of having met a group of friends that I will carry on with for the rest of my life. Moving and inspiring!"

-- Mirko Daniel Garasic, Cohort III, Italy

"I arrived in Israel slightly apprehensive, but within minutes my excitement to be back was overwhelming. I knew that this opportunity to meet my fellow Halutz members and to see what Ben-Gurion University had to offer would be a memorable one, but I did not anticipate the impact that it would have on me going forward. There are truly no words to express the value I obtained from this incredible experience. Ben Gurion University is the best-kept secret that Israel has to offer – a true hidden gem. From the Ben Gurion leadership to the faculty members, to the students, and the administrative staff - I was beyond impressed and felt so deeply connected almost with immediate effect. The relationships that were created, along with the exposure to this world-class institution and its groundbreaking work – are something that I value and will endeavour to share with the rest of the world and my community at home. I only wish I could be 18 again and have the opportunity to study at this remarkable educational institution. Ben-Gurion's foresight and belief that the future of Israel would come from the Negev, is coming to fruition through the University and I am so inspired to watch this continued growth."

-- Tanya Golan, Cohort III, South Africa

Read more about the experiences of our past Halutz groups in BGU & You Magazine in the links below:

Cohort III, 2024

Cohort II, 2023

Cohort I, 2022

For questions about Halutz or to express interest in membership, contact the head of your local BGU association or email Jeff Kaye, Vice President for Public Affairs and Resource Development at jeffkaye@bgu.ac.il

Halutz cohort 1 walk across the DNA bridge during their visit to the campus in Beer-Sheva