Teaching Jobs in Israel

Israel is a country of roughly eight million citizens located on the southwestern corner of the continent, where Asia intersects with Africa. Beyond its western coastline on the Mediterranean Sea, Israel is bordered by Lebanon and Syria to the north, Jordan to the east, and Egypt to the south. Israel is the world’s only Jewish-majority state, and although it has a sizeable Islamic minority population as well, most local Muslims live in the contested territory of Palestine (currently the West Bank and Gaza Strip). 

Considered one of the holiest places on earth, Jerusalem is a very popular destination where to teach abroad in Israel. Throughout history Jerusalem has sat center stage as one of the world’s most influential cities, and today it has lost none of that potency; teaching abroad in Jerusalem will be an exciting, educational, and unforgettable experience.

Tel Aviv, the country’s largest city and central economic hub, is another exceedingly popular destination where to teach abroad in Israel. Considered to be one of the world’s primary hubs of technology and innovation, Tel Aviv thrives on a young and lively spirit, which can provide a very fun environment for teachers from all over the world. Other cities you may consider include Haifa, Ramla, and Ashdod.

Israel’s education system is quite diverse, offering a variety of different types of public and private institutions where you may look for teaching positions abroad. Among these are state secular schools, religious schools, orthodox schools, and Arab schools. While the curriculum obviously varies across the board between these institutions, generally there is a consistent need for educators to teach subjects such as math, science, and languages.

Teaching English as a second language is generally the easiest way to land a position in Israel. Arabic and Hebrew are the two officially recognized Israeli languages, although English has become a vitally important second language to know, and so the demand for ESL educators to teach abroad in Israel continues to grow. Fluent English speakers often look for positions at international schools, language academies, or as a private tutor.

Because its education system is so competitive, international educators typically are expected to be well-qualified in order to be considered for a position. Having a college degree, additional certification, prior teaching experience, and being fluent in Hebrew are all examples of qualifications that will greatly increase your chances of getting hired to teach abroad in Israel.

As one of the most highly developed countries in the Middle East (and indeed all of Asia), Israel can be a relatively expensive place where to teach abroad. Educators are generally not paid as well as in other professions, so while you can expect to make enough to get by comfortably while teaching abroad in Israel, don’t expect to pad your savings by any means. The local currency in Israel is the shekel, which hovers around 4 ISL to $1 USD.

What type of accommodation you can expect generally depends on where specifically you teach abroad in Israel. Most international educators choose to live with roommates to reduce rent costs, which tend to be high across the country. Some teach abroad programs or host employers will help set up housing for you; other options are to look online, or live in a hostel immediately upon arrival while you search for housing in person.

Israel’s visa policy is fairly lax for citizens of countries outside of Asia and Africa, allowing visa-free access for up to three months. Teachers will generally need to apply for a work visa during this time with sponsorship from their local employer or teach abroad program in Israel.

Regional Dynamics. Israel sits at the heart of the Middle East and Mediterranean regions, a territory which throughout history has been a major nucleus of human civilization. Today, this fact has not changed.

Language Immersion. As an international educator, you will have the opportunity to learn at least one new language while you teach abroad in Israel; why not try for both Hebrew and Arabic while at it?

Successful Model. Lastly, teaching abroad in Israel will be your opportunity to develop within one of the very best education systems in the world. It will be an opportunity for immense professional and personal growth.