Masa Israel Journey is committed to fostering environments that reflect the diversity of the global Jewish community and uphold the dignity of every participant.
As a leading provider of long-term, immersive experiences in Israel for young adults from over 60 countries, Masa recognizes that meaningful personal and leadership development can only take place in settings where participants feel safe, respected, and able to fully express their identities.
Masa approaches Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as an ongoing, practice-based commitment. Inclusion is not defined by policy statements alone, but by the lived experience of participants throughout the program. Accordingly, programs are expected to operate with flexibility, cultural sensitivity, and a readiness to respond to individual needs in real time.
This commitment applies to all participants regardless of ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, level of religious observance, disability, socioeconomic background, family background, or any other aspect of identity.
Participating Organizers are required to:
- Promote diversity and representation by creating spaces that acknowledge and respect a wide range of identities, backgrounds, and lived experiences within the global Jewish community
- Ensure equity through responsive practice, by remaining attentive to individual needs and making appropriate accommodations to support participants’ well-being and sense of belonging
- Foster inclusive environments in which participants can safely express their identities and engage fully in all aspects of program life—social, educational, and communal—without fear of exclusion or marginalization
- Embed inclusion into the educational experience, by integrating relevant perspectives, narratives, and discussions into the program’s content, in alignment with Masa’s emphasis on leadership development, cultural engagement, and connection to Israeli society
- Maintain transparency and accessibility, ensuring that inclusivity policies and available support systems are clearly communicated to participants before and during the program
- Demonstrate active responsibility for participant well-being, including the provision of trained staff, accessible support channels, and a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination, harassment, or harmful practices
- Strive to improve physical and digital accessibility by adapting activity spaces, educational materials, and digital platforms to the needs of participants with disabilities, within our ability and in line with recognized accessibility standards.
Masa further emphasizes the importance of continuous dialogue and feedback. Through structured and anonymous feedback mechanisms, participants are given the opportunity to share their experiences, enabling programs to identify gaps, respond to challenges, and improve on an ongoing basis.
In line with Masa’s role as a platform for meaningful, immersive journeys in Israel, this standard reflects a shared responsibility between Masa and its partner organizers to create environments where every participant can engage, grow, and lead as their full and authentic self.
Reporting & Enforcement
Participants who experience or witness discrimination, harassment, or any violation of this inclusion policy are encouraged to reach out at any time to:
- Their program’s lead staff
- All reports will be handled with confidentiality, respect, and in accordance with Masa’s procedures
Masa is committed to reviewing each report and taking appropriate action. Programs that fail to meet these standards may be subject to a review of their Masa