Masa Israel Journey Blog

Israel: A Love Story

Published : August 24, 2012

By Aviya Shevin, She'arim College for Women

I remember when I first fell in love with Israel. It was December 2005 and, as the wheels of the plane kissed the runway, the travelers around me broke out into applause.

“I’m here,” I thought, “I’ve arrived.”

I first traveled to Israel with Aish Birthright and then extended my stay for a week to study at the She’arim College for Women. During two winter breaks from the University of Miami, I again made the trip to She’arim. But, these were pilot trips for the ultimate goal - a year in Israel. Masa Israel made that goal a reality.

For the 2008-2009 academic year, I lived and breathed Israel, mostly in the heights of western Jerusalem...

Elbows Up

Published : August 23, 2012

By Adam Hummel, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

For three months I studied at the Masa Israel-accredited Hebrew University in Jerusalem, doing a semester exchange during my third year of law school at the University of Windsor in Canada.

From the time I first learned about the opportunity to spend a semester abroad, I knew I would choose Israel. There, I would be able to explore the field of international law, understand how Israelis my age approach their academics post-army service, and immerse myself in Israeli society. I also knew that I would benefit from a taste of the traditional and infamous Israeli chutzpah.

The campus of Hebrew University is like no other. Situated on Mount Scopus, one of the highest points in Jerusalem,...