Teens, young adults experience Israel after a year stuck on the ground

After a year of sitting on the runway, so to speak, during the pandemic, teen and young adult trips to Israel took off again – for a window of time, this past spring and summer.

Now, the certainty of upcoming trips to Israel is in flux due to renewed COVID concerns. But what is certain is the success of the trips that did make it to Israel in recent months.

Thanks to robust protocols and strong partnerships with the Israeli government, the programs were able to adhere to COVID prevention measures.

In May, Birthright Israel resumed bringing participants, ages 18-32, to Israel. In fact, more than 3,900 participants were able to travel to Israel over the spring and summer. However, on August 11, Birthright postponed the remainder of its trips for the summer due to new Israeli quarantine rules. Trips will be rescheduled as soon as the quarantine is lifted.

Talia Fischer traveled to Israel on a Chicago community trip with Shorashim, an educational trip provider supported by Birthright and JUF. JUF partners with Shorashim to run its Chicago Community Trips; this summer, Shorashim ran two such trips for college students, and four for graduates and professionals.

Fischer, who works in tech sales, said the trip, for her, was about “re-engaging with Judaism – asking what it means to be an American Jew,” especially during a time of rising antisemitism.

For college students and recent graduates looking to build their resumes, JUF supports the Chicago Onward Israel Program, an international internship experience and a partner program of Birthright Israel and Masa Israel Journey.

This summer, JUF sent 87 Onward Israel participants to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Students worked at internships in fields related to their majors and future goals, everywhere from Tel Aviv University to architectural and legal firms, and in tourism, healthcare, and engineering.

Onward participant Ethan Harris, a Washington University junior from Skokie, interned at a Tel Aviv high-tech firm. “I developed skills and connections that will help me throughout my professional journey,” he said, “and explored Tel Aviv with newly-made friends.”

More than 5,000 pre-college teens also traveled this summer to Israel, sponsored, in large part, by youth organizations including NCSY, NFTY, BBYO, USY, and Camp Ramah. Many teens are benefiting from a new program, RootOne, which provides vouchers of up to $3,000 for teen trips. The initiative, led by The Jewish Education Project, received a $20 million seed gift for the program from the Marcus Foundation.

Noah Devir – a junior at Kenwood Academy High School in Hyde Park – traveled with NCSY on a four-week Israel experience for public school students.

Students on Devir’s trip, which hosted more than 35 participants from across the U.S., traveled throughout Israel, from the Golan Heights all the way down to Eilat. He said he was thankful for the opportunity to go, especially after the trip had been canceled last year. “It was one of the best experiences of my life,” he said. “I definitely have more of a connection to Israel now.”

And for a younger cohort, JUF supports ISRAELNOW Chicago, a week-long experience for eighth graders. Future ISRAELNOW Chicago trips plan to leave in the fall of 2021 and in February and March of 2022.

Meanwhile, Masa – which offers gap year study, career development, and volunteer programs for young adults – never ceased programming during the pandemic. In fact, more than 9,000 young people globally entered Israel in 2020-21 on programs that are between four and 10 months long.

Since Masa offers longer-term programs, participants were able to quarantine in place before vaccines were available. While quarantining, they took part in special programming, from Hebrew classes to interactive activities, to make the best use of their time. Current travel restrictions will also not impact the fall Masa programs, in which participants will be able to adhere to the quarantine requirements if necessary.

For details on these programs, email[email protected].

Due to the evolving nature of the pandemic, travel plans to Israel are subject to change and interested individuals should contact the trip organizer for the most up-to-date information.