Hatzofim youth movement in Israel is part of the World Organization of the Scout Movement and operates within the Israel Boy and Girl Scouts Federation in Israel. It was founded in 1919 and is the first, largest and most influential youth movement in Israel. Hatzofim youth movement operates through informal education spaces (shevatim, in Hebrew - tribes, which refers to chapters) and educates children and youth from 4th - 12th grade, secular and religious alike, to espouse social and Zionist values. Hatzofim currently has about 90,000 members in about 230 chapters throughout the country, from Kiryat Shmona in the north to Eilat in the south. The main aim of Hatzofim is to educate responsible adults with values who are prepared for all life’s challenges, citizens that contribute to and receive from the society in which they live and function.
Tzofim education is based on the image of the graduate scout who is defined as a good and beneficial citizen who demonstrates in practice the scout’s good qualities and acts in the spirit of the scout promise. Love of country and the People is rooted deep in the scout’s heart and the scout acts to deepen the relationship between Jewish heritage and life in the State of Israel. The graduate scout is sensitive to social distresses and acts to change and remedy society, maintain human dignity and freedom and protect the right of every individual and group to maintain their way of life based on their belief. The graduate scout will act out of tolerance and acceptance of the Other to create a common foundation and solidarity between different-equals in Israeli society.
Owing to this philosophy, the Tzofim youth movement provides a safe space in which every scout member can develop his or her personal abilities and use them for the common good.
The youth movement’s varied activities provide social and educational solutions and contend with national challenges from the unique perspective of their time: just as in the past scout members mobilized to help settle the country and absorb immigrants, thus currently the Tzofim youth movement focuses on establishing community shevatim (in Hebrew tribes, referring to chapters), strengthening the periphery, integrating special populations — such as youth with special needs (tzamid – a Hebrew acronym for special needs), at-risk youth and new immigrants from the Diaspora, as well as strengthening the Jewish-Israeli connection in Israel and the Diaspora (Global Tzofim Tzabar program).
The Tzofim is a non-partisan apolitical youth movement. Its values are universal human values that reflect the values of the State of Israel. Its educational efforts foster social involvement, Jewish-Israeli identity, democracy, helping others, friendship and comradeship, equality, love and protection of nature - all in the spirit of the Scout’s ten fundamental values.
The uniqueness of the Tzofim is its non-partisan character. The youth movement maintains its independence by not receiving support from any political party entity. Its financing is based on government support in accordance with the Youth Movements Regulation and the Service Year Regulation, as well as parent payments for participation in Tzofim activities. As a result, Tzofim members hail from the entire political spectrum, acting together and enjoying a diverse space of a plethora of opinions.
The tools and values which the Tzofim youth movement provides its members have produced generations of graduates who have held key positions in all fields of endeavor, taking on leadership roles out of a sense of mission.
The Tzofim youth movement has won numerous awards for its contribution to the advancement of Israeli society, including the Israel Prize (2007), a Certificate of Excellence from the Ministry of Public Security for its activities at Ofek Prison working with imprisoned youth (2019), and a ribbon of the Ministry of Justice Commission to the Hagshama (realization) Department for the activities of the integrating kommunot (plural of kommuna, refers to members of a Service Year living together) (2019).
