Cooking Up a Curriculum From Scratch

A culinary revolution is brewing in Israel’s Upper Eastern Galilee as part of Jewish National Fund-USA’s Go North plan, and it is already cooking up a lot of excitement.

The Galilee Culinary Institute by JNF will redefine culinary education. Moreover, its presence will contribute to the development of northern Israel through employment, tourism, and more.

So, what makes GCI by JNF stand out? We have partnered with industry leaders and experts to develop a world-class curriculum that goes beyond the kitchen. Our syllabus includes three essential pillars often overlooked in traditional culinary education: storytelling, entrepreneurship, and activism.

Storytelling means that our students learn about the art of communication whether it’s networking and meeting others or an interview. Through media skills, content creation, food photography, and tech tools, which are crucial skills in the digital age they will develop the hard and soft skills of sharing their story.

With entrepreneurship, we are ensuring that students understand what it takes to start and run a successful culinary venture.

As for activism, that may seem strange for a culinary curriculum, but we see it as central to the nature of cooking. This includes community involvement, events management, and sustainable practices like using leftover produce to combat food waste.

We are driven by the desire to put Israel on the map for culinary excellence. Israel has a unique culinary heritage, and the upper Eastern Galilee is the culinary capital of Israel. We want to share this bounty with the world. We are also driven by the desire to break down boundaries with food, understanding that food can be a powerful tool for bringing people together. Our vision is to use GCI by JNF to promote unity and understanding and drive population growth.

We are creating something truly unique and are so grateful to the many people who are contributing to its success.

GCI by JNF is slated to open with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 30, 2024. We hope to see you there!

➤ To learn more about the institute or student recruitment, visit galileeculinaryinstitute.com