Social work education in Israel

The article starts with a brief description of the evolution of the social work profession in Israel. Israel’s cultural diversity, its unique composition and history, and the enduring hostilities between Israel and its neighbours have, and still are, influencing social work practice in the nation and differentiate it from other Western countries. While the pedagogical framework of instruction is derived from the American literature, Israel is increasingly developing courses that are unique to the region. Though a multicultural approach to instruction is stressed upon, studies indicate that social work students need special training on culturally sensitive social work to address issues of racism, multiculturalism and psychosocial intervention in conflict-ridden zones when working with clients from different upbringings both in clinical and non-clinical settings.