Browse Programs

Habonim Dror Australia's year-long Shnat Hachshara Ve'Hadracha Le'Aliyah, run through the Australian Zionist Youth Council: touring Israel, a stay on Kibbutz Ravid near the Sea of Galilee for agricultural work and Hebrew/Jewish studies, an intensive study tour in Jerusalem working with civil-society organizations, and a concluding independent-living volunteering period. Masa-recognized, matching the same structure as the already-listed Habonim Dror UK and Southern Africa Shnat programs.

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

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.

A four-week excavation with field work in the mornings (5:00am-12:00pm, Sunday-Thursday) and lab work activities in the afternoons.

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)

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

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

A summer field school continuing excavation of Iron Age II contexts to investigate whether the city was part of the Israelite Kingdom, directed by Naama Yahalom-Mack and Nava Panitz-Cohen; participants can join for the field experience alone or add credit through Hebrew University's Rothberg International School.

Field fee plus optional $120 application fee and $120 per credit for Rothberg credit

A summer excavation exploring Middle Bronze city gates, an undiscovered Iron Age palace, and the archive of Late Bronze Age kings, with participants housed at Mishmar HaEmek guest facilities; the fee is negotiable and covers housing, meals, and daily transportation, and 3-6 academic credits are available through Tel Aviv University.

Negotiable; housing, meals and transport included

A flexible-length Jewish learning program in the Old City for all ages, running anywhere from half a day to a few weeks.

An archaeological field school open to undergraduates, graduate students, and general volunteers with no experience required, offering hands-on excavation work under a team of professional archaeologists (including veterans of the Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon) in flexible 1-6 week blocks across the 2026 summer season.

Fee varies by number of weeks

An accessible version of the classic 10-day Birthright Israel trip for Jewish young adults ages 18-32 with developmental, cognitive, or physical disabilities, run in partnership with organizations like Yachad and Yalla, featuring a specialized bus, higher staff-to-participant ratios, adjusted pacing, and one-to-one aides when needed, without sacrificing the richness of the standard itinerary.

Free (standard Birthright terms); $360 refundable deposit plus $25 non-refundable processing fee

A 5-week inclusive Israel experience bringing typical high school students together with Yachad members who have developmental, learning, or physical disabilities, combining touring and Jewish learning with a hands-on model of full social inclusion.

The classic short-term kibbutz work-exchange program: volunteers aged 18-35 work about 8.5 hours a day, five days a week, in a kibbutz's agriculture, kitchen, garden, or factory branches, in exchange for shared accommodation, three daily meals, laundry facilities, and a small monthly stipend, without the structured Hebrew-ulpan component of Kibbutz Ulpan.

No program fee; volunteers receive room, board, and a small stipend

A 10-month fellowship for college graduates aged 20-26 combining Hebrew immersion, civil rights and community-building volunteer work, and hands-on social action, structured in three roughly 3-month sections: Hebrew ulpan at an absorption center, full-time community service in a development town, and a final stretch on a kibbutz, in the army, or in an internship, with housing, transportation, and food stipends all arranged by program staff.

A supplemental enrichment fellowship that runs alongside a student's main shana ba'aretz (gap year) program, bringing together students from more than 20 partner yeshivot, seminaries, and gap-year programs to study the texts, events, and personalities that forged modern Zionism, including Israeli military history, political debates, and literature.

No program fee for early-bird applicants

A 10-month fellowship for post-college young adults with strong Hebrew (Arabic a plus), interning 32 hours a week at an individually-selected Israeli NGO working on civil and human rights, environmental justice, Jewish-Arab equality, women's status, religious pluralism, or economic gaps, with a $23,300 living stipend, monthly enrichment programming, and leadership training.

$23,300 stipend covers living expenses; fellows are asked to fundraise $1,000+ for NIF before departure

A heavily subsidized 10-month program for computer science and engineering graduates to gain advanced tech skills in Israel, with intensive training from leading local and multinational companies in software development, cybersecurity, big data, cloud computing, and machine learning.

Heavily subsidized

A fully accredited semester of high school in Israel for Reform-movement teens in grades 10-12, formerly known as NFTY-EIE, combining Hebrew, Reform Judaism, and Israel history and culture with home-school-equivalent coursework in English, math, science, and social studies; since 2023 its secular academic administration is run jointly with Alexander Muss while the Reform movement retains all religious and Israel-focused programming.

A fully accredited semester of high school in Jerusalem for 10th-12th graders, combining Judaic and general studies at the Ramah Jerusalem High School with immersive exploration of Jewish identity, Israel, and the city itself over just under four and a half months.

$15,500 land cost ($11,300 after the standard Masa grant)

A gap-year partnership between Yeshiva University and more than 40 yeshivot and seminaries across Israel, letting Orthodox gap-year students immerse in Torah learning at a partner institution of their choice while remaining fully enrolled YU undergraduates, with separate men's and women's school tracks.

