What’s Cooking at the
Galilee Culinary Institute by JNF
A journey through culinary innovation, creativity, and a vision changing Israel’s future.
It’s Happening…
A Word from Chairman Steve Dabrow
The Galilee Culinary Institute by JNF, featuring the Rosenfield School of Culinary Arts, is elevating the Upper Galilee into a global center for culinary excellence, tourism, economic growth, and population expansion.
The week of January 18, 2026 marked the soft opening of our first building and demo kitchen, the culmination of nine years of strategic planning and vision. The Executive Committee convened in Kiryat Shmona to discuss strategy, meet with partners, tour the facility, and get the very first taste of GCI by JNF at our inaugural dinner.
With the appointment of new Head Chef Ran Pollak, the Institute will provide an exceptional range of foods that defines our culinary identity. From truffles from the Golan Heights to rainbow trout from the Dan River and in-house products like flours and beers, the Institute will reshape the conversation around Israel’s culinary scene.
We also focused on what’s ahead: refining budgets, mapping our six-month soft opening, advancing recruitment of Israeli students for the inaugural cohort, and laying the groundwork for welcoming international students. Planning is now underway, with a gradual, thoughtful approach to opening.
Significant funding opportunities remain for our first and second buildings, as well as for scholarships offering meaningful legacy opportunities.
For details or donor introductions, please contact Lee Lebovich, llebovich@jnf.org; Reagan Weil, rweil@jnf.org; or Michael Feinman, mfeinman@jnf.org. We are also happy to arrange meetings with any member of the GCI by JNF Executive Committee so you can join the journey!
What the Executive Committee is Saying
Before my arrival, all I had was a dream and a vision. After spending time at GCI, the dream has come true. I’m like a child waiting for Hanukkah to open presents as I await the opening of our restaurant and school. - Steve Rosenfield
From all our conversations with community leaders, academics, business owners and entrepreneurs, many if not most are looking at the GCI for inspiration and as an anchor partner for “growing the North.” - Lester Weiss
GCI was never meant to be just a school. It was envisioned as a catalyst—connecting education, agriculture, food innovation, hospitality, tourism, and entrepreneurship to create dignity through work and real, long-term opportunity. Now, in 2026, that vision is becoming real—and I was there to witness it. - Sheryl Buchholtz
This was my fourth visit, and with each visit, the dream has become more and more palpable. Now it is no longer a dream, but a full-on reality. This facility is nothing short of first-class, and the possibilities for its function are really endless. - Orlee Panitch
Watch a short recap here:
In the Kitchen with Chef Ran Pollak
With more than 30 years of global culinary experience—including training at The Culinary Institute of America and work in leading kitchens in New York and Boston—Chef Pollak brings a philosophy rooted in clarity, restraint, and storytelling through ingredients.
“GCI is an amazing opportunity to create real impact,” he said. “What excites me most is not just cooking great food, but helping develop thinking chefs—people who understand their ingredients, their costs, their culture, and their responsibility to the place they’re in.”
The developing menu reflects his ethos: food that is deeply connected to the land, and in this case, shaped by the Galilee’s farmers, seasons, and cultures.
“In Israel, it’s about time that world-class institutions exist in the North and the South—not only in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem. Culture, education, and opportunity should be everywhere.”
Building an Ecosystem for the Galilee
At our soft opening, we welcomed mayors from across the Galilee and Golan regions to tour the new facility and see our vision for its completion. We also met with regional partners and tourism leaders, including the University of Kiryat Shmona, Margalit Start-Up City Galil, Kiryat Shmona Medical Center, and Migal Farms.
Our work with them will solidify GCI by JNF as the Galilee’s hub for tourism and job creation, encouraging individuals and families to find opportunities and create thriving communities across a region full of potential. This is the essence of our circles of impact, and our way of bringing a higher quality of life for locals and newcomers alike.
Next Steps: The Game Plan
1. Our Offerings
We are looking to open in late April/early May with the following activities weekly:
Two chef demos
Two hands-on workshops
30 diners per day in the restaurant, Monday through Thursday
Our goal is to solidify menus, food prices, and a reservation system before Passover of this year.
2. Staffing
In addition to welcoming a new head chef, we have hired Benny Dagan as Facilities Manager to oversee day-to-day campus needs, and Anna Ovadia as Sales and Business Development Manager to drive tourism collaborations, support corporate events and business dinners, and promote our programs throughout Israel. We are currently scaling up our maintenance, kitchen, and farm staff.
3. Jewish National Fund-USA Trips and Missions
Our first priority is to create delicious, fun, and meaningful experiences of our upcoming trips. Be an ambassador to GCI by JNF!
Investing in the Next Generation of Chefs
As we prepare to welcome our first students, a critical need remains: $40,000 per student in scholarship funds must be raised to bring the best and brightest to GCI by JNF, regardless of financial ability.
This investment is about more than education. It is about shaping Israel’s future workforce, strengthening the North, and cultivating ambassadors for Israeli culinary excellence around the world.
Join the Journey. Submit your name and email to learn more about GCI, upcoming milestones, and how you can play a role in building Israel’s next great institution.
With gratitude,
Steve Dabrow
Chairman, Galilee Culinary Institute Executive Committee
The Galilee Culinary Institute by Jewish National Fund‑USA is part of the organization’s bold vision to attract 800,000 new residents to Israel’s North and South—building today, strengthening tomorrow, and shaping Israel’s future through lasting impact.