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Lindsay Litowitz, Livnot Journey
 As a student of international relations at the University of Florida, Lindsay remembers envying her peers who planned to return home after graduation and work in their ancestral communities. “But you can do that too,” a friend from Sierra Leone said. “Go to Israel.”
After a Taglit-Birthright Israel trip stirred Lindsay’s “Israel kick,” as her mother calls it, Lindsay did not need further convincing. She chose to participate on Livnot U’Lehibanot’s Five-Month Program because she was interested in hiking and community service, and wanted to learn about her religious heritage.
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. “We all learned so much from each other and about ourselves through our interpersonal relationships and our interaction with Judaism,” says Lindsay.
During their five months in Israel, Lindsay’s 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.
After the Livnot program ended, Lindsay stayed in Israel for an additional three months, enrolled in an intensive Hebrew Ulpan course and rented an apartment with a friend from Livnot. “I was in the middle of a real love affair with Israel and I just didn’t want to leave,” Lindsay remembers.
When Lindsay returned to the United States, she set out to do just as she had planned—and began to work amongst her people. In addition to opening South Florida’s Birthright NEXT office and serving as its Director, Lindsay led the first Birthright NEXT trip to the Ukraine and founded the Four Corners Project, a film series and website exploring young Jews' identity in Diaspora communities around the world (fourcornersproject.org).
“Before experiencing Israel on Livnot, I didn’t understand the big picture of what it meant to be Jewish,” says Lindsay. “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.”
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Michael Rosenbaum, Career Israel
 As a Chicagoan with undergraduate and graduate degrees in biology, Michael Rosenbaum decided to go to Israel to explore possible career paths in the sciences. On the Masa Israel-accredited internship program, Career Israel, he was able to take part in a cutting-edge research project at Tel Aviv University and stay up-to-date in the field while applying for a masters degree in science high school education.
"After staffing a Birthright trip after college, I realized that I wanted to return to Israel in order to deepen my connection to Israel and gain work experience. Israel, a leader in scientific innovation, turned out to be the best place to do this," says Michael.
On Career Israel, a five-month internship program for young adults, he took part in research at the Anatomy and Anthropology Department at Tel Aviv University. There he worked with Dr. Gregory Livshits, whose work revolves around the genetics of human skeletal development.
Months after Career Israel's completion, he is still in regular contact with Dr. Livshits as they continue to collaborate through writing a scientific paper detailing their research.
Now, Michael is enrolled in DePaul University's science high school teaching certification program. He stays connected to his Jewish identity in part through the campus Hillel. Not only did Career Israel inspire Michael to stay connected to the Jewish community, but it has also helped him further his professional goals.
Michael Rosenbaum is from Chicago and earned his Bachelor’s degree from Kenyon College in Bio-Anthropology and received his Master of Science degree in Cancer Biology from Georgetown University. Career Israel was his sixth time in Israel, and he is now using the knowledge and skills he gained while in Israel to pursue a teaching degree in the biological sciences.
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Rebecca Karp, Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies
 Following her graduation from the University of Pennsylvania, Rebecca Karp was not ready to plunge into the world of graphic design, her main academic focus. Instead, she chose to further pursue her extracurricular interests through study at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, a pluralistic co-ed yeshiva in Jerusalem.
At Pardes, Rebecca found the tools she needed to explore her Jewish identity which had never been fully articulated.
Surrounded by individuals from all Jewish affiliations at Pardes, Rebecca could study in an environment that actively encouraged constant questioning and reflection. “The critical thinking and story-telling, the opportunity to learn why we do the things we do and where laws come from—it affected my everyday sensibilities,” Rebecca says of her learning experience at Pardes. “I don’t have separate ethical and Jewish values. I live my life according to Jewish values.”
During her time in Jerusalem, Rebecca discovered an open and engaged community that extended well beyond the classroom. Instead of serving as mere springboards for each other’s ideas and beliefs, students provided one another with support and mutual understanding. During Thanksgiving, a time of homesickness for many American students, Rebecca prepared a meal for 16 religiously diverse female students in her apartment’s kosher kitchen. “There were women in short skirts, long skirts, pants, and shorts,” Rebecca recalls. “And we had all come to Israel with a common goal: to learn.”
Upon her return to the United States, Rebecca began looking for jobs in graphic design, but her heart yearned for something more. When she landed the job as assistant director of the American Jewish Committee’s Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey chapter, she was thrilled. The opportunity, which includes working with different ethnic groups in the United States to promote mutual cultural education, allows Rebecca to instill the values of understanding and openness, so central to her Pardes experience, in her own community.
