Help me give young Jewish adults the journey of a lifetime…and create future leaders and advocates for Israel!

“Dicen que viajando se fortalece el corazón…” y cuando decidí emprender un largo viaje, no dudé que sea a Israel. Gracias a Masá y el programa LejLejá elegí pasar mis 6 meses en Israel haciendo una pasantía en ASSAF, una organización que ayuda a los solicitantes de asilo y refugiados africanos. Una experiencia que definitivamente marcó mi vida y mi manera de pensar. Durante 6 meses compartí mi día a día con niños, jóvenes y adultos de Sudán y Eritrea en su mayoría, con los que pasaba horas jugando y charlando de sus intereses, bailando hip hop y aprendiendo palabras en árabe que ellos me enseñaban, o acompañándolos a turnos médicos, a entrevistas de trabajo, a buscar una vivienda, para ayudarlos en su inserción social. Además de mi pasantía, viví mi día a día como una verdadera “Telavivit”: me sumé al grupo de danzas folclóricas israelíes de la Universidad de Tel Aviv; estudiaba hebreo en el Ulpán Gordon; disfruté de correr y caminar por la bella “taielet” (costanera); iba cada semana con Deby, mi “shutafá” y hoy gran amiga, al Shuk Hacarmel a hacer las compras; y todos los fines de semana había un plan distinto: una salida divertida con otros amigos que vivían en Beit Leni (albergue estudiantil donde vivíamos), una visita a la casa de mi familia en Modiin, un viaje al sur con el grupo de LejLejá. Fueron los 6 meses más intensos e inolvidables de mi vida!

About this Campaign

There are over 600 future leaders who have applied to Masa for 2017 but who we expect to be waitlisted due to lack of scholarship funding. For many, this will be the only opportunity to experience Israel the way that I did—to work as interns, study at universities, or volunteer—and become the future leaders and advocates they hope to be.

What is a Masa Israel Journey?

Every year, thousands of young professionals from around the world go on a journey (“masa”) to Israel. There, they experience the country and the people on a personal, educational, and professional level.

Each participant’s journey is unique, with many options to help them pursue the things that matter most to them. Masa offers internships, summer programs, professional training, coding bootcamps, gap-year programs, study abroad and advanced degrees, volunteer programs, and, for those from emerging market countries, aliyah interest programs. Most importantly, participants develop deep ties to each other and an unbreakable bond with Israel.

That’s why so many alumni like me have volunteered to be ambassadors for this campaign! 

How Will This Money Be Used?

We plan to raise $360,000 in order to bring as many participants on the waiting list as possible. We are starting with our family—you—a grassroots step toward our larger goal.

Every dollar and shekel donated will go directly to helping a young Jewish adult experience Israel. (If we surpass our goal, all additional funds will be used for next year’s applicants!)

A Few Statistics I’m Proud to Share

I personally know that this program works! Over 120,000 participants like me, from 60 countries around the world have gone on a Masa Israel Journey. Here are just a few highlights of the impact it has had on us, long after we’ve completed our journeys:

• 2x as likely to take on leadership roles in their communities
• 3x more attached to Israel than their peers who did not participate
• 70% form long-term close bonds with new friends in Israel
• Over 80% have a desire to improve Israel’s image when they return to their country or campus