What is Hazana in Israeli kindergarten?

You've finally figured out the gan (kindergarten) registration, sorted the forms, and started looking into lunch boxes. Then someone mentions "hazana" and you're nodding along like you know exactly what that means.

If just like the rest of us, you had never heard this term before your kids enrolled in Kindergarten, here’s everything you need to know about Hazana:

What exactly is hazana?

Hazana (הזנה) means "feeding" or "nutrition" in Hebrew. In the context of gan, it refers to the shared breakfast program where the gan staff prepare food for all the children to eat together.

Here's the thing that surprises most new parents: Israeli Kindergarten (ages 3+) don't automatically provide food. Hazana is a separate arrangement, and it's worth understanding before you accidentally send your kid in with a packed lunchbox that never gets opened.

How Hazana works

Parents pay a set yearly fee at the start of the school year. The gan then uses that money to buy ingredients: bread or pita, healthy spreads, fresh vegetables, and fruit. Every day, the staff then prepares a simple, balanced breakfast for all the kids together every morning.

It's a communal meal, not a catering delivery. In many ganim, kids even help prepare the table or clean up afterwards, which is part of the experience.

What's on the menu?

The aruchat eser (ארוחת עשר, literally "ten o'clock meal") is usually served between 9 and 10am, well before the kids' main lunch which is typically around 2pm. A typical spread looks something like this:

• Pita or bread with hummus, tahini, labneh, or cheese

• Fresh-cut cucumber, tomato, peppers, or carrots

• Seasonal fruit

It’s simple, healthy, and very Israeli.

Is Hazana mandatory?

Not at all, and this is where things vary. Hazana is not automatically provided at every gan. Whether it exists at yours depends on:

• The kindergarten's teaching staff (some teachers suggest doing it, others don’t)

• The local municipality or education department

• The level of parent interest and participation

Some ganim organize it every year, while others prefer that each family sends food from home.

How much does hazana cost?

The fee is set once a year and is typically around 1,000 NIS per child (roughly 5 NIS per school day), though this varies by city and by kindergarten. The cost covers groceries for the full year, so there's no monthly invoice to track, and no lunchbox to pack on the way out the door.

Allergies and dietary needs

If your child has a food allergy or intolerance, the good news is that Israeli ganim tend to take this seriously. If a child in the group has a significant allergy (for example, dairy or sesame), the gan will avoid buying that ingredient for the entire group. This makes mealtime safer and simpler for everyone.

That said, every gan handles this differently, so tell the staff clearly and in writing at the start of the year (don’t assume it was covered in the registration form) and ask how the gan handles allergies during meals.

In most public ganim, Hazana is typically kosher, which means no mixing of meat and dairy and food prepared under rabbinical supervision.

Why some parents love Hazana

Beyond just being convenient, Hazana has some real advantages. First, it's one less thing to think about before 8am. But more than that, kids tend to eat better when they're eating together: when everyone around you is having cucumber and hummus, you have cucumber and hummus. Peer influence at this age is quietly powerful, and many kids try foods in gan that they'd flatly refuse at home. There's also something genuinely lovely about the communal aspect and all the little ones sharing a meal.

Final thoughts

Ask your Gan if Hazana is an option at the start of the year, flag any allergies in writing, and you should be all set. And if you'd like to feel fully prepared for Gan in Israel, we'd love to see you in one of our programs! Browse our upcoming in-person events or explore our online workshops designed specifically for parents in Israel ✌️