THE HISTORY OF ISRAELI NON-FORMAL EDUCATION, 1920-2000 Dimensions Drawn from the Past

The aims of this study are (a) to survey the existing theories of non-formal education (NFE) and their deficiencies, (b) to present a concise historical survey of Zionist-Israeli NFE, and (c) to summarize the research in brief, including additional dimensions derived from the Zionist-Israeli case. The seven dilemmas that are drawn and their continua of recommended solutions encompass the following: (1) a combined model of complementary, supplementary, and alternative NFE; (2) different but mixed age groups; (3) an emphasis on NFE community-centered activities combined with youth programs; (4) responsibility sharing among local institutions and various corporations and associations; (5) personnel ranging from professional to young volunteer leaders; (6) school and out-of-school activities; and (7) non-formal activities within formal, non-formal, and mixed frameworks. The overall contribution of this article is in detailing the central role of NFE in shaping nationality via national education.