A 6-10 month gap year (length varies by home-country cohort) for members of Netzer, the Reform/Progressive Zionist youth movement, opening with a seminar at Kibbutz Ein HaShofet, moving into 1-2 months of volunteering on Kibbutz Harduf through the Jewish Agency's Project TEN, and continuing with programming on Tikkun Olam, leadership, and Zionism alongside Netzerniks from Australia, the UK, South Africa and beyond.

A 10-month gap year for Habonim Dror Southern Africa members, combining leadership and educational training at Jerusalem's Machon LeMadrichim, work and communal living on Kibbutz Revivim, and a trip to Poland to confront the history of the Holocaust, all within the Progressive Labor Zionist youth movement's framework.

A contemporary-dance program (established 2012) for male dancers 18-28 and female dancers 18-25 with a dance background, from Israel and around the world, offered by Vertigo Dance Company at its Eco-Art Village on a Judean-foothills kibbutz; recognized by Israel's Ministry of Culture & Sports, with graduates going on to the independent dance scene internationally.

An annual two-week Israel mission for CAMERA Fellows, CCAP activists and other campus Israel-advocacy leaders from the US, Canada and Uruguay, filled with expert speakers, lectures and touring -- most of the trip based in Jerusalem, with a Tel Aviv visit, a free weekend, and closing days on a Kinneret-area kibbutz -- to sharpen participants' ability to advocate accurately and effectively for Israel back on campus.

A 10-month leadership program founded in 2015 by the Jewish Community of Oslo, open to 18-22-year-old European, Israeli and American Jews of any observance level, combining an immersive Israel experience at the Upper Galilee Leadership Academy with University of Oslo coursework and travel to Jewish communities around the world, centered on Jewish history, religion, culture and identity.

A co-ed, religious-Zionist Israel year program for post-high-school graduates from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and South America, combining Torah/Jewish-studies learning with self-empowerment and personal-growth programming, distinct from World Bnei Akiva's other tracks (Kadima, Mechina Olamit, Torani, MTA).

An 8-month gap year for the Revisionist-Zionist Betar movement, running March-November: four months of Machon LeMadrichim leadership training at Kiryat Moriah alongside 100+ young people from other youth movements worldwide, a taste of IDF service through the Marva course, seminars across Israel and in Poland, and an extended period of community volunteering.

A 10-month gap year for members of the Labor-Zionist, secular Hashomer Hatzair youth movement (active in over a dozen countries including France, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay), living communally in Israel and becoming part of Israeli society before returning home to lead the movement's younger members.

A required summer-term Israel program (typically in the third year) for Reconstructionist Rabbinical College students, combining academic coursework and experiential learning on Israel's history, culture, politics and contemporary society; students who want to extend for an additional term or full year can access RRC scholarships and academic advising to do so.

An intensive 10-12 week summer Israel program for Ziegler rabbinical students, replacing what was previously a full year in Israel (third-year students traditionally spent a year there before the school's 2023 curriculum restructuring shortened the program overall).

A required second-year-of-study year in Israel for JTS rabbinical students, based at the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies, engaging students with Israeli society, history and politics alongside advanced Jewish text study to prepare them to teach and speak knowledgeably about Israel in their future communities. A joint Pardes/JTS track also lets students count a year at Pardes toward the rabbinical degree.

A mandatory first year in Israel for all HUC-JIR rabbinical, cantorial and Jewish-education graduate students, opening with a Hebrew ulpan before a full slate of Hebrew immersion, foundational textual skills, Israel studies, community-building and community-service projects, using Israel itself as a classroom to explore Israeli culture, Zionist history and contemporary social/political issues.

A gap year for lacrosse players ages 18-30 to live, train and compete in Israel for a college semester or full year, playing in domestic league and exhibition games plus tournaments abroad in Europe, completing a formal coach-certification program and mentoring local youth teams as ambassadors for the sport.

A Bachelor's/Master's/Artist Diploma program (established 2008) for outstanding foreign musicians in instrumental performance, voice, conducting or composition, taught by IPO principal players and other leading Israeli musicians, with performance opportunities in the school's Symphony Orchestra, chamber ensembles and bilingual (Hebrew/English) opera productions.

Full-tuition scholarship for all accepted international students; a limited number also receive a living stipend and/or housing scholarship

A semester-long option for international students 18+ to study at a college combining engineering, design and art under one roof, taking English-taught courses plus hands-on art/design workshops conducted in simplified Hebrew; the International Office also runs exchange, internship and transdisciplinary-project partnerships with schools like Cornell and Yale.

$5,000-$8,000 (international tuition)

An International School offering English-taught and hybrid English-Hebrew degree programs at a 23,000-student college, including an International Law LLB for international students, Olim and globally minded applicants seeking a legal education grounded in Israeli, comparative and international law, with support gradually integrating students into Israeli academic life.

