Masa fellows participate in a wide range of programs tailored to their interests and goals. These include Masa Israel Teaching Fellows, where English-speaking fellows teach conversational English in Israeli schools for a year; Masa Career, offering fellows to internships with Israeli companies across various industries; and Masa Doctors, designed for medical professionals to prepare for licensing exams in Israel while learning Hebrew and familiarizing themselves with the country. Other programs include Masa Volunteers, Masa Academic, Masa Gap, and Masa Jewish Studies.

While some Masa fellows choose to make Aliyah at the end of their program, most return to their home countries with a deep understanding of Israel and Israeli society. They carry this knowledge, along with a strengthened connection to Israel and their Jewish identity, back to their local communities. Many fellows describe their experience as transformative, often inspiring them to pursue careers in the Jewish world or become passionate advocates and supporters of Israel in various capacities.

To celebrate the impressive impact of its 220,000 alumni, Masa is launching the Masa Changemakers List for 2025. This list features 10 distinguished alumni selected from its vast network of graduates. These individuals have excelled across diverse fields: some lead in media and politics in Israel and abroad, others are social activists and entrepreneurs. Despite their varied professions, they all share a transformative Masa experience in Israel that has inspired their impactful contributions to the Jewish people and the world.

The Masa Changemakers List aims to inspire hope and confidence in the next generation of young Jewish adults, demonstrating their readiness to embrace the mission of strengthening the Jewish people wherever they may be. These individuals exemplify the transformative power of a Masa experience, serving as a beacon of inspiration and a reminder that the future of the Jewish community is in capable and committed hands. These are the Masa Changemakers.

Shabbos Kestenbaum

Los Angeles, USA
Jewish Studies
Jewish Thought Leader and Speaker, Media Personality, and Leader in the Fight Against Antisemitism

Shabbos Kestenbaum is one of the most prominent young Jewish voices in North America today. He grew up in a deeply Zionist home and always felt a strong personal connection to Israel. His time in Israel through Masa provided him with the intellectual and spiritual tools to articulate and deepen that connection. He enjoyed the program so much, that he chose to stay for another year in Israel and study.

In 2024, while studying at Harvard University, Shabbos made national headlines when he filed a groundbreaking lawsuit against the university, claiming it had failed—and at times refused—to protect Jewish students on campus. Before October 7, he says, antisemitism was something he had never personally encountered. But after the attacks, he was shocked by how many of his classmates spoke about Israel and Hamas with moral equivalence—or worse. Feeling a deep sense of responsibility to his community, he decided to take a stand.

A survey found that 73% of Jewish students at Harvard had experienced antisemitism during that period, and the court ultimately ruled against the university, creating a precedent for future Jewish students nationwide.

The case turned Shabbos into one of the most sought-after public advocates for Israel and Jewish rights. He became a regular media commentator and was invited to speak at the Republican National Convention—a decision he made, despite being a lifelong Democrat, because he believed "it was the right thing for the Jewish community at this moment."

Recently elected to the World Zionist Congress, Shabbos continues to maintain close ties with U.S. policymakers, including at the White House. He recently relocated to Los Angeles to launch a new media project with PragerU, focusing on American politics and pro-Israel advocacy.

"Piers Morgan has more listeners than there are Jews in the world," he says. "We can't outnumber that—but we can empower more young Jews to speak up. People are more connected today, and that gives me hope."

instagram.com/shabboskest
Wikipedia: Shabbos Kestenbaum

Tessa Veksler

New York, USA
Masa Gap – Israel XP at Bar-Ilan University
Activist and Advocate for Israel

At just 23, Tessa Veksler has become one of North America's most prominent young voices advocating for Israel and fighting antisemitism on college campuses and beyond.

A graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), Tessa quickly emerged as a student leader. She was active in both Jewish and pro-Israel organizations as well as broader campus initiatives, and in May 2023, she was elected Student Body President. But after the October 7 attacks, everything changed. Merely for her outspoken support of Israel, Tessa faced a campaign of harassment and intimidation—culminating in a student council vote to remove her from office. The motion narrowly failed, but the experience left a lasting mark.

Rather than retreat, Tessa turned her personal ordeal into action. She began documenting campus antisemitism on social media, launching the viral hashtag #We'reNotGoingAnywhere. Her courage and authenticity made her a leading voice in the movement to combat hate on campuses. She later appeared as one of the main speakers on October 8, a powerful documentary exposing the surge of antisemitism in the U.S., particularly in academia.

