#year course

I’m mainly looking for good israeli podcasts or tv shows that are more aimed towards kids (so they speak slower/more simply) so i can get used to hearing hebew? 

also if anyone has gone to college abroad, what do you pack and what do you leave? I’m spending 9 months in Israel and I basically get one 50lb bag and two (it think? maybe only one) carry ons.

Islam Beyond The Buzzwords

By Emily Hecht, current Year Course Participant

“In a multiracial society, trust, understanding, and tolerance are the cornerstones of peace and order” - Kamisese Mara

Growing up in America, buzzwords likes “Islam” and “terrorism” are thrown around a lot in conversations, and often the same sentences. After 9/11 happened, American politicians started to heavily associate Islam with global terrorism, and in turn, security became a large focus within the American public and government. I grew up in a majority white town in New Jersey where there was little diversity economically and racially. However, my involvement in Jewish studies and out-of-school programs allowed me to have an open mind about different religions, cultures, and customs. Being part of the Jewish minority in a Christian majority also allowed me to understand what it is like to feel discriminated against and sometimes an outlier. With all of this in mind, I still was never truly educated on the differences between the three monotheistic religions that my life has been influenced by, until on my gap year in Israel.

Comparative Religions is a once a week course that explains the biblical and historical context of the three monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The course is based in Jerusalem with a focus on how each of the religions have historically built the city and how they continue to impact the city and its residents today. The Islam portion has been particularly interesting to me, because it was the religion that I knew about the least. One of our trips was to Ein Raffa, a small Arab village outside of Jerusalem. There I met with Yasmin, a British woman who converted to Islam, married an Arab Israeli, and moved to Ein Raffa to raise her family. Yasmin talked to me and my class about the 5 Pillars of Islam, traditions of the religion, customs, and about her life and what it is like to be a converted Muslim woman. This was one of the first experiences I had where I not only felt that I could finally understand Islam but feel comfortable to factually prove the Islam/Terrorism assumption wrong. I always knew that Islam was not a violent religion, but Yasmin taught me why it is not a violent religion and that Muslim people should not be generalized because of this. Each class on Islam has given me more reasons to be tolerant to different religions and peoples. In addition, it was truly inspiring to hear from not only a Muslim, but a Muslim woman. As a woman in Islam, Yasmin told us that she felt equal to men, a common misconception about the religion. She explained to us that if Muslim women are treated unfairly it is usually because of the government that rules over them, who cannot justify their inequality with the religion. These governments are usually extreme in their policies and are not following traditional interpretations of Islamic text.

Living in Jerusalem has not only deepened my connection with Judaism but opened my eyes to the many realities of Christianity and Islam. I believe that education is the best way to beat ignorance, and being on Year Course has given me the opportunities to do so. Jerusalem is a city of many faiths, and it is important to understand why all three religions feel that they have a place here, because Jerusalem is so heavily enriched with history. I am so thankful to have had the chance to meet with Yasmin so that she can share her story and so I can pass it on. I hope that more people will challenge themselves to learn more about religions and cultures different than their own so that tolerance can be achieved, and generalizations can be broken.

Yasmin Barhum, lives in Ein Rafa and spoke to us about Islam.

Times of Year Course is produced by Young Judaea, which offers gap year programs for young American adults with Jewish roots who want to experience Israel in an in-depth program.

Young Judaea programs are for people of all Jewish backgrounds, with no specific or religious opinions, who aren’t afraid of eating too much falafel.

To be the first to know insider information about Young Judaea’s programs, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. To learn more about Young Judaea’s Year Course, click here! 

Applying For College During Year Course

During his senior year of high school, Dovy Ehrenreich knew he wasn’t exactly ready to jump into college. He wasn’t sure where he wanted to go to school and he still had questions about his future.

On choosing Year Course, Dovy says that “I knew I loved Israel so this seemed like the perfect option!” Year Course offered him the perfect compromise- while in Israel, he has been able to gain volunteer experience, take classes for credit, gain independence, and get ready for college. According to Dovy, “Year Course taught me so many things that are important in college, like being able to live on your own and with roommates. I’ve also been able to gain more musical experience, which will be incredibly helpful!” He has also been able to travel around the country, both through trips organized by Year Course and during his free time on the weekends and during holidays.

Dovy will be attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston this Fall, which was his top choice. He was able to apply to the college while on Year Course- he even auditioned from Israel! During his application, he mentioned that he was taking a gap year and the school found that interesting and attractive.

