The Dr. Israel Goldstein Youth Village - Havat Hanoar Hatsioni

Founded in 1949 as a home for young Holocaust survivors, the Dr. Israel Goldstein Youth Village – Havat Hanoar Hatsioni (the “Hava”), located in the heart of Jerusalem, has evolved alongside Israel's successive waves of immigration and changing society. Throughout the generations, the Hava has continued to provide a warm home, opportunities, and a sense of belonging for thousands of young people.

Today, the Hava is a vibrant educational community of approximately 500 students in grades 7-12, bringing together Israeli-born youth from diverse backgrounds and young immigrants who have made Aliyah, many without their families.

Combining a day school with a residential boarding school, the Hava offers much more than academic education. It provides a warm, supportive, and nurturing environment where a caring community, meaningful relationships, and beautiful green open spaces create a sense of safety and belonging, while offering space for healing, emotional resilience, and personal growth.

Our mission is to nurture Jewish identity and raise a generation of compassionate, independent, creative, and socially responsible young people who will make meaningful contributions to Israeli society.

Alongside a strong academic curriculum, the Hava offers specialized programs in robotics, music, sports, and agri-tech, as well as enrichment activities, leadership opportunities, volunteering, and community involvement.

These programs go far beyond extracurricular activities. They help young immigrants adjust to a new environment while giving all students opportunities to navigate the challenges of adolescence, discover their strengths, build confidence, and experience personal and collective achievements.

Our key programs and facilities include:

• Na'ale - Youth Aliyah: A residential program for teenagers who come to Israel without their families, primarily from countries of the former Soviet Union. The Hava provides a warm home and comprehensive educational, social, and emotional support as students learn Hebrew, complete high school, integrate into Israeli society, and prepare for adulthood and the path toward Israeli citizenship.
• Robotics, Music, and Sports: Specialized programs that encourage excellence, creativity, teamwork, and talent development, helping students discover their strengths and passions.
• Agricultural Farm and Dog Kennel: Hands-on educational environments combining plant cultivation, berry growing, beekeeping, environmental education, animal care, and dog training. These activities foster responsibility, empathy, confidence, and meaningful connections with nature and animals.
• A Home for Lone Soldiers and Graduates: Our commitment to our students, particularly graduates of the Na'ale program, continues long after graduation. The Hava provides a supportive home for lone soldiers and graduates during their military service and transition into independent adulthood, remaining a place of stability, belonging, and family.

Magshimim School

The Youth Village is also home to Magshimim, a separate school serving approximately 60 adolescents and young adults on the autism spectrum with moderate to significant support needs, ages 13-21, from Jerusalem and the surrounding areas . 

The school provides individualized education and therapeutic support, promoting life skills, independence, and confidence. Magshimim students are an integral part of the Hava community, participating in shared activities and everyday Village life.

For many of our students, the Hava is much more than a school. It is a home where they are seen, believed in, and given the support and confidence they need to grow and succeed. Your support is essential to giving our students the very best, because that is what each and every one of them deserves. With your partnership, we can expand educational programs, create opportunities for excellence, provide personalized and emotional support, and maintain and enhance the beautiful green spaces, residential facilities, and learning environments that make the Hava such a special place to grow and thrive.

Together, we open doors for our students to discover their strengths, develop their talents, and fulfill their potential, nurturing a generation of confident, independent, and compassionate young people who will dream, dare, and persevere, lead, inspire, and help shape the future of Israeli society.

We'd love to hear from you hava@hava.org.il