Background of Israel Programs Wiki

The problem

Every year, thousands of Jews set out to find a program in Israel — a gap year, a summer trip, a semester abroad — and run straight into the same wall: information that's scattered across dozens of websites, word-of-mouth, and outdated brochures, with no reliable way to compare programs side by side or trust what's actually being said about them.

What this is

This is a living, community-built directory — maintained not by a single organization with something to sell, but by people who've actually done these programs: alumni, current participants, and staff who volunteer their honest experience so the next person doesn't have to guess.

The bigger vision

A program is rarely just a program. It's a community, a place, a path — the people you'll live with, the city or yishuv you'll come to know, the direction it points you toward afterward. Our goal is to help you find not only the right program, but your broader place in Israel.

How you can help

This directory only stays accurate because people like you keep it that way. Add a review, suggest an edit, or list a program we're missing — every contribution helps the next person make a more informed choice.

Creator/Founder of Israel Programs Wiki

Hey, I'm Jack Resnick. I made Aliyah from Connecticut and started out on a gap year program built around integrating into Israeli life—one I only found after a ton of digging on my own and asking around to anyone who might know what was out there. That's the problem I want to solve. My goal is to help Jews get to Israel and find their place here, without the guesswork I had to go through. If you've got ideas, or you want to be part of what I'm building, reach out. I hope this tool helps make the Jewish community stronger.

Curious how program ratings and reviews are collected and published? Read our methodology.

Get in touch

Questions, corrections, or a program we should know about? Send us a note.

or email us directly