An English-language M.D. program (running since 1983) for U.S. and Canadian pre-med graduates who intend to practice in North America, combining basic medical sciences at the Technion with clinical education at leading Israeli medical centers; graduates sit U.S./Canadian licensing exams.

A new (launching 2026-27) pre-college gap year combining a minimum of four for-credit Tel Aviv University courses with cybersecurity, AI and entrepreneurship workshops, hands-on research in TAU labs, mentorship from Israeli entrepreneurs, Jewish-peoplehood programming, and immersive tours across Israel.

$14,000/semester ($28,000/year); includes housing, insurance, tours and full academic credit, excludes flights/food/personal expenses

A 16-day leadership and advocacy training program for North American college-student leaders, active on 95+ campuses, combining ten workshops on Israel advocacy and campus leadership with meetings with Israeli political, military and business figures and conversations with Israelis and Palestinians across the political spectrum, in order to return as trained pro-Israel campus advocates.

A 10-month elite government and policy internship placing Fellows in Israeli government ministries and NGOs for hands-on public-administration work, paired with intensive Hebrew study, tours, and weekly seminar days meeting Israeli officials, policymakers, journalists and activists. Founded in 2007 to strengthen the Diaspora-Israel connection and global Jewish leadership.

A 6-month leadership program (with an optional 3+ month 'Perek Bet' internship extension) bringing young Israelis together with Jewish peers from around the world to study Jewish Peoplehood, public diplomacy and Jewish texts alongside personal-growth work and volunteering that benefits Israeli society.

A 5-10 month post-high-school program combining Machon Le'Madrichim leadership seminars, an optional taste of IDF Marva training, Magen David Adom EMS training, kibbutz living and work, touring across Israel, and a Poland trip focused on Shoah education; fully supervised by Maccabi World Union madrichim.

A Masorti/Conservative-movement gap year for young adults from Noam's global network (UK, Europe, Latin America and beyond), combining Zionism, Masorti Judaism, tikkun olam, hadracha (leadership) and democracy education, run through Kibbutz Hannaton's Education Center in the Galilee.

An 8-month gap year for UK school leavers built around Socialist-Zionist and collective-living values: 3 months on kibbutz (Shorashim) for group bonding, Hebrew ulpan and Jewish/Zionist education; a month of leadership training; and 4 months (Anafim) living communally in an Israeli city, volunteering, running youth groups, teaching English, and a March of the Living trip to Poland.

Britain's flagship Zionist-youth-movement gap year: a 9-month program (or 4-month option) split between a Jerusalem semester and a Tel Aviv-area semester based in Bat Yam, combining academic study, community volunteering, direct engagement with Israeli society and a Special Interest Month (options include kibbutz, yeshiva, hiking, business internship, or surfing).

From £12,999, with subsidies available

An 8-10 month program for young adults (18-21) combining Sherut Leumi-style social-service volunteering (health, education or welfare, participant's choice) with an educational program on Israeli-Arab conflict, politics and current affairs, leadership/entrepreneurship seminars, and cultural/outdoor activities, while living independently in rented Tel Aviv apartments.

An immersive Jerusalem gap year for 70 recent high school graduates -- half from North America, half from Israel -- blending Jewish text study, philosophy and modern thought with leadership training and communal life, drawing on the Hartman Institute's pluralistic scholarship and methodology.

$33,000 (includes housing, meals, all programming, trips, staff support and health insurance); limited need-based financial aid available

An egalitarian yeshiva offering one-year, pre-college, advanced-studies, summer and winter Torah-study tracks for adults of all backgrounds and denominations, blending traditional beit midrash learning with a Conservative/Masorti approach; tuition includes Thursday day trips and a Shabbaton, and long-term study is Masa-eligible.

A pluralistic, egalitarian beit midrash for university graduates combining classic Jewish text study (Talmud, Tanach, Halacha) with philosophical, ethical and societal questions facing the Jewish people today, taught seminar-style with chavruta (paired) learning; students choose from a wide range of electives and can study for Elul (September), a semester, or the full year while living independently in Jerusalem.

A personalized, one-on-one Hebrew program built around the 'Rapid Language Acquisition' method, with the flagship Sabra Immersion track combining three hours of daily one-on-one study with 1.5 hours of interactive outdoor activities; also offered as 10-day, one-week and two-week intensives.

A 5-month program combining multi-level Hebrew language classes with kibbutz dormitory living and work assignments, giving participants an immersive experience of rural Israeli community life alongside their Hebrew studies.

The Jewish Agency's flagship Hebrew ulpan, founded in 1949, offering five months of intensive Hebrew instruction (5 hours/day, 5 days/week) to roughly 1,600 immigrants and young adults aged 22-35 per year from 30+ countries, with cultural activities and preparation for IDF service or Israeli employment.

