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FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions  Here are answers to questions about homeschooling in Israel: Is homeschooling legal in Israel? Yes! Officially, for each child you need permission from the Ministry of Education. Many families are currently homeschooling without such permission, and have not been forced to send their children to school. How much they have been hassled has varied from case to case. Many have had no problems at all. The latest official Israel Ministry of Education internal guidelines for processing applications (updated April 2009) are online in Hebrew at: http://cms.education.gov.il/educationcms/applications/mankal/etsmedorim/3/3-1/horaotkeva/k-2009-8a-3-1-37.htm Here is the official Application Form in Hebrew (PDF). Here are the official guidelines for writing a request in Hebrew(PDF). How do I get permission to homeschool? You write a letter to your local Ministry of Education representative requesting permission. The Ministry's guidelines say that you are supposed to explain your educational philosophy, your curriculum, how you will teach, and how you will evaluate the success of the education. However, the guidelines seem to allow for much less formal approaches, and many families have had success with a range of application formats. In the past, some have received permission with a terse letter stating their intention to homeschool, although the new guidelines might not allow for that. You should include your child's name and ID number, as well as your own. Are there any conditions? Homeschoolers in Israel who have received permission have been required to maintain some contact with their local education authorities. The nature of this contact has varied from case to case. What about the Bagrut? Read this page for more information about taking the bagruyot in Israel. Many (non-homeschooling) high school students in Israel prepare for their matriculation exams by paying a private company to teach them what they need to know to pass the tests. These same institutions are available to homeschoolers as well. There are also many students who do not take the Bagrut in the context of high school, but rather through an independent study framework. The fact is that a young person who wants to take the Bagrut may do so, and may do well, without having attended high school. What about learning Torah? Many homeschooling children in Israel learn Torah with their parents. Some parents hire a private teacher for Limudei Kodesh, or find a friend or relative who is willing to tutor their child. Others allow their child to choose when and how much Torah to study, and in what context. We're English speakers. How will my children learn Hebrew? From their friends and neighbors. From interacting with the outside world. You can also find a tutor or teacher for them. If you study Hebrew and speak it at home (even if you're just learning), your children may want to also. You can also read to them in Hebrew, which is probably the same way they did or will learn to read English. Update: My personal experience after ten years homeschooling in Israel is that this is the most important issue, and it is worth investing energy in finding a way for your child to have opportunities to interact frequently with Hebrew speakers. Learning to express one's self in Hebrew is the key toward becoming fluent at reading and writing Hebrew. I found that even if I (a native English speaker) speak to my child only in Hebrew it helps tremendously. How many families are homeschooling in Israel? No-one knows exactly. Probably hundreds of families. Has anyone done a formal study of homeschooling in Israel? Yes. You can read Ari Neuman and Aharon Aviram's 2003 research article here. What kind of support groups exist in Israel? More families are choosing to homeschool their children every month. There are support groups throughout Israel. For a list (in Hebrew) of some groups, see