Tessa first came to Israel through a Masa Israel Journey Gap Year program at Bar-Ilan University—a year she describes as transformative, strengthening her Jewish identity and deepening her sense of responsibility to support Israel. Today, she lives in New York, works in public relations, and continues to advocate for Israel on major international stages, including the United Nations and the White House.

"I'll keep speaking out. Antisemitism on campus won't disappear, even if the war ends. I can't say what will happen next — but I have a lot of hope. My advice to Jewish students is to be brave and to fight for what's right".  instagram.com/tessaveksler

Flavio Valle

Brazil
Masa Onward – Hillel
Politician

Flavio Valle has been drawn to politics for as long as he can remember. At just 19 years old, he wrote a letter to the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, expressing his dream to one day take his place and asking how to begin. The mayor replied: "You'll have to work hard and start small — as an intern, then an advisor, and one day, maybe, you'll get here." Flavio took that advice to heart — and has been climbing ever since.

Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Flavio grew up in a home not strongly connected to Jewish tradition. That changed when he entered university and met Jewish friends who opened the door for him to learn more about his heritage. "One of them told me about Birthright," he recalls, "and that trip to Israel changed everything. When I got back, I wanted to learn Hebrew, attend synagogue, and get closer to my roots."

A year later, still inspired, Flavio returned to Israel for a longer stay through Masa Onward – Hillel, interning at an Israeli startup during the pandemic. "It was an amazing time," he says. "In a long-term program, you live like a local — you build your own routine, you take responsibility, you do your grocery shopping, you commute to work. You truly experience life in Israel."

After returning to Brazil, Flavio's passion for leadership grew stronger. He was chosen by Hillel International as their Latin America representative, and soon after, the same mayor he once wrote to invited him to intern in the city's Finance Department. A year later, at just 22 years old, Flavio was appointed Deputy Mayor of Rio's South Zone — the youngest in the city's history. Two years later, he ran for city council and was elected. Today, he is the youngest city council member in Rio — and the only Jewish elected official in all of Brazil.

Among his most impactful initiatives has been leading the adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism in Rio — the first city in Brazil to do so. "It was a historic step toward recognition and self-definition for Brazil's Jewish community," he says. Since then, 13 other cities have followed suit.

"Changing the world is a big goal," Flavio says. "You start at home, then on your street, then in your city. That's where I am right now. Maybe next year I'll run for state office. And one day — who knows — for president."

https://www.flaviovalle.com/

Arsen Ostrovsky

Australia / Israel
Masa Career – Israel Experience
Human Rights Attorney and CEO of the International Legal Forum

From battlefront to the courtroom and beyond, Arsen Ostrovsky has become one of the foremost human rights lawyers and advocates for the Jewish state on the international stage.

Born in the former Soviet Union, Arsen and his family came to Australia as 'refuseniks' in 1987. Having completed his law studies and practiced for a number of years as a corporate litigation attorney, in 2009 Arsen decided to forego his career at a top law firm in Sydney to take part in the Masa Career program, where he interned at the Knesset and at a Jerusalem-based think tank, gaining early exposure to Israel's legal and policy landscape.

In the last five years, Arsen served as CEO of the International Legal Forum (ILF), an Israel-based NGO and global coalition of lawyers, who have been at the forefront of combating antisemitism and standing up for Israel in the international legal arena.

Since Oct 7, Arsen's work has led him to making the case for Israel before the United Nations, Congress, the House of Lords and beyond, including at the international courts in The Hague, against the malicious charges of genocide levelled at Israel. Arsen has also been involved in number of groundbreaking lawsuits against Hamas supporters, on behalf of Hostage Families and October 7^th victims.

A frequent commentator on TV and some of the world's leading publications, Arsen is also one of the leading voices in the war of narratives for Israel on-line, where his posts have reached over a billion users since Oct 7th.

This year, Arsen was recognized by the Jerusalem Post as one of the 50 Most Influential Jewish Leaders in the world, while the Knesset presented him with the 'Voices of Iron' Award, in recognition of being one of the leading advocates for Israel.

Soon, Arsen and his family will be moving back to Australia, where he has been appointed to head the Sydney office of AIJAC (Australia & Israel Jewish Affairs Council), the leading public policy and advocacy organization the Jewish community.

"I see my mission as standing up for Israel and fighting for truth — that's what I've always done, and now it's time to continue this battle from a new front."

