For years, Masa programs have brought thousands of young Jews from the Diaspora to Israel, where they live for months like locals and develop a deep bond with both their Jewish identity and the country. Research shows that Masa alumni remain more connected to Jewish community life, are more active in the public sphere and, in some cases, even choose Jewish-focused careers.
Building on this understanding, the organization is launching for the second consecutive year its Masa Changemakers initiative, a select group of 10 alumni from around the world chosen out of hundreds of thousands of participants for their impact on Jewish communities in Israel and abroad.
Two of them are Eitan Levine and Anna Staroselski, who in recent years have turned their time in Israel into a springboard for sustained action. Levine, a comedian and content creator, found through his Masa experience a renewed connection to his identity and personal confidence. Staroselski, a political leader from Germany, returned home determined to ensure that Jewish students have a safe space and a strong voice. Their stories are very different, yet both show how a single year in Israel can inspire long-term engagement.
Eitan Levine: finding his voice
Eitan Levine, 36, grew up in New Jersey. As a child battling cancer, he first encountered one of his greatest passions through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which arranged his first stand-up performance. Years later, he is giving back in his own way, setting out to break a Guinness World Record for throwing out ceremonial first pitches at baseball games across the US in order to raise funds for the organization.
"After October 7, the content I was creating suddenly took on a different meaning," Levine says. "People came up to me and thanked me for what I was doing."
His year in Israel as part of a Masa program was, he says, a turning point in his life. "In high school I did not excel in Jewish studies or Hebrew. But in Israel they taught me how to learn on my own. It was a huge boost to my self-confidence," he recalls. During that year he also discovered what he loved most: comedy. "I even won a comedy competition in Jerusalem that year."
More than a war
After returning to the US, Levine worked as a writer and journalist covering the entertainment industry. "Over time I drifted a bit from religion, and then Covid arrived." He used social media to create Jewish content, mostly humorous. "I was able to choose for myself how I connect to Judaism and how I present it." During that period he hosted a daily show on Amazon Prime's sports network, talking about sports, his lifelong passion, for a full year.
Then came the events of October 7. "The content stayed funny, but it suddenly carried a different weight. After what happened, people came up to me and thanked me for what I was doing."
Today, Levine manages digital platforms with tens of thousands of followers, hosts a podcast, films street interviews such as "Jewish or antisemitic?" and presents the game show "That's So Jewish." His work has appeared on shows hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert and The Daily Show.
"Do not let the poison take over," he says. "Israel is more than a war. It is my favorite place after New York. Experience the joy of Israel before the defenses go up."
Recently, Levine filmed a series on Jewish food across the US, which led him to establish Tribe NIL Sports, an initiative that brings together around 180 Jewish student athletes and provides them with financial and community support.
Anna Staroselski: fighting for a safe space
Anna Staroselski, 29, was born in Stuttgart to parents who immigrated from Ukraine. She grew up in a secular home, like many families from the former Soviet Union. "I decided I wanted to learn more about my heritage. I thought the best way to do that was to come to Israel," she says. She joined a Masa program, acknowledging that "it was difficult at first to come from Germany to Israel, but the people are incredible. Everyone cares about you."
After her time in Israel, she moved to Berlin to study and pursued what had always drawn her: politics and community activism. She joined the Union of Jewish Students in Germany and later was elected its president. "The goals of the union are to create a safe space for Jewish students and to be a voice for them," she explains.
The organization engaged in lobbying efforts with the media and political system and promoted policies related to Jewish security in Germany. "We pushed the government to develop a strategy to combat antisemitism and acted against groups on campus that support terrorist organizations," she says.
After completing her term, Staroselski became a spokesperson for a major Jewish organization. "If we speak only about antisemitism, it pushes the general public away. In fighting antisemitism, we are actually safeguarding democratic values in the country."
Her advice to young Jews is to "focus on what you believe is right. You can never know how meaningful even a small action can be." Staroselski herself is active on social media in support of Israel and is undeterred. "There are so many lies out there, but that does not stop me from supporting Israel."
On the future of Jewish life in Europe, she says, "There can be a future for Jews in Europe if we act for ourselves. But the non-Jewish environment also needs to step up. This is a struggle for everyone."
Staroselski adds: "We pushed the government to create a strategy to fight antisemitism and acted against groups that support terrorist organizations on campus."
