30 fellows, 12 countries, 8 communities, One year together!
TALMA’s 2026–27 Full-Year Fellows have officially begun the new school year!
This year’s cohort includes 30 educators, ages 23 to 53, from Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, England, Panama, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Uganda, and the United States.
They bring experience from classrooms, informal education, social work, Hillel and Jewish communal organizations, other Israel teaching fellowships, and even careers in the arts and culinary world.
Thirteen fellows are beginning their first Full-Year Fellowship, while 17 are returning for another year. Nine have also participated in a TALMA Summer Fellowship. This mix of new perspectives and returning experience is already shaping a diverse and dynamic cohort.
Across Israel
This year, fellows are teaching in eight communities across Israel: Eilat, Ashkelon, Ben Shemen Youth Village, Kibbutz Ruhama/Kfar Aza, Nahariya, Kiryat Ata, Jerusalem, and Sderot.
This year, the Full-Year Fellowship is also expanding into northern Israel. After building strong partnerships in Nahariya and Kiryat Ata through the Summer Fellowship, TALMA is excited to bring year-round support to schools in these communities.
Preparing for the Year Ahead
Before entering their classrooms, the fellows came together for an immersive orientation.
They explored the Israeli education system, co-teaching, classroom management, assessment, English-language teaching strategies, TALMA resources, and social-emotional learning.
Returning fellows also shared lessons from their own classrooms, helping new fellows understand what teaching in an Israeli school can look like.
Orientation was also about building relationships. Fellows traveled to Haifa, visited the Peres Center, enjoyed comedy night, trivia, and Shabbat, and had plenty of time to get to know one another.
When asked what they valued most, one fellow described:
“The feeling of belonging to a community of incredible people who support each other.”
Another appreciated:
“The balance between fun and work.”
That balance is an important part of preparing for the year. Fellows leave orientation with practical tools for their classrooms and a supportive community to turn to throughout their experience.
One Year Together
The presentations are finished, the bags are unpacked, and the fellows are now beginning their work in schools across Israel.
Over the coming months, they will become co-teachers, colleagues, mentors, and familiar faces in their school communities. They will navigate challenges, celebrate successes, and continue learning from their Israeli colleagues and from one another.
They began as 30 fellows from 12 countries, preparing to teach across eight communities.
Now, they are becoming one TALMA community. We can’t wait to see where the year takes them.
