Tzahala is a national long-term mentoring program for young, at-risk people, founded in 1992 by Brigadier General Ran Pekker. The program built participants’ sense of self-worth and self-belief, encouraged them to choose meaningful national service, and supported them through their coming-of-age.
It offered both group and individual support: groups of mentees met weekly with volunteers from military command or education backgrounds, who also served as personal mentors through a process spanning three years. The program included workshops, “peak days”, values-focused activities, and individual support throughout the process.
From the 2025-26 academic year, responsibility for the Tzahala program was handed to the Erech LaDerech nonprofit, which continues to implement the model developed over the years at Aluma.