Masa Programs Provide Many Israel Experiences
Do you know someone between the ages of 18 and 30 who is looking for the opportunity to live and work in Israel for five to 12 months? Masa Israel Journey is an umbrella organization of long-term programs in Israel that receives funding from the Annual Greater Miami Jewish Federation/UJA Campaign. Read how two such programs provided life-changing experiences for two young women, and how you can learn more about these and other exciting options.
Mimi and the Medical Track
After spending a summer at the Alexander Muss High School in Israel – a Federation-funded program – Miami-area student Mimi Weisberg decided she needed to return to Israel for a year. Following high school graduation, she enrolled in Young Judaea Year Course’s Medical Track.
“I liked having the opportunity to both live in Israel and be exposed to medicine,” she said. “Not only would I stay goal-oriented, but I knew it would be a rewarding experience.”
Mimi took part in an intensive Magen David Adom ambulance service training and then volunteered as an EMT. “There’d be moments where I’d find myself with an elderly person in my arms and I’d have to act fast,” she said. “It was an incredible adrenaline rush and I learned a lot.”
In the middle of the year, Mimi moved to Holon, where she volunteered at a public school, teaching English to sixth-graders. Toward the end of the year, she moved to Jerusalem and shadowed American and Israeli doctors in a wide variety of units at a hospital.
When she returned to Florida as a pre-med major at the University of South Florida, she founded a Jewish-interest sorority, sponsored Shabbat meals at Hillel, hosted a holiday event, and served as a youth advisor at a Tampa synagogue. Set to graduate in May with a degree in biomedical sciences and a minor in public health, she is currently applying to medical school. Next summer, she plans to take her mother to Israel – the first time in 40 years her mother will return to the birthplace of her own mother.
Lindsay and Livnot Journey
With a passion for Israel ignited by a Taglit-Birthright Israel trip and a degree in International Relations from the University of Florida, Miami’s Lindsay Litowitz chose to participate in Livnot Journey’s five-month program in Israel.
While living with 10 other Jewish young adults from North America, Lindsay learned Hebrew, built relationships with her neighbors, and explored the country with other newcomers. The group spent extended periods of time bringing food to needy populations in Jerusalem and organizing games for children at the Ethiopian absorption center in Tzfat. They also had the opportunity to hike throughout the country and to share Jewish experiences with North American families who had made aliyah.
“Before experiencing Israel on Livnot, I didn’t understand the big picture of what it meant to be Jewish,” Lindsay said. “I’m really grateful to Livnot for teaching me basic Jewish concepts, giving me a real appreciation for being Jewish and empowering me to pass it on to other people.”
Upon returning from Livnot, Lindsay has devoted her professional career to “infusing new flavors into Jewish life, with a focus on networks, community-building and engagement.” Now based in New York and Jerusalem, she is currently working on the first TEDxJerusalem to be held this November.
Learn More
Livnot Journey and Young Judaea Year Course are just two of many options available to Jewish adults under the age of 30 through Masa Israel Journey. Another program, Career Israel, accepts college and university graduates from around the world, and offers internships in both the private and public sectors in virtually every field. Through Masa, participants can live in Israel for up to 12 months while gaining valuable work, volunteer or study experiences.
Federation is committed to supporting a wide range of Israel opportunities that enrich lives and strengthen ties with Israel. To learn more about Israel experience programs – and to find the program that is right for you or someone you know – click here or contact Tara Stiel, Federation’s Israel Programs Coordinator, at [email protected] or 786.866.8458.
