Hodayot

Hodayot (Hebrew: הוֹדָיוֹת‎‎) (lit. "Thanksgiving") is a religious boarding school and youth village in the Lower Galilee, Israel. Hodayot was founded in May 1950.^[1]

The village is situated on the early site of Kibbutz Lavi, which moved half a kilometer eastward. It has 211 students, many of them of Ethiopian origin.^[2] One of the special tracks offered by the high school is a police studies program, with classes in criminology, sociology and crime-solving. ^[3] The school also has a life sciences and agriculture track. Medicinal herbs based on the teachings of Maimonides are grown in the school's greenhouses, and the students experiment with various composting techniques.

In addition to students, Hodayot has many Ethiopian helpers/workers. There are about 8 workers between the ages of 16-20, helping with the kitchen and around the village. The head worker, Sammy, has developed relationships with many students, and sets a great influence for young people. ^[4]

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