What if you could put in motion a process today that would transform 1 in every 5 young adults in your community into a Jewish leader of tomorrow? You can. Actions you take today have the potential to transform the attitudes of an entire generation. In your community and around the world.

What is MASA?

Building on the success of Birthright Israel and other short-term experiences, MASA capitalizes on the powerful force of a deeper experience of Israel to build leadership-level connections and enduring commitment. MASA, the Hebrew word for "Journey," is a strategic partnership between the Jewish Agency and the Government of Israel with an extraordinary vision: to dramatically increase the number of young Jews ages 18-30 from around the world on long-term Israel programs and forge a life-long connection to Israel and the Jewish people.

Despite the growing popularity of overseas academic programs, the vast majority of Jewish youngsters around the world do not consider Israel as a possible venue for this type of experience. Moreover, for many of the young people who dream about participating in a semester or long term Israel program, financial need remains the biggest obstacle. MASA was established precisely to reverse these two trends. In more than 50 percent of the cases, MASA's funding is what makes the difference in a young person's decision to spend a formative semester or year in Israel.

MASA is not a program. It is a simple idea designed to dramatically increase participation in a wide variety of long-term programs in Israel by:

• Building the right programs
• Aggressively marketing the idea of long-term programs
• Helping young people find the program that’s right for them
• Making it affordable and easy to fit into a participant’s life
• Connecting the graduates back into Jewish life

MASA currently serves as the umbrella for 160 long-term programs, all of which offer meaningful Jewish education and Hebrew language instruction, leadership development, volunteer activities, field trips, arts and culture programs and encounters with Israeli peers.

The research is clear
In a world of broadband, blogs and instant messaging, securing the bond that has transcended generations and carried our people forward will take more effort on our part than ever before. Unparalleled choices, freedom, and mobility threaten to erode timeless connections and have clearly redefined community.

A first-person experience of Israel is a proven gateway into Jewish life for many of today’s young unaffiliated Jews—and for others, a vehicle for deepening Jewish connection. The research tracking the impact of the 10-day birthright israel trip speaks volumes:

• Importance of dating only Jews climbed to 35% for participants relative to only 21% of age cohort non-participants
• Importance of raising children as Jews climbed to 60% for participants relative to 46% of age cohort non-participants

Birthright Israel has clearly demonstrated that a short-term Israel experience makes a difference. MASA takes it to the next level.

Read more about MASA's impact in our recent program evaluation

How you can help

This innovative initiative of unprecedented scale, spearheaded by the Jewish Agency together with the Government of Israel, partners you with the people of Israel and worldwide Jewish communities to promote these transformative journeys. Every federation, community, and funder is invited to become a MASA partner.

By making these programs accessible to a much broader number of young adults through MASA, we can bring 15,000 young Jews per year to Israel on long term programs. Making a semester to a year in Israel the norm for every Jewish leader and community activist. An ambitious goal? Absolutely – but one that is achievable.