Why Year Course?
Since its establishment in 1956, Young Judaea’s Year Course in Israel has provided more than 6,000 participants with a challenging year of life-impacting experiences. Year Course is staffed by highly qualified educators, counselors and tour guides who are dedicated to a quality program of formal and informal education within a supportive, university-level environment. Year Course has four major goals:
To enable participants to grow as human beings:
- Strengthening each participant’s self confidence, independence and sense of responsibility.
- Using Israel as a laboratory for teaching participants about tolerance and pluralism, and by introducing them to a myriad of different communities across the country.
- Providing a sound, supportive environment in which participants can explore, grow and mature during a dynamic year in Israel.
To enable participants to grow as Jews:
- Instilling in them the values of g’milut chasadim (acts of giving and generosity), tikkun olam (world repair), family, and community
- Improving participants’ literacy in Jewish history and tradition, Hebrew and contemporary Israeli culture through accredited, college-level courses.
- Fostering a positive sense of Jewish identity and Jewish community.
To enable participants to grow as Zionists:
- Providing a comprehensive Israel experience, establishing knowledge of and connections to the country’s geography, language, people, history and contemporary life.
- Teaching Zionist thought, the history of Israeli society, culture and politics.
- Demonstrating the centrality of Israel in Jewish life and responsibility toward the land of Israel.
To enable participants to grow as leaders:
- Improving their leadership skills and awareness of those abilities.
- Preparing and encouraging participants to return home and become active members, leaders and Israel advocates within their Jewish communities.
- Promoting active participation within Young Judaea, Hadassah and Jewish life on campus.
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