A 9.5-month, co-educational leadership gap year combining shared living with Israeli peers, immersive Zionist learning and hands-on leadership experiences at World Bnei Akiva's flagship international mechina campus.

$17,000-$25,000, with $5,000-$10,000 Masa grants typically available

An immersive, co-ed, modern-Orthodox Zionist gap-year program giving participants a broad taste of Israeli life through internships, kibbutz living, volunteering, Magen David Adom training, a taste of Marva IDF preparation, seminars, Torah learning and travel.

$17,000-$25,000, with $5,000-$10,000 Masa grants typically available

A pluralistic, co-ed pre-military academy named for Haviva Reich, one of the WWII Jewish parachutists, combining standard mechina Jewish-identity and leadership study with community volunteering and physical preparation for IDF service.

$14,000-$16,000 (covers education, room, board, transit, insurance and laundry)

A pluralistic, co-ed pre-military academy spanning several northern Israel communities, suitable for students of any religious background, combining standard mechina Jewish-identity and leadership study with community volunteering.

$14,000-$16,000 (covers education, room, board, transit, insurance and laundry)

A secular/pluralistic, co-ed pre-military academy in the western Negev near the Gaza border, combining standard mechina Jewish-identity and leadership study with community volunteering in the region.

$14,000-$16,000 (covers education, room, board, transit, insurance and laundry)

A pluralistic, co-ed pre-military academy emphasizing progressive and Zionist leadership development, alongside standard mechina Jewish-identity study and community volunteering.

$14,000-$16,000 (covers education, room, board, transit, insurance and laundry)

A pluralistic, co-ed pre-military academy across several small Arava Valley communities, deliberately open to all Jewish denominations to maximize the diversity of its cohort, alongside standard mechina Jewish-identity and leadership study.

$14,000-$16,000 (covers education, room, board, transit, insurance and laundry)

A pluralistic, co-ed pre-military leadership academy in Harish drawing on Israeli Air Force heritage and values as a framework for its leadership training, alongside standard mechina Jewish-identity study.

$14,000-$16,000 (covers education, room, board, transit, insurance and laundry)

A pluralistic, co-ed pre-military academy in the Yizrael Valley centered on exploring Jewish-Israeli identity through study, leadership training and volunteer community work.

$14,000-$16,000 (covers education, room, board, transit, insurance and laundry)

A pluralistic, co-ed pre-military academy in Beer Sheva open to students of all religious backgrounds, combining standard mechina Jewish-identity and leadership study with community volunteering in the Negev.

$14,000-$16,000 (covers education, room, board, transit, insurance and laundry)

A pluralistic, co-ed pre-military academy across three campuses focused on cultivating a new generation of Israeli leadership with an emphasis on social and environmental responsibility, alongside standard mechina Jewish-identity study.

$14,000-$16,000 (covers education, room, board, transit, insurance and laundry)

A pluralistic, co-ed pre-military academy established in 2018 that uses a distinctive physical-and-mental training system to build modern-age resilience and life skills, alongside standard mechina Jewish-identity and leadership study.

$14,000-$16,000 (covers education, room, board, transit, insurance and laundry)

A pluralistic, co-ed pre-military academy on the Golan Heights focused on cultivating initiative, responsibility and leadership toward building a democratic Jewish society, alongside standard mechina Jewish-identity study and volunteering.

$14,000-$16,000 (covers education, room, board, transit, insurance and laundry)

A pluralistic, co-ed pre-military academy on a kibbutz near the Sea of Galilee emphasizing nature exploration and building bridges across different sectors of Israeli society, alongside standard mechina Jewish-identity and leadership study.

$14,000-$16,000 (covers education, room, board, transit, insurance and laundry)

A pluralistic, co-ed pre-military academy set in a dense urban environment, emphasizing social justice and coexistence work within Tel Aviv-Jaffa's diverse Jewish and Arab communities alongside standard mechina Jewish-identity and leadership study.

$14,000-$16,000 (covers education, room, board, transit, insurance and laundry)

A pluralistic, co-ed pre-military gap-year academy combining intensive study of Jewish identity, Zionism and Israeli society with coursework in the arts and environmentalism, plus independent study, community volunteering and physical preparation for IDF service.

$14,000-$16,000 (covers education, room, board, transit, insurance and laundry)

A Foreign Volunteer Program placing short-term overseas volunteers alongside nursing staff, in service laboratories, and in patient-comfort and care roles at Hadassah's two university hospitals, with a coordinator introducing each volunteer to their unit and staying in touch throughout their placement.

Israel's national food-rescue organization runs gleaning trips to pick surplus produce in the fields, night-time food rescue runs, and sandwich-packing sessions for schoolchildren, redistributing rescued food to a network of 200+ partner nonprofits serving over 175,000 people weekly; sessions require no prior training or professional credentials.

