“Onward Israel” (OI) offers six-week Israel-based work internships to Diaspora young adults. The custom-fit internships – based on each participant’s studies and career interests – offer an opportunity to reside communally in apartments in Israel with other OI participants.
Since most OI programs are scheduled for the summer, when college students have flexibility to participate, it limits the participation of students who work in Jewish summer camps. Thus, the Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC) worked with OI on a variation of the program, designed so that these camp counselors could participate in an Israel-based internship and also return to work in their camps during the summer. The OI for camp counselors program offers a five-week (instead of the usual six) intensive internship and Jewish identity formation program from early-May to mid-June, starting when most colleges’ final tests are over, and returning in time to participate in the camp’s staff training week before the campers arrive. Thus the students (1) benefit from the OI experience and internship; (2) can return to work in camp and earn money instead of possibly taking a US-based internship; and (3) bring to camp a much deeper understanding of Israeli life, culture and complexities than is possible through shorter-term Israel programs, which they can share with their campers and peers during the summer. The costs for the program are shared by program funders, the sponsoring camp or agency, and the participant. There are 120 alumni of this program.
Onward Israel Internships for North American Camp Staff
AVI CHAI concluded its general grant making on December 31, 2019.