Anna Staroselski

Germany
Jewish Studies Program
Political and Social Activist

Born in Stuttgart, Germany, to parents who immigrated from Ukraine in the 1990s, Anna Staroselski grew up in a largely secular home. Like many families from the former Soviet Union, religion wasn't a central part of life. As she grew older, Anna began seeking ways to learn more about her Jewish heritage — and even dreamed of learning Hebrew. That search led her naturally to Israel, through a Masa Jewish Studies program, an experience she says changed her life.

Upon returning to Germany, Anna moved to Berlin for her studies, where she discovered her passion for politics and community leadership. She joined the Union of Jewish Students in Germany (JSUD) — then a very young organization — and within two years became its President.

Under her leadership, JSUD worked to create safe spaces for Jewish students and to serve as a political and social voice for Jewish youth across the country. She helped establish a national strategy to combat antisemitism in partnership with the German government, focusing on universities and public life. Anna also advocated for state-funded security for Jewish schools and synagogues — arguing that Jewish communities should not bear the financial burden alone — and pushed for bans on pro-Hamas demonstrations and groups supporting terrorist organizations on campuses.

After completing her term as President, Anna became the spokesperson for "Initiative Werte" (Values Initiative), a national organization aimed at mobilizing the broader German public in the fight against antisemitism. "We realized that if we only talk about antisemitism, people see it as a Jewish issue," she explains. "So we framed it differently: fighting antisemitism is fighting for democracy itself. It's not just a Jewish struggle — it's everyone's."

Through the Initiative, Anna organized conferences and leadership programs to empower young Jewish professionals to enter public service and politics in Germany and Europe. Her goal: to ensure that the next generation of Jewish voices has a seat at the table.

Alongside her activism, Anna remains a prominent advocate for Israel in German media, working tirelessly to counter misinformation — even when it means facing hostility, sometimes from her own peers.

"There can be a future for Jews in Europe," Anna insists. "But it will take work — from us and from society around us. This fight has to belong to everyone."

Eitan Levine

New York, USA
Jewish Studies Program
Comedian, Journalist, and Social Entrepreneur

When Eitan Levine was a child, he battled cancer — and during that time, he formed his first connection with Make-A-Wish Foundation, which organized his very first stand-up comedy show as a teenager. That experience shaped his outlook forever. Years later, Eitan gave back to the organization by embarking on a Guinness World Record-breaking tour, throwing ceremonial first pitches at baseball games across America to raise funds for Make-A-Wish. It was the beginning of what would become his life's path: blending comedy, social impact, and community engagement.

Eitan later joined a Masa Jewish Studies program in Jerusalem, an experience he describes as transformative. After returning to the U.S., he worked as a writer and entertainment journalist, covering culture and media. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Eitan's comedic voice reached new audiences online — his sharp, witty Jewish humor went viral, offering people both laughter and light during uncertain times. Around the same period, he was chosen to host a daily two-hour sports show on Amazon Prime's sports network, a dream role for the lifelong sports enthusiast.

After October 7, Eitan's work took on a deeper meaning. "Suddenly, the content I was creating wasn't just funny — it became a source of strength for people," he explains. Today, with tens of thousands of followers, he hosts podcasts, street interviews, and game shows such as "Jewish or Antisemitic?" and "That's So Jewish!" His sketches and commentary have been featured on Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and The Daily Show, and his unapologetic Jewish identity remains central to his art.

Recently, Eitan co-produced a web series with Manischewitz called "When Can We Eat?", a humorous exploration of Jewish food culture across America. That project led him to connect with Jewish student-athletes struggling to find kosher food and community on campus. In response, he founded Tribe NIL Sports, a network now supporting over 180 Jewish college athletes — providing them with both financial assistance and a sense of belonging.

"Don't let the poison win," Eitan says. "Don't chase likes and clicks — stick to your values. Israel is more than a war zone; it's delicious food in the shuk, it's beautiful beaches in Tel Aviv, it's joy. Experience that joy first, before anything else."

instagram.com/eitanthegoalie
tribenilsports.com/about

Gaston Fratesi

Argentina / Israel
Masa Career – Destination Israel
Entrepreneur and Community Builder for Immigrants in Israel

Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Gaston Fratesi came to Israel through the Masa Career – Destination Israel program together with his partner. He interned at Track160, a cutting-edge platform specializing in football analytics — the perfect fit for someone who, like any true Argentinian, lives and breathes soccer.