Free

Volunteers support children from developing countries receiving pediatric cardiac care, organizing games and activities and providing companionship and emotional support to patients and families before and after their procedures; tracks range from an 'Immersive' 3-week minimum to longer 'Superstar' and 'Buddy' commitments of 2+ months.

Free to volunteer; participants arrange and cover their own accommodations

A service-learning center co-directed by a Jewish woman and a Muslim man where young-adult volunteers weekly support Beit Elisha (a group home for adults with disabilities) and Sha'ar La'adam's ecological/educational activities, alongside pluralistic Jewish learning, Hebrew and Arabic classes, coexistence sessions, theater and bio-dynamic gardening.

Israel's only hi-tech-focused gap year, combining a 4-month coding bootcamp (earning a Front-End Developer certificate in mobile and web app development) with a hands-on internship at Be'er Sheva tech companies and start-ups such as Wix and PayPal, plus Hebrew study and organized trips around Israel.

An intensive 10-day seminar bringing together Israelis and Palestinians ages 20-30 for 18 hours of hands-on tech/entrepreneurship training alongside 18 hours of facilitated conflict-dialogue sessions and a hackathon, followed by ongoing alumni dialogue and cultural-exchange programming.

A highly selective, lifelong business and tech fellowship for outstanding Jewish college students that begins with a 10-week summer internship in Tel Aviv at a Fortune 500 company, top consulting firm or Israeli startup across fields like finance, venture capital, software engineering and biotech, followed by ongoing mentorship and a 1,500+ alumni professional network.

An internationally-ranked film school's lab program bringing a small cohort of outstanding local and international emerging filmmakers to Jerusalem to develop their debut feature film projects, alongside the school's separate four-year directing/producing and two-year screenwriting degree tracks.

A juried two-week international artist residency at Musrara's Naggar School selecting five interdisciplinary artists from Israel and abroad working in photography, new media, video art, sound and experimental music, alongside the school's ongoing three-year photography, new-media and phototherapy departments.

A highly competitive 7-week summer research program (running since 1971) placing outstanding undergraduates from physical sciences, chemistry, life sciences, math or computer science majors into a Weizmann lab under a research scientist's supervision, working on a real research project alongside the scientific team.

A university-level dance program for international students combining technical training in classical ballet, contemporary dance (including Ohad Naharin's Gaga), choreography and improvisation with Rothberg International School's academic coursework on Israeli history, society and culture.

An English-language study track for overseas students combining first-semester courses from Ariel's three-year undergraduate programs with an intensive 500-hour Hebrew ulpan, run in partnership with Masa Israel Journey; students live and study alongside Israeli peers on the Ariel campus.

The Reconstructionist movement's Israel program for 11th graders: after building community together at Camp JRF, participants travel to Israel for a month, tracing how Jews have lived on the land throughout history, spending Shabbat in Jerusalem, watching sunrise over Masada, doing tikkun olam projects with Israeli peers, and meeting Reconstructionist rabbis living in Israel.

(unconfirmed - not published in research) financial assistance available for some participants -- contact Camp JRF

The Conservative/Masorti movement's gap-year program, run in partnership with Aardvark Israel: a full academic year split between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, with intensive Hebrew ulpan, university-accredited coursework, internships/volunteering, and leadership training grounded in Conservative/Masorti values. IMPORTANT FLAG: USCJ suspended its previous standalone Nativ program in December 2023 citing budget and recruitment challenges, and relaunched it via this new Aardvark partnership starting September 2026 -- since this is a brand-new relaunch, confirm current logistics, dates, and costs directly before publishing as final, as details may still be settling.

~$29,000 (excludes flights and personal spending money; needs-based USCJ scholarships available)

A pluralistic, fully-accredited study-abroad program for high schoolers combining general studies with experiential Israel-studies curriculum (learning history on-site at the actual locations). Offered as a semester, a shorter 'Mini-Mester', or summer sessions; students can earn college credit through the University of Miami. IMPORTANT NOTE: the Reform movement's own standalone semester program, URJ Heller High (formerly NFTY-EIE, previously based at Kibbutz Tzuba), recently merged into AMHSI as of a recent year due to declining enrollment -- Heller High students now live and take Jewish studies together as a track within the AMHSI campus near Tel Aviv rather than as a separate program. Confirm current Heller-track availability/dates directly with AMHSI since this transition is recent.

(unconfirmed - not published in research) need-based financial aid, scholarships, and payment plans are offered

A 5-month permaculture and sustainable-living program for English-speaking young adults ages 18-24, centered on a Permaculture Design Course (internationally certified) and hands-on farm work. A Masa-affiliated long-term program, so Masa grants/scholarships ($1,000-$6,000) can offset the cost; the farm also offers additional needs-based scholarships.

