Gesher Program

This new program will focus on the centrality of Israel for one’s Jewish identity while creating a relationship with Masorti communities in Europe. The program will match an academic semester the first half with a second half of travel and volunteering in Masorti communities in Europe.

The primary goal of this program is to give participants an active role in the bigger picture of the international Masorti community. Through working in these communities, and not only touring, participants will gain a deep understanding of Jewish life and Masorti life in Europe. Living in Israel for the beginning of the program will not only accomplish the overarching Nativ program goal of connecting with the land and the people there, but it will give more substance to serving the European communities. As the name embodies, this program will create a gesher – a bridge – for participants between life in the Jewish homeland and Diaspora communities.

Program Overview

First Semester – Academic Studies
For the first month of the program the group will live in Jerusalem. During this time the students will take preparatory seminars for the year as well as experience the holidays in the country’s religious center. Soon after the holidays they will head up north to Oranim College, Israel’s leading education school, located outside of Haifa. This opportunity for academic credit will focus on Jewish identity, history of European Jewry, and Israeli society. Students will also participate in an Ulpan program of 8 hours a week. Nativ-Gesher students will have opportunities to explore northern Israel through field trips and weekly volunteer work.

The students will live in close proximity to the college and will have many opportunities to integrate into college life with Israeli students.

Second Semester – Community service from Jerusalem to Europe
The second semester will be centered around two stays in European cities, each four to five weeks. During each trip abroad, the group will split between a few European cities, including Budapest, Berlin, and London. In each location the volunteer projects will be people-based and will include work in kindergartens and Hebrew schools, as well as conducting special programming like a Purim Carnival, a Tu b’Shevat Seder, and Israel programming.

There will be organized group activity nights to take advantage of such cultural events as plays and sport matches, as well as three to four days devoted to touring. The Shabbatot in Europe will be a key time to become immersed in each community’s religious life. The trips may also include some free time to allow for participants’ own exploration.

Between the European trips, the group will be based in Jerusalem at the Fuchsberg Center for Conservative Judaism. During that time the group will focus on preparation for each trip abroad, special Israel seminars, and tiyulim around Israel. Trip preparation will feature professionals and teachers providing information about each country and the specific communities. Time will also be spent program building, based on the needs set forth by the European communities in advance.

Staff Structure
The group will have two counselors who will live with the students, as well as a program coordinator. The staff will also accompany the group on the trips out of Israel. The program is overseen by the Director of the Nativ program.