About - ניצנה

About Nitzana

Our Mission

We believe that investing in individuals alongside connecting the various and diverse “tribes” that constitute Israeli society and the Jewish people worldwide, enabling empowerment, equal opportunities, and respect for all, are the keys to further building and strengthening the State of Israel and creating a resilient and cohesive society capable of facing the challenges ahead in light of the vision of the Declaration of Independence.

New immigrants were absorbed

0 +

Bedouin High School Graduates

Graduates of a year of service

Educational programs

Visitors every year

K 0

Steps to the Negev hiking trails

M 0

Jobs in a wide variety of fields

Founder - Aryeh Lova Eliav (1921-2010)

Lova was born in 1921 as Aryeh Lifshitz in Moscow, the second of three children born to Matilda and Yosef Lifshitz; he was given the nickname “Lova.” He grew up in a home with roots deeply embedded in Judaism and Zionism.

Lova immigrated to the Land of Israel in 1924 and studied at the “Halperin” school in Tel Aviv and the Herzliya Hebrew Gymnasium. Following his participation in an essay competition, a special bond was formed between the young Aryeh Lifshitz and the national poet Bialik—a connection that profoundly influenced Lova throughout his entire life.

In 1986, he conceived and initiated the establishment of the “Nitzana” Educational-Settlement Community in the Negev. Lova’s vision continues to serve as a guiding light for all those who come to learn and teach at Nitzana, proving more relevant than ever as Israeli society evolves and faces critical challenges:

“Here, on the battlefield of the Negev Brigade during the War of Independence, and the site of the fire-fights of the Sinai and Six-Day wars, we are establishing a school for the Negev, for labor, and for peace. We stand in the spirit of the exemplary actions of David Ben-Gurion, who went to the Negev in the hope that here in the desert, the nation would again merit the words of the prophet: ‘I remember the devotion of your youth… how you followed me into the wilderness, through a land not sown.’” (From the Nitzana Declaration Scroll)

From his youth until his final day, Lova dedicated his life to the Jewish people and the State of Israel in many fields.

During WW2, Eliav volunteered for the British Army and later served in the “Haganah” and the IDF, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (Navy). In the War of Independence, he served in the Jerusalem front and the ” Mossad LeAliyah Bet”, a branch of the Haganah that operated to facilitate Jewish immigration to British Palestine. He commanded the immigrant ship “Haim Arlosoroff”, and at the height of the “Kadesh” War, he led an IDF operation to rescue the Jews of Port Said. During the years of Aliyah and settlement, he was involved in the establishment of settlements in the South and Negev and headed the founding of the Lachish region and the city of Arad. He served as a Member of Knesset, Deputy Minister, and Secretary-General of the Labor Party.

In his public and governmental roles, Lova Eliav served in the Israeli Embassy in Moscow and was active in “Nativ”, a governmental liaison organization that maintained contact with Jews living in the Eastern Bloc during the Cold War. Alongside his diplomatic work and the Mossad, he led aid missions to disaster-affected areas in Iran, Kurdistan, Morocco, and Nicaragua, and worked to release prisoners and locate missing persons from the Lebanon War.

As a Member of Knesset and public figure, Lova Eliav was one of the pioneers of dialogue for peace between Israel, Arab states, and Palestinians.

Above all titles or positions, Aryeh “Lova” Eliav saw himself as an educator first and foremost. Leading by example, he volunteered teaching prisoners, and after the Yom Kippur War volunteer as an orderly for year at Hadassah Hospital in Tel Aviv. He made a significant contribution to promoting education in development areas, while residing in immigrant communities such as Nevatim, Or Akiva, Kiryat Shmona, Sderot, and Ma’alot.

In 1986, he conceived and initiated the establishment of the Nitzana educational

In 1988 , Lubbe Eliav was awarded the prestigious Israel Prize for “Special contribution to Society and the State”.

In 1998, Lova Eliav was awarded the President’s Volunteer Award for pioneering leadership and activity in all areas of life in Israel. The prize was presented to Eliav with these words:

“The President’s Volunteer Award is presented to Lova Eliav, the man for whom working for peace, doing good, and blessing others is his nature, as further expression of appreciation for he who has been at the heart of pioneering work in Israel for over half a century.”

In 2003, he was awarded the Ben-Gurion Prize for his activity in the development of the Negev.

Lubbe Eliav was also an excellent writer who published thirteen books. His writing explores many topics from society and the spiritual world and is characterized by a subjective approach that presents his original perspective.

Nitzana values

Human Dignity and Liberty

Recognition of the right and freedom of every individual to realize their aspirations and strive for a life of meaning, fulfillment, and peace.

Responsibility

Cultivating a sense of personal and social responsibility—toward ourselves, others, the community, and the state—to influence and contribute to the best of our ability.

A Life of Fulfillment (Hagshama)

Encouraging a life of creativity, initiative, and faith in the power to change reality through both action and thought.

Equality of Opportunity

Promoting a society that enables every individual to fulfill their potential and live a full, just, and fair life.

Multiculturalism

Nitzana demonstrates to all who pass through its gates that a multicultural encounter has the power to deepen and enrich the human experience of all its participants.

Sustainability and Environment

Education for mutual commitment between humanity and the environment, emphasizing the importance of nature conservation as an essential part of human existence.

What We Do

Nitzana is a community based on the values of love for humanity and nature, where young people, adults, and families from all sectors of Israeli society and the Jewish people live and grow together. We empower our members, provides them with tools to dream and achieve, and encourages them to step out of their comfort zone and experience deep encounters with people, society, and the land.

We offer deep educational programs for young Israelis, including secular, Bedouin, Olim, and others who live ang grow together side by side. All programs are tailored to the unique cultural characteristics of the participants and promote interaction among them. In addition to the goal of promoting the personal development of each participant in Nitzana, we also work to inspire and prepare them to become agents of change in their communities, continuing to promote the vision of a strong and cohesive Israeli society.

Alongside and together with the educational programs, we are actively working to populate the Negev and develop it by establishing a new yeshuv in Nitzana.

Nitzana is an educational community of the Jewish Agency for Israel founded in 1986 by Aryeh Lova Eliav, of blessed memory.

Impact Strategy

Person-centered education – Our programs primarily provide participants with a safe space where they can take risks, learn, and grow. Each program equips individuals with tools for personal development as a fundamental condition for prosperity and the realization of each person’s potential. Personal development will form the basis for connection to a sense of belonging, community, and society, transforming our graduates into agents of change in their communities.

All under one roof – The magic of Nitzana happens when participants from very diverse backgrounds, find themselves collaborating with people they never dreamed of connecting with. These collaborations are carefully planned and revolve around various topics. The meetings, learning, and joint activities build trust, social, and professional connections among program participants and staff members. These trust and connections turn Nitzana graduates (participants and staff) into a network of links between different communities in Israel and the Jewish world