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“Every young Jewish adult should spend at least a year of his life in Israel”
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, addressing the opening session of the UJC General Assembly, Jerusalem, November, 2003.
MASA - The Project for Long Term Programs in Israel
In June 2003, The Coordinating Committee of the Government of Israel and The Jewish Agency for Israel met to explore new ways to reach Jewish youth around the world, reinforce their Jewish identity and strengthen their ties to Israel and their community. It was here that the idea for MASA - The Project for Long Term Programs in Israel was born. MASA's ultimate goal is to significantly increase the number of participants in semester to one-year educational programs in Israel, the center of world Jewish culture and creativity.
MASA and The Israel Connection
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In The American Jewish Year Book, 2003, Prof. Sergio della Pergola estimated that this dwindling age group of 2.3 million Jews under the age of 24 living in the Diaspora (out of the 4.5 million total including Israel), is beset by its own problems. From within: declining birthrates (1.5 children per family), rising intermarriage (from 53% to 56% since 1990) and decreased communal involvement (15% drop in contributions to local Federation campaigns). From without: rising anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiment on college campuses.
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The younger generation is at risk, and now is the time to engage the next generation and secure the future of the Jewish people.
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Israel programs, however, have long enabled young Jews to connect with their culture, their heritage and with other Jews from around the world. Programs such as Taglit -birthright israel, are succeeding in overcoming the negative perceptions of Israel among young Jews by brining them in growing numbers to Israel. Nothing, however, compares to the significance and impact of long term Israel programs.
Long-term programs provide their participants with opportunities for connecting to Israel and its people while strengthening commitment to Jewish continuity and local Jewish communities. Such programs emphasize study, meaningful encounters, volunteering, and contribution to Israeli society, together with adventures, challenges and familiarity with young people from other countries as well as Israelis.
Follow up studies indicate that the impact of the experience is lifelong. For example, a survey of Young Judaea Year Course alumni shows that they maintain a higher rate of Jewish involvement after their experience in Israel compared with those who did not go. 91% marry other Jews. 79% maintain synagogue membership. 71% return to Israel two or more times in the years to follow. 72% volunteer in a Jewish setting. 57% contribute to Federation campaigns and 36% send their children to Jewish day schools. (International Survey of Israel Program Graduates – Preliminary Findings. Survey by Professor Steve Cohen).
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Studies have shown that one of the most effective ways of doing this is by building a strong connection to Israel through long-term Israel programs.
Support of long-term programs is an investment in the future of Jewish youth and Jewish peoplehood.
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MASA -- The Journey Begins
In its first few months, an interim team was set up to map existing programs, develop marketing strategies and set up a work plan, including a process for providing financial assistance. Yisrael Maimon, Cabinet Secretary in the Prime Minister’s office and Alan Hoffmann, Director-General of the Jewish Agency Department for Jewish Zionist Education, were appointed as co-chairs of the Project Steering Committee. In November 2003, the Coordinating Committee approved the project and instructed the Jewish Agency to present a detailed program. In January 2004, the Project was presented in detail to both The Prime Minister and Sallai Meridor at a special meeting in the Prime Minister’s office. It was overwhelmingly approved for implementation.
MASA -- The Journey Continues
The Jewish Agency Education Department mission statement calls for "intensifying the unique and multi-dimensional significance of Israel in connecting the next generation to its heritage, people and homeland." One of the key strategies to accomplish this goal is to support, promote and enhance long-term Israel programs, and work with communities worldwide to encourage young Jews to spend time in Israel during their formative years.
To that end, MASA has outlined the following agenda:
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Bring increasing numbers of participants per year by , from post high-school age through age 30
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Generate interest among Program Organizers to create quality, innovative long-term programs to reach the widest range of participants in this age group
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Set educational standards for all participating programs and overseeing their compliance with these standards
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Provide financial, marketing and educational assistance to programs organizers and incentives for growth and development
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Provide financial assistance to participants in the form of grants and scholarships
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Provide activities for participants throughout the year to increase their exposure to Israel culture, and connection to Israelis and to participants in other MASA programs
The Future
Since his inception, MASA, the Israel Journey, has changed the face of long-term programs in Israel, generating creativity among program organizers, excitement among community leaders and interest among participants.
To continue to e effective, MASA is taking bold new steps in making long term programs attractive to today's young Jews.
These include:
· Communicating the advantages of spending a semester or a year in Israel to a wide range of audiences
· Identifying major organizations to work together to promote long term programs to their constituents
· Cooperating with local Federations and community institutions to promote long term programs in their communities
· Contracting with program organizers to design a new and exciting range of innovative programs
· Training Jewish communal professionals and lay leaders to work together, across denominational, institutional and geographic lines, to change the culture and develop a global norm.
MASA calls upon Jewish leaders, student organizations, youth movements, national and community organizations, to be part of this initiative, and to devote time, energies and resources to the creation, support and promotion of long-term programs in Israel. Only through this partnership can this truly transformative experience of Israel become the global norm for today’s Jewish youth.
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