Live, Learn and Volunteer in Tel Aviv with Israelis! What is a BINA Gap Year in Israel?
BINA's Gap Year in Israel offers high school graduates a uniquely immersive experience to live in Tel Aviv for 10 months alongside their Israeli peers. Program participants will engage in meaningful social action in the community in which they live, and explore the Jewish bookshelf from a pluralistic and progressive perspective.
Who is BINA? BINA: The Jewish Movement for Social Change strengthens Israel as a democratic and pluralistic society by emphasizing Judaism as a culture and the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam ("repairing the world"). BINA designs and implements programming for Jews from Israel and around the world. Their service-learning programs aim to inspire lifelong appreciation and engagement in education and social justice.
How will I spend my time on BINA Gap Year program? Full of social action, learning, and group life!
You will study, volunteer and live side-by-side with Israelis your age, celebrating Shabbat services and holidays together. You will be placed in a meaningful volunteer assignment based in south Tel Aviv, where you will also be living. Highly experienced counselors and mentors at BINA, with their personal commitment to social justice, will provide close supervision and guidance in each of your volunteer assignments. You will study classical Jewish texts, Jewish philosophy, social justice and Israeli studies, taught by experienced scholars and educators. You will take a role in shaping your year and the year of your fellow group members, being a part of different committees, and planning trips and events all around the country.
How do Israelis fit into the program? BINA's Gap Year participants are integrated into an Israeli mechina, meaning 'preparation' in Hebrew, which is a common year long pre-army program for Israelis after high school. You are encouraged to bring experiences and knowledge from your own community, to share aspects of growing up in the diaspora with your peers who grew up around the globe. While some time is reserved for the international gap cohort only, most days and activities are spent with the Israeli mechina participants to plan activities together, practice Hebrew to improve your understanding, and build lifelong bonds.
For more information, please contact:
Taylor Kleeman
Admissions and Marketing Coordinator
taylor@bina.org.il
Israel (+972) 52 603 3665
USA (+1) (646) 883-5105