$14,000 total (housing, food, classes, field trips) before Masa grants/scholarships

A month-long, hands-on program in permaculture, natural building (straw-bale and earth-plaster construction), and organic agriculture, living on Lotan's eco-campus of student-built earthen domes. Graduates receive an internationally recognized Permaculture Design Certificate.

$3,500 (includes a $175 registration fee, all food and accommodation)

An accredited university-level semester (or full-year) environmental studies program bringing together Israeli, Palestinian, Jordanian, and international students to study topics like sustainable agriculture, cross-border water management, and environmental diplomacy. Fee includes tuition, room, full kibbutz-dining-room board, health insurance, and field trips. Merit-based funding applications due April 15 (fall) / November 15 (spring); full scholarships available for Arab Israeli, Palestinian, and Jordanian students.

$10,000/semester for North American students (includes tuition, room, board, insurance, field trips)

Places North American medical students, nursing students, and other healthcare professionals as volunteers in Israeli hospitals and primary-care services, matched to placements by ability and availability. Also runs an annual APF/Birthright medical trip for medical, nursing, and allied-health students to see Israeli healthcare firsthand.

(unconfirmed) likely participant covers own travel/lodging as a volunteer placement -- confirm with APF

An English-language, four-year M.D. program chartered by the Regents of the University of the State of New York, established in 1976, open to U.S. and Canadian citizens/permanent residents. Requires a bachelor's degree, at least one year of North American college coursework, and the MCAT; some Hebrew competency required for clinical years.

(unconfirmed - not published in research) contact admissions office

A four-year, North American-style M.D. program taught in English, integrating global health coursework throughout. First three years in Israel (with Medical Hebrew in years 1-2), fourth-year clinical electives at Columbia University Medical Center, and an eight-week clerkship in an underserved community worldwide. Applicants need an undergraduate degree, at least one year of North American college coursework, and an MCAT or GAMSAT score; must hold a passport from a country with diplomatic relations with Israel.

(unconfirmed - not published in research) contact admissions office

The largest gap-year program in Israel (9 months, up to 30 college credits) offers a Medical Track: a 10-day intensive course followed by five weeks of hands-on volunteering aboard Magen David Adom ambulances alongside Israeli paramedics, plus tours and workshops with Israeli medical staff. Eligible for 3 college credits. No prior medical experience required, but a conversational Hebrew oral test must be passed before volunteering with MDA.

(unconfirmed exact current sticker price) 2026-27 payment-plan minimum after scholarships/discounts is reported at $16,000; confirm full tuition with Young Judaea

A pluralistic, non-movement-affiliated program combining outdoor adventure with workshops in visual, performing, and literary arts, community service, and creative Jewish study. Israeli and North American participants travel together through four regions of Israel exploring the land's role in Jewish history and the future of Jewish life, with a multi-day service project benefiting Israeli children.

(unconfirmed - not published online) contact Nesiya directly

A nine-month artistic gap-year program for 18-19 year-olds studying visual arts, music, theater, or dance. Students choose one of four tracks and get weekly one-on-one studio time with professional artists, plus a personal artistic project. Participants live alongside Israeli students from the 'Ruach Nachon' pre-army artistic academy, building Hebrew fluency and Israeli friendships. Includes trips, volunteering, and Jewish learning.

$26,500 (includes room, board, health insurance, trips, and artistic mentorship)

One or two semesters of study at Israel's oldest and most prestigious art and design academy, in fields including fine arts, photography, visual communication, animation, fashion/jewelry design, ceramics and glass, industrial design, architecture, and material culture. Courses in Hebrew or English; a week-long Hebrew course precedes the spring semester. Exchange students are housed at Hebrew University dormitories. IMPORTANT CAVEAT: this is a university exchange, not an open-enrollment program -- applicants must be nominated by a partner institution's international office (Bezalel partners with ~100 art schools worldwide), so it is not available to individuals applying directly without a partner-school affiliation.

(unconfirmed) typically home-institution tuition applies under exchange agreements, not separate Bezalel tuition -- confirm with home school's study-abroad office

A one-year, English-language program for international students at Israel's leading contemporary music school, covering music theory, ear training, arranging, music technology, songwriting, composition, improvisation, private instruction, and ensembles. Begins with a month-long Hebrew ulpan and orientation. Students fluent in Hebrew may continue into Rimon's full majors (jazz, performance, production, composition, education). Commuter campus -- no on-site housing, but staff help arrange shared apartments.

(unconfirmed - not published online) contact admissions for current tuition

A volunteer EMT program for young Jewish adults (ages 18-40) that provides certified first-responder/EMT training followed by real ambulance shifts alongside Israeli paramedics; offered independently and through Masa Israel partnerships.

~$400-$1,300 depending on program track (partial subsidies available via Masa)

An official Israeli government program placing overseas volunteers from 51+ countries into welfare settings (group homes, day centers, nursing homes) to support people with disabilities, at-risk youth, Holocaust survivors, and the elderly.