Upon her return from Israel, Rebecca also sought to create a Jewish community similar to that which existed at Pardes. She began a Moishe House in Philadelphia, where she lives with several other Jewish post-college individuals who create Jewish-themed events for young adults in the area. Jews from all backgrounds and denominations attend the events.
Looking back, Rebecca believes that her work in the Jewish community was inevitable. “But without Pardes, I couldn’t have gotten there,” she says.
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 My inspiration mostly comes from working, and from conversations with people that have interesting things to say. Being in Israel/the Middle East, of course, provides a great amount of visual stimulation - patterns in the rock look like things I've been painting for years, as though I had remembered them from a past life or something, and seeing that makes me want to paint more.
The city is loud, and dirty, and crammed with stuff and people, and the desert is quiet and expansive. The intensity of politics and culture is monumental. When you can't understand a language it's just sounds and shapes - It's never-ending here. But I never really believed in waiting for inspiration from things like that, they help, no doubt, they are all part of what you think about everyday. But it turns out my inspiration mostly comes from working, from seeing what happens, and from conversations with people that have interesting things to say.
How did you hear about this WUJS Israel program?
When I would daydream about the future I would often search the internet for Israel programs, and this one jumped out at me because of the art program, which I hadn't found elsewhere. Find out more @ Masa: WUJS Arts Program
What are your goals for this WUJS Arts program?
I hope to get a lot. I hope to gain some focus in my work and personal growth, I hope to get a firm grasp on the Hebrew language, I hope to spend some (more) time in the desert, and develop relationships with people who I can learn from and who can learn from me.
What opportunities are taking advantage of while on the Arts program in Jerusalem?
A group of us went to the Tel Aviv Museum of Art for the opening of the Sigalit Landau show, that was fantastic. The museum is beautiful and the work was stunning. There have also been other street fairs and concerts in Jerusalem; free jazz at the Yellow Submarine, there is always something, its great.
What type of work will you display at the WUJS Arts final exhibit?
I paint and draw so my work will consist mainly of 2D pieces, but I've started to work with very basic video, just a little. So that might work its way in.
What classes are you taking while in the Arts program?
Besides Ulpan, I'm taking a course on Kabbalah and our Art class, Art and Israel. Both are great and I wish I had them twice as often. I didn't previously know very much about Israeli art and art history and Ofra's lectures, speakers, activities, etc - metzuyan.
What did your friends say when you told them about your plan to come to Israel?
I don't really have any Jewish friends in Chicago, so there was definitely more to explain and more reassuring to do regarding safety. In general though, they thought it was really cool and wouldn't shut up about it.
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Erin Zimmerman, Career Israel
 Raised on Long Island, New York with a Jewish American father and an Israeli mother, Erin Zimmerman always thought of Israel as the distant land where her relatives lived. Though Zimmerman partook in the requisite family trip to Israel each year, the Hebrew words she heard spoken all around her remained void of all meaning.
Israel held no special appeal for Erin until she took a vacation from her involvement in the music business and returned to her mother’s childhood home to spend a few weeks with cousins her age. “Suddenly, I was able to see a different side of Israel—what it means to live there as a young person and what an incredible environment it is for people in their twenties,” she says.
Upon her return to New York, Zimmerman decided that she needed to experience the young professional’s life in Israel. Through the Masa Israel accredited program, Career Israel, she found an internship in the marketing department at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya and lived with other young Jewish professionals from the United States, Canada, Argentina, Belarus, Chile, Brazil, England, and Australia.
“It was a great to be able to live in Israel with other Jews from around the world, to share what it means to be Jewish in each of our home countries, and to experience—together—the country that exists for each of us—while enjoying its beautiful weather and wonderful nightlife,” Erin says.
Back in New York, Erin decided to change career paths and became a recruiter for Young Judaea’s Israel programs.
“In my job, I help other young people have wonderful experiences that are similar to my own,” Erin says. “In America, being Jewish puts you into a separate category from everyone else. But spending time in Israel gives you a chance to see yourself as part of the bigger picture. Everyone should take advantage of that opportunity.”
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 After spending 10 years working in business and leadership development and helping companies manage their equity compensation, Tom Johanix felt that it was time to engage in more spiritual pursuits. Tom decided to spend the year in Jerusalem studying at the Masa Israel-accredited program at the Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies.
Aside from allowing Tom to study Jewish texts and discuss topics of Jewish thought that were new to him, Tom considered the Jewish life that he wanted to lead. "Living in Jerusalem in a Jewish community provides people with the opportunity to step outside their day-to-day life experiences to study Torah and think about what is really important,"
Tom says.
As the months progressed, Tom thought about pursuing a career change that would allow him to make Judaism and Israel the focuses of his life.