Times of Year Course is produced by Young Judaea, which offers gap year programs for young American adults with Jewish roots who want to experience Israel in an in-depth program.

Young Judaea programs are for people of all Jewish backgrounds, with no specific or religious opinions, who aren’t afraid of eating too much falafel.

Young Judaea Has A New Home in Tel Aviv-Yafo!

Participants on Young Judaea programs officially have another city in Israel to call home – Tel Aviv-Yafo! Expanding on our base at Beit Ar El in Jerusalem, Young Judaea Israel’s program participants and staff have a new home on Beit Hillel Street, in Tel Aviv-Yafo’s centrally-located Montefiore neighborhood, just a 10-minute walk from the famous Sarona market and neighborhood and Azrieli Mall, and a 15-minute walk from the Tel Aviv Cinematheque, Rothschild Boulevard, and Habima Square.

Sarona Market

While most recently the volunteering semester of our Year Course program has been based in Bat Yam, Year Coursers joining us in Fall 2017 will now call Tel Aviv-Yafo home during their four months of volunteer work, taking advantage of the more varied and developed opportunities to volunteer and intern in a vibrant and diverse community.

We are particularly excited that our Year Course participants will be able to live as locals in both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel’s two biggest cities with very different vibes. Our new center will welcome its first residents this coming summer, housing our summer internship program participants, before opening its doors to Year Course 2017-2018.

Just as exciting as the move is the new center itself! In Tel Aviv-Yafo, most of our program participants will now live together under one roof, creating a stronger and more cohesive sense of community. In addition to the co-op style dorm living, the center is equipped with common areas for socializing and educational activities, and a large space for guest lectures. There are communal kitchens on each floor where residents will be able to master the art of cooking local dishes, a laundry room, and a great rooftop garden to hang out and relax.

Independence Hall

As a Zionist organization, we are thrilled to plant new roots in the city where Israel was first declared a Jewish state, and where the revival of the Hebrew language made Tel Aviv-Yafo the first “Hebrew city.” The diverse kehilah (community) of Israelis, immigrants and refugees provides opportunities to experience true pluralism and co-existence, putting Tikkun Olam and leadership development at the forefront of our daily lives.

As the cultural and economic capital of Israel, Tel Aviv-Yafo is also the top choice for many international conferences, concerts, cultural events, and celebrations in which we can participate! Its beautiful beaches and promenade are widely considered some of the world’s best, and Tel Aviv-Yafo is fast becoming a global culinary hotspot. Young Judaea program participants who have been visiting Tel Aviv-Yafo for years will now be able to experience this exciting and diverse city as true residents, taking full of advantage of the vibrant cafés, shops, and cultural spots that make Tel Aviv-Yafo a Mediterranean metropolis.

Tel Aviv-Yafo’s world famous beach

Learning How To Save Lives With Magen David Adom

While our Year Coursers are in Bat Yam, they have the option of volunteering with Magen David Adom, the emergency health services of Israel. This special program  teaches our participants life saving skills and allows them to put them to use in action. While the MDA program finished recently, our participants enjoyed their experience so much that they have applied to continue the program during the rest of their time on Year Course! Here is what a few of our participants have to say about the experience:

“Over my brief 3 or so weeks of volunteering for MDA, not only have I expanded my knowledge of very important life schools, but I have also learned how MDA operates—in general but also in a place like Rishon. For the last few years, I have been obtaining many medical credentials from water safety to CPR. Through the 10 day training course, I was able to reinforce those skills I’ve learned. More importantly, being in the ambulance gives me the opportunity to put the theory to practice. Volunteering for MDA also showed me what hardships some of the denizens of Rishon have to go through. I’ve also learned about how MDA functions and some of the bureaucracy behind the life-saving society.” 

- Jakob Allen

“I’ve wanted to join ever since I knew that it was a possibility. I made a wonderful decision. We interact with all kinds of people who we would otherwise never meet. I am getting a glimpse into the different cultures that Israel has to offer just by walking into people’s homes and looking at their decorations and stylings. I have improved my Hebrew immensely by conversing with the patients and MDA teams who speak little to no English. I believe I am truly making an impact. I could not imagine a better volunteer placement.”

