Education is far more than the transmission of knowledge. It is one of the most powerful forces in shaping society, building communities, and creating opportunities for future generations. In a rapidly changing world, we bear an ever-greater shared responsibility to ensure that education systems can continually innovate, evolve, and equip every child with the tools needed to grow and succeed.

In this spirit, I am proud that Israel’s first International Education Conference is taking place here in Jerusalem. It brings together educators, researchers, entrepreneurs, and decision-makers from Israel and around the world for a shared conversation about the present and future of education.

Jerusalem, home to Israel’s largest and most diverse education system, is a uniquely fitting place for this gathering. Education is one of the city’s most valuable assets. This is reflected in a system that promotes educational excellence, makes room for a range of educational approaches, and offers a wide variety of learning frameworks and educational opportunities. The human, cultural, and social diversity that characterizes the city mirrors the challenges facing education systems around the world. Despite the differences between countries, cultures, and communities, the questions that occupy us are much the same: How do we strengthen the status of educators? How do we integrate innovation and technology while preserving the human connection? And how do we build education systems that provide stability and resilience while also adapting to a changing reality?

Addressing these questions requires us to broaden our perspective and see education as a comprehensive whole, one that does not end at the classroom door but also takes place in the community, in cultural life, and in the many other spaces where children and young people grow and develop. To me, this is also what educational excellence means: a combination of high-quality teaching, values, and diverse opportunities that enables every child to realize their potential and find their own path.

I believe that the encounter between different educational philosophies, and between professionals from different countries and cultures, is an opportunity to learn from one another and to challenge established assumptions.

We see Jerusalem as the natural home for international dialogue on education, a place from which ideas and initiatives will emerge with an impact reaching well beyond the conference itself.

I wish us all a fruitful, enriching, and thought-provoking conference, and I thank all the partners who helped bring it to life.