"Before Pardes, I thought a good life involved starting a company, making money, and giving some tzedaka," Tom says. "But during the year at Pardes, I realized that serving other people should be at the core of my actions, and not simply their end result." Tom ultimately decided that a position with AIPAC would enable him to best leverage his professional skills.
This summer, upon his return from Israel, Tom became AIPAC's South Bay Area Director.
"Spending a year in Israel gave me an intimate connection to Israel and its people," Tom says. "They were no longer just theoretical. They became my friends and family. I became concerned for their safety and well-being and passionate about strengthening American-Israeli relations."
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Josh Tolkan, Kibbutz Lotan Green Apprenticeship
 After graduating from Carleton College in Minnesota with a concentration in environmental and technology studies, Josh Tolkan was interested in gaining hands-on ecological experience and seeing Israel. On the Masa Israel Journey-accredited Green Apprenticeship program on Kibbutz Lotan, he was able to explore the fields of permaculture and natural building.
Combining practical study with hands-on projects, Josh learned about permaculture gardening and sustainable natural building, and took part in building the first geodesic dome in Kibbutz Lotan’s Green Apprenticeship neighborhood.
After earning a Masters degree in urban planning with a certificate in metropolitan design from the University of Minnesota, Josh got a job with AmeriCorps’ Project for Pride in Living, a nonprofit which addresses poverty and low-income housing in the Twin Cities.
There, Josh work on a variety of projects, including several landscaping initiatives, redesigning poorly engineered storm water ponds that look like mud pits into beautiful natural amenities, and planting gardens with nonpolluting native plants in the new “Eco-Village,” a neighborhood which is stricken with foreclosed vacant homes.
From his experience on Masa’s program at Kibbutz Lotan, Josh hopes to bring the value of tikkun olam, or seeking to repair the world, back to the states and incorporate them into his work.
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Esther Phillips, WUJS Intern Tel Aviv
 Living in Tel Aviv on the WUJS program has been a great experience for me. Tel Aviv is a fun and bustling city to live in with a lot of young people, art and culture. The WUJS program provides the framework for living here and getting the most out of our Israel experience. The weekly siyurs help educate us about the history and current political issues in Israel, while also allowing us to explore different parts of the country. Group activities within Tel Aviv such as going to see concerts, theatre, movie nights etc. are also a definite bonus. The thing I like the most about the program is that it gives participants freedom to experience Israel in a way that is not overly structured. I have formed many close friendships with other participants and Israeli's that I am sure will last a lifetime. This in itself has made the experience on WUJS worthwhile.
Oleh! Records is an independent, non for profit record company operating out of Tel Aviv, Israel. This organization promotes and supports young talented Israeli musicians by helping them get discovered abroad. All of the artists signed by Oleh! Records sing in English in order to reach a wider audience. Oleh! supports modern youth culture and artists with alternative music styles, representing ambassadors for Israel. We want Israel to be seen as the modern country it is with a happening music scene, art and culture instead of through the skewed perception that negative media coverage often portrays.
What were you doing before you came here?
I studied Fashion Business at Seneca College in Toronto. This concentrates on the business side of the fashion industry in areas such as buying/merchandising, management, sales, product development, and marketing. Before this I studied fashion design at The International Academy of Design where I had hands on experience constructing garments and learning how to put together a fashion line.
How did you hear about this WUJS Israel program?
A friend of mine researched the program for herself and then told me about it. She is on the program as well.
What responsibilities will you have during this internship?
My main role is to work on the development of a fashion label (Oleh!) that will help further brand and bring awareness to the organization. I am working alongside graphic designers to create a hip streetwear line (made up of graphic printed teeshirts, hoodies, and other accessories) influenced by Tel Aviv street art and the music scene in Israel. I develop the framework for the line and also help pitch it to potential retailers with a written business proposal. My other responsibilities apart from the fashion line are directly related to promoting the record company and its artists. I help update media online media portals such as the main website, facebook, twitter and My Space. I have also been involved in viral marketing campaigns (spread through youtube and email) and have helped organize and promote educational workshops for musicians in Tel Aviv. I work closely with group of other interns and often get to be involved with their individual projects related to viral marketing promotions, sponsorship and event planning. We all bounce ideas off one another and it's a great working environment.
What are your goals for this internship program?
My initial goal was to gain valuable experience in product development and marketing. Furthermore, I am excited about developing a fashion line for a worthy organization, linking fashion with music and further branding Oleh! Records abroad.
Have you had any difficulty settling in?
No. I have actually adjusted fairly well considering the cultural differences and the distance from home. I think that living with roommates who I've become good friends with and being in a program with other participants makes a big difference.
