The Arnon Program:
Command Leadership in the IDF
The Arnon Command Leadership Program was founded in memory of Arnon Zmora z”l, a commander in Israel’s elite Yamam counterterrorism unit who fell in June 2024 while rescuing Israeli hostages from Gaza. His character — marked by humility, responsibility, courage, and deep humanity — serves as the guiding inspiration for a program dedicated to cultivating a new generation of commanders who lead people, not just missions.
In today’s reality, leadership is measured not only by mission success but also by the ability to preserve human resilience and team cohesion. The program seeks to instill a command culture that views people as an integral part of the mission itself. It emphasizes emotional intelligence, ethical decision-making, and the development of awareness, empathy, and integrity — as the foundation for stable, attentive, and responsible leadership.
Developed through a partnership between Michal Zmora, Shoresh Fund, and the Hoffman-Kofman Foundation, the program operates in small groups of commanders from Israel’s elite special forces units and other security agencies. Sessions are facilitated by instructors who are themselves veterans of these units.
The curriculum integrates daily mindfulness and breathing practices, peer dialogue, and lectures by leading experts from Israel and abroad. Together, these elements create an active community of graduates committed to applying the principles of holistic, human-centered leadership, in the military and beyond.