Accommodation, stipend, meals, insurance, and Hebrew classes provided; volunteers cover their own flight

A national civilian service alternative to IDF service for young adults ages 17-24, placing volunteers in hospitals, schools, at-risk-youth programs, and other social service settings; Nefesh B'Nefesh provides dedicated support (including a track for lone volunteers) for participants coming from abroad.

A Masa-affiliated program for English-speaking young adults (ages 21-30) to live, study Hebrew and Jewish culture, and volunteer in south Tel Aviv-Jaffa, choosing between Social Action, Coexistence, or Internship tracks over 5 or 10 months.

A long-running lone-soldier program (since 1991) that brings young Jewish adults from abroad to make aliyah and serve in the IDF, providing a 'garin' (seed group) peer community, host absorption support, and ongoing assistance before, during, and after military service.

An umbrella program run by Israel's official council of mechinot that places Jewish high school graduates from the diaspora directly into Israeli pre-military academies for a fully-integrated 10-month experience alongside Israeli peers, with both English- and Hebrew-language track options depending on the host mechina.

Founded in 1997 as Israel's first secular/pluralistic mechina and the first to accept international participants, Nachshon alternates 'in' weeks of campus study with 'out' weeks of hiking and volunteering, emphasizing leadership, Zionism, and Israeli identity. Runs in Hebrew and is primarily for Israelis, but has a history of hosting overseas participants through the Yachad program.

~$19,000

A mixed religious-secular pre-army academy founded in 1997 by the Beit Yisrael urban kibbutz community, bringing about 70 young Israelis together annually for Torah study, community volunteering (10+ hours/week), and leadership training before IDF service. Israeli-only, Hebrew-language program with no overseas track.

~$18,300

A pluralistic, co-ed pre-army gap year program founded in 1998 in memory of PM Yitzhak Rabin, combining Hebrew-language study, communal living, and volunteering. Has a dedicated international track welcoming non-Israeli participants ages 18-19 to study alongside Israeli peers, though military-specific preparation is for Israelis only.

~$16,000

A pluralistic pre-military leadership academy founded in 2001, combining Jewish text study, Israeli society engagement, and leadership training for Israeli high school graduates before IDF service. Primarily Israeli-only and Hebrew-language, though it participates in the Joint Council of Mechinot's Yachad initiative that places diaspora young adults into partner mechinot.

Sapir Academic College's International Office offers semester-based courses in English for overseas students in fields such as marketing, communications, cinema, law, economics, and social work, studying alongside Israeli peers.

The University of Haifa's International School offers a semester or full-year study abroad program with English-taught courses in fields like Arabic, archaeology, business, history, international relations, and peace and conflict studies, with students living alongside Israeli students on Mount Carmel.

~$10,700 for the full academic year (recent published figure); mandatory health insurance (~$1,110) not included.

BGU's overseas student program offers a semester or year of English-taught coursework spanning anthropology, environmental studies, political science, global health, and Israel studies, plus a six-week Hebrew ulpan and dorm life with Israeli suitemates.

$7,200/semester tuition (includes activity fee and health insurance); dorms $2,250 (fall) or $2,900 (spring); optional Ulpan +$1,500.

Technion International's exchange program lets undergraduates (2nd year and above) study engineering and science courses in English for a semester or academic year, living on campus with Israeli and international students and joining industry site visits.

~NIS 15,000/year (~$4,500) tuition for non-partner students (often waived for students from partner universities); dorms ~$4,500/year; insurance ~$1,300/year.

Bar-Ilan University's English-taught overseas student program for a semester or full gap year, combining Jewish studies, general academic coursework, and Hebrew ulpan with dormitory life and organized trips around Israel.

~$29,500 for the 2026-27 year, including classes/credits, trips, dormitory, and activities (excludes airfare, insurance, spending money); MASA grants of $1,000-$4,500 available to eligible participants.

Tel Aviv University's international school offers undergraduates a semester or full academic year of English-taught coursework in fields like international relations, business, Jewish and Israel studies, plus intensive Hebrew study, while living on TAU's Tel Aviv campus.

Hebrew University's school for international students, offering undergraduate study abroad and exchange tracks with English-taught courses across the humanities, social sciences, business, and Israel/Middle East studies, plus Hebrew ulpan.

A 22-day summer trip for teens in grades 9-12 combining a Holocaust-heritage journey through Poland with touring and volunteering in Israel, in separate boys' and girls' sessions.

A four-week traveling Israel program bringing together teens from six Habonim Dror North America camps, emphasizing values-based education, hiking, and engagement with contemporary Israeli society.

$8,110 (2026, after RootOne voucher)

A six-week immersive Israel adventure for Jewish teens entering 11th or 12th grade, exploring the country's history, culture, and people; eligible for RootOne and Masa grants.

