Leading social change through education
Hotam is an organization leading social change through education. Hotam's vision is to strengthen public education to enable every child to fulfill their potential regardless of their background. Our mission is to develop diverse educational leadership that participates in creating practical knowledge and leading systemic changes that promote equitable and quality public education.
Hotam's theory of change is based on a cycle of creating local leadership in schools and cities, developing knowledge and pedagogy through field work and academia, and creating conditions for systemic change. Hotam's action programs include training for teachers and principals, courses and seminars for educators, support for principals and schools promoting equality, forming mission-driven communities, and more.
Each year, approximately 200 teachers and principals join the Hotam community, which now includes about 1,500 educators. Community members are active in promoting educational practices that advance equality and creating groundbreaking social pedagogies.
The organization was established in 2010 and operates in dozens of municipalities in Israel's social periphery. Hotam was founded as part of the international Teach For All network, which operates successfully in approximately 60 countries worldwide.
Theory of Change
About the Activity
Teacher Training
Recruiting and training teachers with vision, educational leadership, and social mission
Education-Shaping Teachers
Supporting teachers and teacher communities with educational initiatives, both in schools and in the municipal space
Management Reserves
Promoting principals and educational leaders in schools
Hotam Community
A circle of 1,500 educators working together for social change through public education in Israel
Applied Knowledge Center
Hotam researchers develop knowledge and pedagogy that promote equality
Schools Promoting Equality
Holistic support for schools demonstrating the use of social educational practices
Creative Education
Leading the reform in vocational education in Israel
Students
Hotamists
Local Authorities
Years of Activity
Guiding Principles
Fighting Inequality
Since its establishment, Hotam has championed the value of equality. The organization promotes equal opportunities through education in Israel's social periphery and in schools with high nurture index. Hotam advocates for reducing gaps in Israeli society, based on the principle that all human beings were created equal, and that every child's potential should be recognized and fulfilled regardless of religion, gender, origin, political affiliation, and sexual orientation.
Change is Made Together
At Hotam, educators work together for social-educational change through circles of influence, action groups, mission communities, and more. The values of partnership, solidarity, and togetherness are at the heart of every training and activity of the organization.
Room for Everyone - Social Responsibility
Hotam's activities take place across all segments and groups of Israeli society: religious and secular, Jews and Arabs, right and left, and more. The Hotam community and organization staff also come from all population groups. Hotam sees connections within Israeli society as a value, and demands from its participants shared responsibility for society's existence and shaping its character as a good, equal, and just society.
We believe that every child has the right to choose their future regardless of their background
Board members
Chairman of the Board, CEO of Hotam, and Board Members (in alphabetical order):
Dr. Abraham Kadar
Founding Director
He was among the founders of "Hotam" organization, believed in and supported the teacher training program from its first day. In recognition and appreciation, the Hotam training program is named Naomi, after his late wife and in her memory.
Dr. Kadar is a pediatrician and immunologist. Founder, Chairman and CEO of "BrainPOP" – an internet company that includes the award-winning online animation platform BrainPOP. He serves as the president of the Naomi Foundation, which works to promote family values, social justice, love and community.
Bart Wigdort
Director
Joel Greenberg
Director
Founder of "Susquehanna International Group," an organization specializing in trading, institutional sales, capital research and risk. The organization includes 1,800 employees worldwide. Greenberg was a prosecutor in the Criminal Division program of the U.S. Department of Justice, and he is a founding partner of "Seed The Dream Foundation" – an educational foundation operating in Israel and the USA.
Dana Feinik
מנכ"לית חותם
An education professional and manager of numerous educational and social initiatives. She began her career as a teacher and educator at the middle school in Kibbutz Evron. She managed the "Dror Educational Network" for seven years. Graduate of the Mandel Institute for Educational Leadership and Maoz Advot. Feinik has been managing Hotam since 2020.
Yigal Housidman
Director
CEO of the Housidman Foundation – an international foundation dedicated to education, investment in social periphery, and promotion of higher education. Housidman is a board member at the "Jewish Funders Network," originally from Mexico, and currently lives in Sweden.
Jonathan Bendheim
Director
CEO of 'Fivaro Israel', responsible for the company's manufacturing and sales operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, employing approximately 430 workers in Israel. Bendheim is a founding partner of the Tasa Scholarship for Ethiopian-Israeli students in Israel. Co-founder of "LeKita" – a non-profit crowdfunding platform for funding teachers' projects in Israeli schools. Serves on the board of Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem.
Yamit Targan Nachmani
Director
Currently serves as the Israeli Philanthropy Director at the Aviv Foundation. Previously worked for over a decade at the international Teach For All network, supported the establishment of partner organizations across Europe, including the establishment of "Hotam." Yamit began her career as a mathematics teacher in the Teach For America program, which shaped her perspective as a social sector leader.
Mickey Nevo
Chairman of the Board
Director of the 'Mandel' Center for Leadership in the North. Previously a teacher, educator and school principal; has over 25 years of experience in establishing and managing social and educational organizations. For establishing and managing the Maase Center organization, Nevo received the Sderot Conference Award for Social Excellence, the Knesset Chairman's Award for Quality of Life, and an honorary doctorate from Tel Aviv University.
Imad Tel Hami
Director
A businessman and entrepreneur with experience in global management. For 25 years, Tel Hami held various management positions at 'Delta Galil' and served as the company's CEO. He established 'Babcom Centers' in the north, a company that employs approximately 3,000 workers throughout the country, of which 70% are from the Arab sector and 80% are women. Tel Hami served as a director in several organizations, including the Lautman Foundation, University of Haifa, the Israel Democracy Institute, and others.
