"Aside from being very involved in Young Judaea growing up, I had also spent a year preparing to work with Sudanese refugees in Israel," said Tova. As a senior in high school, she planned a fundraising dinner in Portland for the refugee community in Israel.
As a Masa participant, Tova took her service work to a whole new level, participating in a rally for Gilad Shalit in Bat Yam and volunteering with Sudanese refugees in Arad. "One day, my friends and I decided that the Sudanese gan (kindergarten) wasn't conducive for children, so, in two days, we painted the whole thing," said Tova.
While living in Jeruaslem, Tova interned at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, which inspired her to study politics at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
"I realized that while volunteering enables you to help a small group of people, poltiics is the best way to make a big impact."
Now on campus in Boulder, CO, Tova enjoys attending Shabbat dinners with other Year Course alumni. She is also looking forward to studying abroad in Israel.
"My gap year in Israel gave me experiences that set me apart from my peers," says Tova. "I cam to campus knowing what I'm passionate about."