Gaston never planned to make Aliyah. "I just wanted to experience life in Israel for a while," he recalls. "But life here was amazing." By the end of the program, something extraordinary happened: not only did Gaston and his partner decide to stay — all 45 participants in his cohort made Aliyah as well. "We came during COVID, when our home countries were under strict lockdowns. Over time, we built a family here," he says.

Years later, after October 7 and the outbreak of the Iron Swords War, many new immigrants felt fear and isolation. Gaston turned once again to his lifelong passion — football — to help others find strength and belonging. He founded AyresTLV, a football club for new immigrants from around the world, which has since grown into a thriving, multicultural community.

Today, over 100 men and women from more than 20 countries — including Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Australia, Spain, the U.S., Mexico, England, Italy, Germany, Belarus, and New Zealand — play regularly at the club's Jaffa field. They hold weekly tournaments and training sessions, and aim to soon join Israel's official Liga G, but Gaston insists the real goal isn't football — it's connection.

"So many people tell me this is their family in Israel," he says. "If they didn't have this community, I think some of them wouldn't have stayed."

Beyond sports, the club hosts events, shared meals, and even friendly matches with Masa groups visiting Israel. "Football is my passion — but so is Israel," Gaston says. "Before coming here, I thought mostly about myself. Living in Israel changed me. The war, the soldiers, the people — they made me want to do more for others. Now, I get to combine both of my passions."

instagram.com/ayrestlv

Yaakov Langer

New York, USA
Jewish Studies Program
Media Entrepreneur, Founder of Living Lchaim

Yaakov Langer grew up in an Orthodox Jewish family, the youngest of four brothers. From a young age, he was fascinated by storytelling and communication — drawn to media and social platforms back when they were still in their infancy.

In 2010, Yaakov came to Jerusalem through a Masa Jewish Studies program, where he began experimenting with content creation and social media. Even then, his posts about Jewish life and human connection drew attention — not only from Orthodox audiences, but from Jews and non-Jews alike. By 2017–2018, Yaakov began producing content on Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter, sharing glimpses of his life as a newlywed with humor and authenticity. "I wasn't trying to be a public figure," he says. "I was just sharing my life — and people connected."

What began as personal storytelling evolved into a podcast and blog, and soon, into something much larger. Today, Yaakov is the founder of Living Lchaim, a leading Jewish multimedia company that reaches millions of viewers and listeners worldwide, and the host of the hit podcast Inspiration for the Nation.

Living Lchaim produces Jewish-themed content — but its reach extends far beyond the Jewish world. "Especially in the last couple of years, we've seen so much curiosity about Judaism," Yaakov explains. "We invite people into meaningful conversations, not propaganda. We get messages like, 'I'm Christian, but this was fascinating.' Even people in ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods like Mea She'arim, who don't use smartphones or the internet, still find ways to tune in."

The turmoil of the last two years has given Yaakov's work deeper urgency. "My grandfather was a Holocaust survivor," he says. "I could never really understand the hatred he faced — until now. I grew up during what felt like a golden age for Jews in America, but suddenly there's hate again on a level that's hard to describe. Some people will hate us no matter what we do — so let's at least be proud of who we are."

Inspiration for the Nation – Playlist

Vova Sheqel 

Uzbekistan / Israel

Masa Academia – Ariel University

Musician and Content Creator

Vova Sheqel, born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, grew up knowing he was Jewish — something not all children in the post-Soviet world could say. "Unlike many who grew up in that environment, I always knew who I was and felt deeply connected to my roots," he recalls.

Vova first came to Israel to meet his father, whom he hadn't seen in nearly 20 years since his father immigrated to Israel when Vova was just four. Wanting to reconnect and spend more time in Israel, he joined a Masa Academia program at Ariel University. It was there that he met his future wife; the two later made Aliyah together and are now raising two children in Israel.

Early in his career, Vova dabbled in Russian-language stand-up comedy in Israel. At one of his shows, he met Pinhas, a fellow immigrant from Ukraine, and together they launched a creative idea — blending Jewish values, holidays, and modern music in a way that would speak to young audiences. Their first music video went viral overnight, giving birth to the hit musical duo Pinhas & Sheqel, whose humorous and inspiring songs about Jewish tradition have since reached audiences around the world.

Alongside his music, Vova runs a popular Instagram blog about life in Israel and a Russian-language Telegram channel with over 20,000 followers. Across his platforms, his videos reach between 1 and 1.5 million views each month. He hosts festivals, appears regularly on radio and television, and takes part in numerous podcasts.

