University of Haifa President Prof. Gur Alroei with Sheikh Mowafak Tarif, the spiritual leader of Israel’s Druze community, at the launch of the Northern Lights Initiative

Can you tell us how the Northern Lights Initiative got started?

The story begins with changes that have been taking place in Druze society over the past 40 years.

Traditionally, many Druze men pursued higher education. However, beginning in the mid-1980s, a shift occurred. More men chose to remain in the military or enter the workforce immediately in order to support their families, while increasing numbers of Druze women pursued academic studies. Today, we see the results of that trend. At the University of Haifa, we have approximately 1,600 Druze students, and about 75 percent of them are women. While it’s wonderful to see so many women succeeding academically, the growing educational gap between men and women has created challenges within the community.

We recognized an opportunity to create new pathways for young Druze men, and with the support of the Jewish Federations of Chicago and North America, the Northern Lights Initiative was launched to provide a structured bridge between military service and academic study, helping young men transition into higher education at a pivotal stage in their lives.

Why was the timing of the initiative particularly significant?

The contributions of Druze soldiers during the Swords of Iron war highlighted their longstanding role in national service and Israeli society. That context added deeper meaning and urgency to the effort to create new opportunities for them.

Where did the name of the initiative come from?

The name “Northern Lights” was coined by the Jewish Federation of Chicago. It reflects both geography and symbolism. The Druze community is spread across Northern Israel, Lebanon, Syria, and Northern Jordan, and the name captures their presence across the region.

It also carries a symbolic meaning: the idea of these young people as guiding lights in the North, like stars that stand out and provide direction and hope within their communities and beyond.

Why was the University of Haifa chosen to host this program?

The University of Haifa was a natural home for the Northern Lights Initiative. The Druze community is concentrated in Northern Israel, with 16 Druze villages located throughout the region, and the University of Haifa has long served as a leading academic destination for Druze students.

Hosting the program here also aligns closely with our mission as the university of the North. We are committed to serving and supporting all of the region’s communities, and that includes ensuring that the Druze have access to opportunities for higher education.

In this case, location is particularly important because the Druze community is deeply family-oriented. We quickly learned that the success of the program depends not only on the students themselves- but their mothers.

In many Druze families, mothers play a central role in shaping educational aspirations. To engage families directly, we organize a special campus open day for mothers, sisters, and other female family members. This past year, more than 250 women attended, touring the campus, meeting faculty members and university leadership, and learning about the opportunities available through the program.

We have found that the women return to their communities as advocates for higher education, helping young men see university as a realistic and valuable next step after military service. By combining academic opportunity with strong community and family engagement, we are creating a model that feels both accessible and culturally relevant.

Where do you see the Northern Lights Initiative heading over the next few years?

We are still in the early stages of the initiative, with our first cohort of 19 students having begun in April 2026. Right now, our priority is to learn from this inaugural group and understand how we can continue strengthening the program.

I can absolutely see the initiative growing significantly in the coming years. However, success is not measured simply by the number of participants. For us, success means that these students continue on to pursue higher education and earn a degree. We are already encouraged to see that some participants have applied to and been accepted by the University of Haifa.

We are also beginning to see signs of a wider impact within the Druze community. Brothers, friends, and other community members are already asking about the program and expressing interest in participating. That tells us we are starting to shift perceptions and expand the conversation around higher education.

Our hope is that this first cohort becomes a catalyst for long-term change, inspiring more young Druze men to see university education as an achievable and valuable path for their future.

Are there plans to expand the program’s reach, scope, or model to other communities?

Potentially, yes. While our current focus is on ensuring the success of the Northern Lights Initiative within the Druze community, we are also thinking about how this model could be adapted to support other populations facing similar challenges.

For example, there are large Bedouin communities in Northern Israel that may benefit from programs that help bridge the gap between traditional life paths and higher education. We also see potential opportunities to work with the Circassian community and other groups where educational attainment patterns may create social or economic challenges.

 Any future expansion would be shaped through close collaboration with community leaders and tailored to the specific challenges and opportunities within each population.

Why does this work matter to you personally?

I believe higher education should be accessible to all people, regardless of their background or circumstances. If someone has never considered university as an option for themselves, I want to be part of opening that door and helping them see what is possible.

I am also incredibly proud of the diversity we have at the University of Haifa. In many ways, our campus reflects the kind of society we aspire to build. Of course, every society has its tensions, and our campus is no exception. But here, students from different backgrounds, religions, and communities learn together, work together, and build meaningful relationships with one another.

My hope is that these experiences don’t end when students graduate. The relationships and understanding they develop here can carry into workplaces, communities, and leadership roles across the country. 

What would you want people outside Israel to understand about the daily reality your students are facing?

Over the past two and a half years, Israel has faced extraordinary challenges, and life in the North continues to be affected by the ongoing security situation.The impact extends far beyond those who served in the military. Nearly everyone has been affected in some way, through family members, friends, neighbors, or their own experiences. There is a shared sense that these years have left a mark on all of us.

Despite the challenges, people continue to pursue their education, invest in their futures, and work toward building stronger communities. There is a remarkable determination to move forward with hope and optimism.

That spirit was evident at the launch of the Northern Lights Initiative. The head Sheikh of the Druze religious leadership attended the opening ceremony, alongside community leaders and families. The level of interest and support was overwhelming, and the event was deeply emotional for everyone involved.

For me, that moment reflected something powerful: this initiative is not just supported by individual students. It is embraced by the community as a whole, which gives us great confidence in its potential to create lasting change.