About Us
The residents of the Western Galilee are proud of their Galilean pertinence, they assume responsibility and create together a flourishing and crisis-resilient region.
We recognize diversity as a source of strength and treat others with respect and dignity.
Numerous diverse populations, as well as our youngsters, choose to live here in different forms of towns and communities, thanks to the quality of life which is manifested in the employment opportunities and salary conditions, in education, community and cultural life, health and social services, in the infrastructures and personal safety. The public and community spaces in the Western Galilee constitute an exemplar of a society that succeeds in integrating religions, cultures, views, sectors and genders in an equal and inclusive manner. We demonstrate to the world how, by means of education, dialogue and building trust, a region can traverse from a reality of national conflict to a reality of multi-existence in a joint civil space.
Intellectuals, creators, elected officials and entrepreneurs cooperate in leading the Western Galilee as a learning and renewable region, which successfully integrates with changing global trends. The quantum leap in the Western Galilee will be based on turning the region into a source of attraction for tourists from Israel and around the world and on building the region as a global center of advanced industries, this by means of a comprehensive and interconnected system of education centers, schools, institutions, initiatives and businesses. In realizing our vision, we will constitute a pioneering model and source of inspiration for other regions that yearn to generate a quantum leap that will enable all their residents to enjoy its fruits over time.
The “Spirit of the Galilee” Team
Raya Strauss Ben Dror
President and Founder of “Spirit of the Galilee”
The “Spirit of the Galilee” Project was established on Raya’s initiative. As a native and a resident of the Western Galilee, as a philanthropist and a businesswoman and as a party to the quantum leap vision in Israel, Raya decided to implement the vision for the first time in the Western Galilee.
Raya Strauss was born in Nahariya. Her parents, Dr. Richard and Hilda Strauss immigrated to Israel in 1936 as Zionist pioneers in the Fifth Aliyah, along with their son Michael Strauss, and they were among the founders of Nahariya. They became farmers and raised diverse field crops.
Instigating an Economic Social Quantum Leap in the Western Galilee
In order to realize the quantum leap vision and harness additional partners, “Spirit of the Galilee” operates in 5 areas that have been identified as possessing the potential to jumpstart and advance the region.
Roach HaGilil operates in 5 areas that have been identified as having the potential to boost the region
Industry and Employment
Twenty Percent of the Region’s Residents are Employed in Traditional Industries
Health
Raising Awareness for a Healthy Lifestyle
Tourism
Hundreds of tourism businesses from diverse ethnicities and cultures operate in the Western Galilee
Culture and Education
Our young people choose to live in the Western Galilee thanks to the opportunities it offers
Multiculturalism
In the Western Galilee, we recognize diversity as a source of strength and treat others with respect and dignity.
The “Spirit of the Galilee” House
Our offices are located in the innovative employment complex at the entrance to Kibbutz Lohamei HaGeta’ot and we invite you to be our guests any time.
The complex is an ideal meeting place for residents and activists in the area as well as for our partners who come to visit from all over Israel.
Chef restaurants and quality cafés have settled beside us and they are frequented by numerous customers.