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Kassandra Grunewald, OTZMA
 Raised in a Minnesotan town with a small Jewish population, Judaism was a peripheral part of Kassandra Grunewald’s life. “My Jewish friends and my daily friends were always separate. They were two different sides of me,” she said.
With a large Jewish population as its main appeal, Kassandra enrolled in Boston University, becoming active in the Hillel and taking multiple Jewish courses. After graduation, Kassandra joined the Masa Israel accredited OTZMA program to work and volunteer in Israel, where she believed she could continue leading a Jewish life.
During the internship stage of the program, Kassandra lived in Tel Aviv and worked for businesswoman Galia Albin on a project called, Live Hatikva. Albin envisioned a broadcast in which a record-breaking number of Jews in Israel and around the world would sing Hatikva at a specific time on Israel’s 60th Independence Day. The initiative was meant to unite Jews in Israel and around the world in celebration of Israel, to revive the national anthem’s words, and to make it into the Guinness Book of World Records. Kassandra coordinated this event in Jewish communities throughout the English-speaking world.
At the end of her nine months with OTZMA, Kassandra decided to continue her work for Live Hatikva.
“I’m not that religious, but Israeli culture is one of closeness, of family. People on the street will tell you to use their cell phone and will try to lend you money,” she said. “And, if I haven’t had enough of Israel for the year, then it makes sense to stay.”
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Becka Treister, Oranim Community Involvement
 Dentist, needles, scolding hot soup, leaving your life at home and moving to Israel for five months. These all seem like scary things, but if they are seen as part of your life's journey, you will emerge with smiles... and in some cases even a lollipop.
Take me. I'm a 23-year-old Miami native who left the South Beach sun to spend four years in the snow-covered corn fields of Bloomington, Indiana. By graduation, I, like many of my friends, had no idea what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. One year into graduate school, I decided I took the wrong path. Through a friend I learned about Oranim's Israel program and within months I had landed in Ramla. At first, I was apprehensive. I had heard mixed things about Ramla, but after driving down the main street that first day, I realized it was just like most towns in Israel. A gym, a great shuk (including a wonderful Arab shuk only on Wednesdays), a 6-shekel Falafel stand, and apparently, the best hummus in Israel. No, there is not a decent mall, or a beach, or even a movie theater, but who comes to a foreign country for that reason? Besides, Tel Aviv is only a short ride away, and there are plenty of neighboring towns with all the things lacking in Ramla. But what Ramla does come with is easy walking because it is a cozy, small city full of amazing sights, sounds and experiences.
And, with the diverse participants that Oranim selected for my group, even hanging out in our house is fun (as I write this, I am sitting with my roommates watching movies, drinking wine, and playing games)! My group, Ramla 25, also got lucky, because as we came to Ramla another Oranim group was already half-way finished with their program, and eager to show us the ropes. We all quickly became friends, and some of us even found romance!
Since all of us are different, we clearly have different interests in our choice of volunteer activities. While people in my program spend their time working at the local high schools helping to teach English, or in the Arab Kadima (an afterschool program to keep kids off the street), the senior center, the soup kitchen, and even the animal shelter, I am one of the very few that gets to spend my time with younger children. Three to four days a week, I work at an after-school kindergarten, and in the morning, I help out at an elementary school in the English classes. My fifth day is spent at the daycare center, dealing with children as young as 10 months. Don't get me wrong -- not all of the participants are as happy as I am, but as I think about it, you get out of it what you put into it. Sometimes, you are not needed, and it is your decision to leave your activity... or you can find some other way to help.
Knowing some Hebrew is helpful (even though I am nowhere near fluent), because few people in Ramla speak English. Although on the plus side anyone who does know English ALWAYS wants to speak it so they can improve. Our group started with a two week intensive Ulpan, where we quickly learned enough to manage our way, and as soon as we started our volunteer work, we continued to meet twice a week to learn the Hebrew language. I can honestly say I've learned a lot, but I am also one of the ones who have tried, attempted to go to all my classes and bring in completed homework.
We are lucky to have a wonderful coordinator who is there for our every need and doing anything he can to find a solution to any problem we have, and most of all, he makes sure we are always smiling. If by the last day I'm not smiling, at least I will pray for a Spiderman lollipop!
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| Meet Masa Alumni |
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| Alumni Testimonials |
 As a Chicagoan with degrees in biology, Michael Rosenbaum decided to go to Israel to explore possible career paths in the sciences. On the Masa Israel-accredited internship program, Career Israel, he was able to take part in a cutting-edge research project at Tel Aviv University and stay up-to-date in the field while applying for a masters degree in science high school education.
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