- Jessica Lefkowitz

“Over the last few weeks my experience as a volunteer for MDA has been both eye opening and life changing. Being able to help others in the region has provided me with a better understanding of a whole new side of Israeli society that I had never seen before. Volunteering with MDA has allowed me the opportunity to both make connections with people outside of year course and learn more about myself. Upon returning home in May, I plan to enroll in an EMT course and apply what I have learned to my everyday life. Throughout these past few weeks I have done things that I had previously thought I was not capable of and I am so grateful for all that MDA has taught me.”

- Sami Bernstein

“The lessons I've learnt from MDA and the experiences I have gained from it are invaluable and almost impossible to replicate in any other workplace. I've learnt how important it is to work in a team and to think before you act. I have learnt never to rush into anything, better to assess a situation with care and evaluate the best possible solution I can work towards.”

- Sam Goldberg

We are so proud of everything you all have learned and accomplished!!! 

Times of Year Course is produced by Young Judaea, which offers gap year programs for young American adults with Jewish roots who want to experience Israel in an in-depth program.

Young Judaea programs are for people of all Jewish backgrounds, with no specific or religious opinions, who aren’t afraid of eating too much falafel.

To be the first to know insider information about Young Judaea’s programs, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. To learn more about Young Judaea’s Year Course,

Visiting Temple Mount

By: Emily Libowitz, current Year Course Participant

 As I listened to my alarm go off that morning, a different feeling fell upon me. I didn’t moan or whine when I heard the beeping, I just simply slipped out of bed and looked forward to what the day would present me with. I had always heard about the Temple Mount but i never really understood what it was. I just figured it was a place with a big golden dome that as a Jew, I was not necessarily welcome to visit. At least, that’s what i had been told. However on the morning of tuesday december 6th, I was taught what the temple mount truly was.

Confused. I was very confused at the fact that the entrance to the site was overlooking the kotel, a place considered very religious and holy by many Jews. I never knew that this structure led to the Temple Mount entrance, I just thought it was merely construction that had never been finished. Walking through the tunnel of wood, overlooking the people deep in prayer, I thought to myself how lucky I am to be in this country and visiting a site so important and holy to so many different religions, a place that many Jews have never even gotten the chance to visit.

Waiting in line I had no idea what to expect. I really wasn’t educated enough on the holy meaning of the Temple Mount to each religion.

I had learned in the previous siyur about how Islam revolves around being devote to God (Allah). Islams follows the Koran, said to be written by the prophet Muhammed and they enforce the 5 pillars of Islam, Shahada (testimony), Salah (prayer), Sam (fasting), Zakat (charity), and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca)

The Temple Mount is the third holiest site in Islam, and is open to any Muslims to come and go freely, but it doesn’t hold the same rules for Jews and Christians. The site consists of two large buildings, The Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa Mosque. The Dome, completed in 692 C.E, makes it one of the oldest Islamic structures. The Dome was built originally with a gold covering, which was removed years later to pay for renovations of the mosque. When this happened the top was replaced with a fake gold cover, however it was recovered with real gold years later. The Dome sits in the center of the Temple Mount, where the previous Holy Temple once stood, while the Al Aqsa Mosque sits on the southern end facing Mecca, where Muhhamed was born.

Today The Temple Mount is a place where the Arab-Israeli conflict can be very prominent. Although Israel has soveriengty over the land, it is run by the Muslim community and is only truly welcoming to those of Islam. Many quarrels, fights, and acts of terror have been committed on this site between the two religions in spite of one another in such a holy area.

It is holy to the Jewish people because it is believed to be where the world was created and expanded from. It was also the location of the first and second holy temples of Judaism, the holiest place of prayer for Jews in history. If the Jewish Messiah ever come, the Temple Mount is said to be the location of the third holy temple. In Islam it is believed that this is where Muhhamed rose to heaven, making it the third holiest site in the religion. The mount is a primitive place for prayer for Muslims and is known for having the “farthest Mosque” to heaven (Important in the Koran).

Interestingly enough we couldn’t discuss the Jewish connection while visiting the mount, we only conversed about the Muslim connection, making sure not to risk safety in such a controversial place. After leaving we were able to reconvene and process all of our thoughts to conclude the day. This siyur truly meant a lot to me and really made me think more about my religion and its connection to others.

Times of Year Course is produced by Young Judaea, which offers gap year programs for young American adults with Jewish roots who want to experience Israel in an in-depth program.

Young Judaea programs are for people of all Jewish backgrounds, with no specific or religious opinions, who aren’t afraid of eating too much falafel.

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