On the 19th anniversary of Masa's founding, this year it was decided for the first time to increase the number of participants in the organization's programs to 14 thousand young people from the diaspora in light of the high demand, in cooperation with the Jewish Agency and the Israeli government.
This is an addition of 2,000 young Jews between the ages of 18 and 35 from five different continents around the world, who will come to Israel with the aim of integrating into Israeli society, for 4-10 months as part of internship programs, teaching English, career development and volunteering in the community.
Of these, 200 new doctors will immigrate to Israel from Eastern Europe and Latin America.
The organization's CEO Ofer Gutman and immigrants as part of the program, photo: Masa organization
The CEO of Masa organization, Ofer Gutman, said: "This is a doubling of the 'Masa Rofiim' program in just one year."
"significant display of power"
Also, there was an increase of about 220% in participants in the "Doctors Journey" program, when 200 Jewish doctors from Eastern Europe and Latin America will arrive this year for the first time, for a training program and integration into the Israeli health system as new immigrants.
The leading continents and countries from which young people will come to Israel are in descending order: North America, countries of the former Soviet Union, Latin America, Europe, Australia, South Africa, Turkey, Uzbekistan and other countries.
In the 19 years since the Masa organization was established, over 180,000 young people from 60 countries around the world have participated in significant and long-term programs in Israel and have even lived here as locals.
"This is a rumored show of strength by new Israeli ambassadors who are growing from here over the years. In order to understand where Israel-Diaspora relations stand, we set out to find out what the young Jewish people in America think," explains Masa's CEO, Ofer Gutman.
Chairman of the Jewish Agency, Doron Almog with one of the immigrants, photo: Masa organization
As part of this, the organization conducted an in-depth study among 2,433 young Jews from North America aged 22-35, among them graduates of Journey programs, from which it appears that 50% testify that they are active for Israeli advocacy, 54% of Journey graduates testify that Israel is a significant part of the Jewish identity of them, 47% of Journey graduates are considering living in Israel in the future, 67% of Journey graduates testified that they are concerned about the rise of anti-Semitism in the US, 42% feel comfortable expressing their opinion regarding Israel, 55% of Journey graduates testify that they feel at home in Israel, 60% testify that they Feel a deep connection to Israeli society.
The study was conducted by the research institute Impact:NPO in New York.
"Jewish communities are gaining supporters"
Ofer Gutman, CEO of Masa Organization stated: "We clearly recognize that there is a direct impact of long-term programs in Israel on young Jews in the Diaspora and in the United States in particular.
Israel gains dedicated supporters and loyal ambassadors, Jewish communities gain mixed members, and donors."
At the opening event of the 19th year of operation of the Mesa organization held yesterday in the presence of the Jewish Agency's board of trustees and approximately 3,500 Mesa participants, the chairman of the Jewish Agency, Major General Doron Almog, stated: "Thousands of young Jews come to Israel every year to study, volunteer, and intern , to work, feel and experience life in the State of Israel. Masa, the flagship program of the Jewish Agency, has become a leading program among young Jews living in the Diaspora. I see the participants in the event and am filled with pride and joy, for the deep connection they have with the Jewish people and the State of Israel and their contribution to strengthening the connection between Israel and Diaspora Jewry".
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