A 3.5-week pluralist Israel summer trip for teens entering 10th or 11th grade from any camp or denomination background.

$7,450 (2026); $3,000 RootOne grant available

The three-week Israel component of the year-long Diller Teen Fellows leadership program, bringing ~700 Jewish teens from 32 partner communities across 7 countries together for the Global Diller Congress.

A 28-day BBYO Passport journey across Israel including hiking Mount Arbel and Masada, rafting the Jordan River, Bedouin-style desert camping, and a multi-day Gadna army-style program.

Varies by year; $3,000 RootOne voucher available for 3+ week trips

A 22-day BBYO Passport trip through Israel for teens in grades 8-12, visiting major cities and lesser-known sites while engaging with diverse local communities.

Varies by year; $3,000 RootOne voucher available for 3+ week trips

A five-week Israel summer tour for 10th-grade graduates from Orthodox/religious-Zionist backgrounds, with historical sites, hikes, an Adventure Week track, and movement-wide events.

A six-week travel and study program for rising 12th-grade graduates of Ramah camps, combining hiking, text study, and discussion-based learning, with optional Sea-to-Sea Hike and Gadna tracks.

$14,200 (2026, before grants/scholarships)

A four-week summer program for Reform-movement teens (grades 10-12) combining touring, hiking, and social-justice engagement across Israel.

$9,990 (2026); $3,000 with RootOne voucher

A month-long immersive Israel journey for 10th-12th graders (successor to the historic USY Israel Pilgrimage), with an optional Poland add-on.

$9,400 (2026); $3,000 RootOne voucher for eligible participants

A three-week touring experience in Israel for public-school Jewish teens, combining hikes, historical/religious sites, and Jewish heritage programming.

$7,000 + $500 application fee (2026); $3,000 RootOne voucher available

A semester or year-long visiting/study-abroad program at Israel's first private university, offering English-taught coursework across all schools.

An immersive program for young adults engaging in social-justice partnerships between Israelis and Palestinians, combining Arabic/Hebrew study, activism, and homestays.

~$7,800-$8,800 (scholarships of $500-$2,000 available)

A volunteer program placing civilians (17+) on IDF bases for 1-3 weeks to perform non-combat logistical support such as packing medical supplies and equipment maintenance, living alongside soldiers.

Registration/program fee varies; participants cover own flights

A 9-month service-learning fellowship for ages 22-32 involving ~30 hours/week of grassroots volunteering across multiple placements, Hebrew ulpan, and immersive learning about Israeli society.

~$1,000 (heavily subsidized; includes housing and monthly stipend)

The longest-running Israel gap-year program, an 8-month experience combining kibbutz-based collective living, volunteering with Israel's Hanoar HaOved VeHalomed youth movement, a Poland seminar, and study of Israeli society.

~$24,500 (2026-27), scholarships and Masa grants available

A competitive 8-week summer internship program for active TAMID Group chapter members, placing fellows at Israeli companies in finance, tech, and entrepreneurship while living in Tel Aviv.

A 5-6 month professional internship program for Jewish young adults over 21, offering internship placements with Israeli companies, central Tel Aviv housing, Hebrew classes, and career-development seminars.

~$9,400 Masa funding available (net cost varies)

A 6-10 month fellowship placing Jewish young adults as English-teaching assistants in Israeli public schools, paired with Hebrew study, professional development, and a monthly stipend.

~$1,200 program fee (stipend 1,750-3,000 NIS/month provided)

A 10-month secular gap-year program in which participants live communally with Israeli peers in south Tel Aviv, study pluralistic Judaism and Hebrew, and take part in grassroots social-action volunteering.

An academic gap-year program for high school graduates based in Jerusalem that combines Jewish and Middle Eastern studies (including Hebrew and Arabic) with extensive travel to up to a dozen countries, offering a transferable Hebrew College transcript.

~$64,900 (2025-26 tuition, aid available)

A customizable gap-year and semester program combining internships or volunteering, Hebrew ulpan, academic courses for college credit, and field trips, with participants living in staffed apartments in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem.

~$13,990-$25,490 (before Masa grants)

Short-term programs in Tzfat and Jerusalem focused on Jewish identity, hiking, volunteering, and Israeli history.

$1,500-$3,000 depending on session

A Conservative movement gap year program blending Israel study, army service (Marva), and leadership development.

~$28,000 (financial aid available)

A nine-month gap year program combining volunteering, touring, army experience, and academic study across Israel.

~$30,000 (financial aid available)

A summer or semester internship and academic program in Israel for young adults, combining professional experience with Israel exploration.

Program fee varies; scholarships available

A free 10-day trip to Israel for young Jewish adults ages 18-32, covering history, culture, food, and modern life across the country. Registration fills up fast, so early application is strongly recommended.

Free (flights, lodging, and most meals included; optional extension weeks cost extra)