Amal Executive Gather to Mark the End of a Tumultuous School Year

Earlier today, Amal Educational Network hosted a moving and meaningful event at the Duplex in Herzliya, bringing together its entire executive leadership: 50 school principals, the pedagogical division and the network’s management team. This gathering marked the conclusion of one of the most complex and emotionally charged academic years in Israel’s history.

Last Tuesday, July 1st, the Amal Educational Network hosted a moving and meaningful event at the Duplex in Herzliya, bringing together our entire executive leadership: 50 school principals, the pedagogical division, and the network’s management team. This gathering marked the conclusion of one of the most complex and emotionally charged academic years in Israel’s history.

With gratitude and admiration, the event focused on saying thank you to Amal’s school principals — leaders who have juggled day-to-day educational challenges, groundbreaking pedagogical projects, and an ongoing national emergency due to the war and multiple military operations. Throughout the year, they stood by their students, staff, and communities, ensuring that education never stopped — not even under fire.

As part of the event, several school principals were awarded tenure after three years of dedicated service in their positions. It was a proud and emotional moment, highlighting their commitment to educational leadership in times of great uncertainty. Participants were also invited to engage in small group discussions, seated around tables to reflect on the past year — to share stories of hardship, resilience, and the meaningful moments that kept them and their communities going. These honest and heartfelt conversations reminded everyone of the power of solidarity and the importance of human connection in education.

Despite the challenges, Karen Tal, Director General of Amal, shared inspiring data about the network’s achievements during this difficult year:

• Amal rose to third place nationally among Israel’s public education networks in overall performance.

• The percentage of students eligible for a full matriculation certificate (Bagrut) increased to 86%.

• The rate of students receiving Bagrut with honors rose to 13.4%, with a record number of students achieving excellence in English and math.

• The network launched new learning communities focused on civic education, expanded use of AI-integrated pedagogy, and introduced programs to strengthen Hebrew language skills among Arab students.

• Amal continued to lead as a state-democratic network, upholding pluralism, inclusion, and shared responsibility.

Karen emphasized what makes Amal unique: it is Israel’s most diverse educational network — geographically, demographically, and pedagogically — bringing together Jewish, Arab, Druze, and Bedouin communities under one roof. In a time of deep polarization and growing extremism, Amal remains a courageous and hopeful voice, committed to shaping a shared Israeli future built on respect, equality, and education.

The evening closed with a vibrant performance by Mayumana, whose rhythm, energy, and creativity reflected the spirit of hope, unity, and resilience that defines the Amal network.

Attached are photos from the event, a visual reminder of the beauty of our diverse leadership: principals from every corner of Israeli society, smiling side by side, proud of what they’ve accomplished against all odds.

As the summer break begins, we send our warmest wishes to our principals and educators. May they return refreshed — and may the coming school year begin in peace, opening the door to a better future for Israel’s next generation.