Masa Volunteers-Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center serves as the capstone of the Jewish Day School experience by providing seniors with the opportunity to develop an even greater sense of Jewish identity while traveling and learning contextually throughout Israel. Participants learn firsthand as they experience an educational odyssey through Jewish history, while at the same time consolidating their knowledge and skills in Hebrew, Tanach, Rabbinic studies, and the critical thinking that is central to the program education they are culminating in. More than simply a trip or tour,the program is a journey that impacts the hearts and souls of our participants just before they take the next step in their lives. The program was created by the FuchsbergJerusalem Center in accordance with the school curriculum and values.
It is our belief that as Jews, our participants must develop a deep understanding of the history of the Jewish people and form a life-long relationship with the land, people, and state of Israel. Only by truly knowing our history are we able to understand our present and chart our future.The program allows the participants to study this history impactfully, in the places where it happened, and in a way that speaks to them as teenagers approaching their own independence. They learn, engage, travel, experience, take part in rituals, gaining leadership tools and being challenged by new experiences, ideologies and conceptions.
The program is a unique opportunity for our participants to culminate their years of education as they explore their relationship with Jewish history and the modern State of Israel in a personal and meaningful way. Participants become active learners as they synthesize years of academic studies with an intense, four-week, travel-based experience. At the same time, they are exposed to new and often contradictory viewpoints as they are encouraged to see issues from multiple perspectives.
Masa Volunteers-Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center is an intensely Jewish experience that helps its participants develop an integrated sense of themselves as Jews, with a strong feeling of commitment to Israel, the Jewish people, and Jewish tradition. We encourage our participants to learn about themselves and to envision themselves as leaders even as they travel on their own spiritual journeys. This approach speaks to the mind, body and spirit of each participant, helping them to find their own voice and chart their own path in the years ahead. Participants return from the program better prepared for the challenges of campus life and more prepared to take responsibility for the decisions they will be making as they progress towards greater independence.
