Choosing an Israel Program

1. Contact past participants so that they can give their opinion of the program. This is probably the most important tip. An hour of research can make the difference between a wonderful semester abroad and a disappointing one.
2. Look critically at what is being promised?
   1. Living Arrangements. Does “living in the community” mean an apartment in the city projects? Are these facilities well-kept-up? Is there a caretaker on-site?
   2. Work. What is the work experience? Do the participants have an opportunity to have a say in what their volunteer work will be? Does the tour operator receive the salary that the “volunteers” are earning, or it is a true volunteer opportunity/internship? Do participants “intern” at the company’s headquarters? That’s not interning – it’s indentured servitude.
   3. Free. Is it really a free program? What does the participant pay for? If the program is “free” but the participants pay for their food, does the program really end up costing less than a program where meals are taken care of?
   4. Deposit. In addition to the “free” program are participants expected to put down a deposit? What are the conditions for refunds? Are there deductions at the program provider’s discretion? For what? What happens if the participant decides that the program isn’t right for them? Do they loose their depost?
   5. Hebrew classes. How many? Four hours per day? Per week? Per semester?
   6. Hikes and trips.  Same question.
   7. Age group. What is the age range? How many 18-year-olds are hanging with 30-year-olds? How fun is that?

3.  Enjoy the PR pictures and videos and then start investigating.

1.Get names of past participants and contact them. The program provider should be able to provide names, but the best is if there is an alumni group or open group, such as Facebook which makes it possible to contact past participants at random. (This tip has been repeated – for a reason! It’s the best tip.)

2.  Look at the websites to see if there what kind of follow-up activities the program promotes.  Are there educational materials available for the participants’ use? Does the program put energies into encouraging continuing involvement after the program? Does the program maintain an alumni association? What is the percentage of alumni who join? Does the program continue to invest in participants who are no longer paying? An alumni association says “yes”.

4.    Think about what kind of Israel program will work best in each individual

case. Is the program one which stresses learning? Hiking? Volunteering? Spiritual

issues? Social justice? Environment? There are programs which integrate all of

these elements – is the program that is being researched one of them?

The large variety of Israel programs available today allows people with limited resources and tenuous Jewish connections to enjoy Israel and feel a part of the Jewish experience.  It is the responsibility of each potential participant to actively research the programs to find the one that fits for them.

For more information about Israel Experience Programs for 20somethings contact Livnot's To  Build and Be Built Tzfat Program.