Every year, thousands of Jews set out to explore, live, volunteer, serve, or study in Israel — but finding the right program can be overwhelming. This is a living, community-built directory to help you find what actually fits you.
Every year, thousands of Jews — mostly from America — set out to explore, live, volunteer, serve, or study in Israel. But finding the right program, community, or path can be overwhelming: too many options, scattered information, and no easy way to know what actually fits you.
This is a living, community-built directory of programs across Israel — gap years, yeshivot, seminaries, army service tracks, volunteer opportunities, and more. It's built and maintained by the people who've actually done these programs, so the details stay accurate and honest.
Our bigger goal: helping people not just find a program, but find their place — the community, the yishuv, the path in Israel that actually fits their life. This directory is just the beginning.
Have experience with a program listed here? Add your review, suggest an edit, or list a program we're missing. This only works if the community helps keep it current.
Custom · Kibbutz En-Gedi
A newly launched excavation under Hebrew University's Institute of Archaeology, led by Dr. Uri Davidovich, with participants staying at a glamping-style resort within Kibbutz En-Gedi; one credit per week of excavation is available from Hebrew University.
$200-500 per week
EditSummer Program · Akko (Acre)
A summer field school running since 2010, led by Dr. Ann Killebrew (Penn State) and Dr. Michal Artzy (University of Haifa), taking a 'total archaeology' approach spanning excavation, survey, GIS, on-site conservation, underwater archaeology, and community outreach.
Summer Program · Hippos-Sussita, Sea of Galilee
A four-week excavation with field work in the mornings (5:00am-12:00pm, Sunday-Thursday) and lab work activities in the afternoons.
Summer Program · Shiloh
A spring excavation open to volunteers of any experience level, offered in flexible one- to five-week blocks, with the first four weeks focused on digging and the fifth on digging and restoration.
$1,150 (1 week) to $4,900 (5 weeks)
EditSummer Program · Kibbutz Kfar HaNassi, near Tel Hazor
A summer field school at Hazor, the largest biblical-era city in Israel and a major political, economic and cultural center for over a millennium; participants stay at Kibbutz Kfar HaNassi on the banks of the Jordan River, with credit available (up to 1 credit per week) through Hebrew University's Rothberg International School.
Field fee plus optional $120 application fee and $120 per credit for Rothberg credit
EditSummer Program · Gezer
An excavation at Tel Gezer, one of the first sites in Israel to use student volunteers instead of paid laborers and the first to offer a field school for students; fees and academic credit vary by sponsoring university program.
Varies by sponsoring academic program
EditInformation may not be 100% accurate. If you're interested in a program, we recommend contacting them directly to confirm details.
Israel Programs Wiki