Location:

Jerusalem, Israel

Program Type:

Study Abroad

Degree Level:

Undergraduate

Term:

Academic Year, Fall Semester, Winter Semester

Program Overview

Program Description:

Chai Israel’s full spectrum gap-year experience was created for post high school students who have decided to spend a semester or year in Israel discovering their heritage, their religion, their land and themselves. Our program is designed to give students the opportunity to pause from the hustle and bustle of a student’s life and focus on their own self growth. With the guidance of our professional educators and world renowned Rabbi’s, our student’s can develop a life-long path that will enable them to intertwine modern society with traditional Jewish living. Chai Israel’s weekly schedule and academic curriculum caters to the diverse interests of nowadays teenagers. From paintball to basketball and from history to mysticism - Chai Israel students experience it all!

The Chai Israel philosophy is that learning has to be real and relevant to a student. We feel learning only begins when a student asks a question, until then it’s just random information. At Chai Israel, we create an inviting educational environment where students are engaged in the dialogue and become involved in the topic being discussed in the classroom and on our tours. We believe that students can grow more from “life” experience than they do from classroom knowledge. Therefore when we finish our classes, We take our classrooms “on the road”. Every hike, trip, tour, and even a Shabbat dinner yields a lesson to be learned. When we study a topic in class that may be a new idea or concept to our students, we’ll take them to “live it”. Whether it be experiencing Chesed by feeding the hungry, learning about our history at an archeological excavation, hearing about the holocaust from a survivor who experienced it or creating Achdus ( Jewish unity) while playing basketball with our friends and Rabbi’s.

18 Reasons to join Chai Israel 1. To have the time of your life! 2. Tour the entire country from Eilat to the Golan on our weekly excursions. 3. Enhance your skills to study Torah with enthusiasm and insight. 4. Located in the heart of Jerusalem, footsteps from the Old city and city center. 5. Earn up to 18 university credits per semester. 6. Participate in a wide array of weekly volunteering projects to improve Israeli society. 7. Amazing monthly shabbatons in different cities around the country. 8. Get exposure to Israel’s top dynamic personalities and educators. 9. Learn Hebrew fluently in a fun and relaxed environment. 10. Connect to our rich history and heritage with our “on-location “ Jewish History tours. 11. Train to be an effective advocate for Israel and the Jewish people. 12. Intriguing teaching style with daily open-discussions on contemporary Jewish issues. 13. All classes are in English and given at beginner to intermediate levels. 14. Broad student range with no Jewish educational background or religious affiliation required. 15. Only 30 students on the program, which allows you to be appreciated for your individuality. 16. Develop lifelong relationships with friends and faculty and their families. 17. Experience Israel’s diverse culture and social ambiance. 18. Join 10,000 students from around the world who are spending next year in Israel.

Setting Description:

Chai Israel is a unique post high school gap-year opportunity in Israel that combines thought provoking classes, exciting excursions, sports, challenging volunteer work, Israeli culture and meaningful experiences – in a comfortable Jewish atmosphere.