Welcome to the Masa Israel Journey Forum (Read me first!)

If you didn’t already know, Masa is the Hebrew word for “journey”. Masa Israel is a public service organization that provides experiences from 6 weeks - 12 months for young people in Israel. Since Masa Israel Journey was founded in 2004, over 110 000 young Jewish people between the ages of 18 and 30 have participated in the Masa Israel programs. Masa Israel offers a diverse range of programs, from study to living in remote Israel communities. Programs include: Teaching In Israel: Contribute to the future success of Israeli children by teaching them essential English in a 10-month program. Gap Year: Volunteer during your gap year in one of four Year of Service programs. Study in Israel: Choose from many study programs from a semester abroad to a master’s degree. Immerse yourself in Israel culture while improving your education. Internships: Masa places Jewish university students into 4-6 month programs with leading Israeli companies and government organizations. There are many opportunities available through Masa, so have a look at their programs on their website and you’ll be sure to find something that sparks your interest: www.masaisrael.org/ The Masa Israel Journey Forum is your place to share your Masa experiences with young people considering taking a journey with Masa, your place to ask questions or offer advice so that more young people are equipped with the information they need to take their journeys. There are many branches of the Masa program, and people considering experiencing one of these would be grateful to hear about the experiences of other Jewish people. You can use this forum to post an overview of the program that you partook in. In the title let us know what type of program you attended and when you were there, for example “Overview of my 2016 Study in Israel experience” or “The best parts of my experience in a Summer Leadership program in 2018”. Share with others the process of applying for this journey and what you enjoyed about it and what it was really like. You can also offer tips or advice of things you wished you knew before going on your trip. If you are considering applying to one of the programs offered by Masa, use this forum to read about other people’s experiences and ask them questions. People love to share their knowledge and stories, so don’t be afraid to ask! If you don’t find any recent forum posts about the type of program you are looking at, put up a general post asking anyone if they have done it. You can also ask questions about different cities or districts in Israel, Masa also offers scholarships and grants as financial assistance in partnership with the government of Israel and The Jewish Agency for Israel. If you are in a situation where you are in need of financial aid for this journey, you can use this forum to put yourself in contact with other people who have successfully applied for these grants and learn from their experience. You can even get them to read over parts of your application (remember to be safe online and consider your privacy when sharing personal information at your own risk). Taking a journey to Israel for education, work experience, volunteering or to immerse yourself in Israel's vibrant culture is a wonderful opportunity worth taking. We hope this forum will encourage young people to step outside their comfort zone and apply for a program with Masa. Make sure you post on this forum if you are considering doing a program or have already participated in a program and want others to share in this life-changing opportunity.