"Our content is in Russian," he explains, "but even Hebrew-speaking kids connect to it. I'm not religious, but tradition matters to me — and so does talking about real life in Israel."

instagram.com/vova_sheqel 

t.me/koroche_israel 

Watch on YouTube

Kai Balin

Canada / Israel
Masa – Project TEN (Tlalim)
Documentary Filmmaker

Kai Balin discovered his passion for filmmaking while studying in college. What began as a plan to travel to Uganda to make a documentary about his father's work there took an unexpected turn — a short stopover in Israel changed everything. Captivated by the country, Kai looked for ways to extend his stay and joined Masa's Project TEN program, volunteering in Mitzpe Ramon and on a farm in Tzofit. After completing the program, he returned to Canada — but Israel, and the experience, stayed with him.

Everything changed after October 7. Kai began to reconnect with his Jewish identity, from which he had drifted somewhat during his college years. Seeking meaning, he turned to Jewish texts and traditions, and found himself increasingly drawn to Orthodox Judaism. But a personal revelation sparked a deeper journey: his mother hesitated to join him at synagogue, feeling unwelcome because her own mother's conversion had been Conservative. That moment inspired Kai to begin exploring his family's story — his father, a second-generation Holocaust survivor, and the complex questions that shaped their Jewish lineage.

The result was his acclaimed documentary, "Son of a Seeker," a moving and introspective exploration of Jewish identity, family, and spiritual search. The film has been screened across Canada and is now a contender at the Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival.

"The questions never really end," Kai reflects, "but I came out of the process stronger. I've found a real passion for Jewish storytelling."

Kai is currently working on a new project, using footage and interviews that didn't make it into the original film.

Watch the trailer

The post Masa unveils 'Changemakers List' featuring 10 global Jewish leaders appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Masa program graduates exemplify the synergy between Judaism, Israel, and impactful engagement. Throughout the war, many chose to remain in Israel, joining vital initiatives – from medicine and journalism to social activism – proving that meaningful experiences lead to lasting commitment.

Emily Schrader, a California native, has emerged as a prominent voice in global Israeli advocacy. As a journalist and news anchor, she stands at the forefront of multiple causes: championing women's rights in Iran, delivering pointed criticism of the Iranian regime, and defending Israel's right to exist and self-defense while confronting antisemitism on the international stage.

Through her roles at Ynet and ILTV News, Emily delivers impactful messaging that resonates with hundreds of thousands of social media followers. Her approach combines intellectual rigor with fearless conviction, particularly when facing Israel's staunchest critics.

Her journey to Israel began ten years ago following her participation in a Masa program, during which she pursued a master's degree at Tel Aviv University. "After the program, I tried returning to Los Angeles but only lasted six months," she reflected. "Living there became impossible. I was surrounded by people who couldn't grasp what truly matters."

Emily represents one of 18 distinguished Masa alumni, carefully selected from 200,000 graduates, whose impactful work exemplifies the organization's mission. Their stories aim to inspire the next generation of global Jewish youth to maintain and strengthen Jewish community bonds worldwide.

Masa Israel Journey, founded by the Jewish Agency and the Israeli government, is the largest immersive, long-term educational experience for young adults ages 16-50. Each year, approximately 12,000 Jewish young adults from 60 countries participate in programs designed to facilitate meaningful integration into Israeli society.

Many program graduates have chosen to make Israel their permanent home, contributing significantly to various sectors of Israeli society. Take Gideon Keyson from the Netherlands, who began with a programming internship through Masa-Career. His journey led him through service in the Israeli Navy and ultimately to co-founding what would become Riverside – a major platform for webinars and podcast recording. The company now employs 250 people and serves hundreds of thousands of clients, including Hillary Clinton's podcast among numerous prominent Israeli and international productions. "Building a company in Israel and contributing to its economy fills me with pride," he shared.

"The deep connection to Israel and their Jewish identity that fellows develop during their Masa program stays with them. Many of them attest to being profoundly impacted by their experience in Israel, 1 in 5 are even choosing careers in the Jewish world" Meir Holtz, CEO of Masa, said. "This is a moment to bring hope to the Jewish people everywhere, demonstrating that the next generation of young leaders in Jewish communities is ready to carry the mission forward and keep the Jewish people strong. The next generation is not waiting for tomorrow; they are already repairing the world today. We are proud of each and every one of our 200,000 alumni, all of whom are making an impact in their own unique way."

Understanding what truly matters

Samson Arveladze, an orthopedic specialist, and Dmitry Lerman, a urology resident, both Moscow natives, exemplify the success of the Masa Doctors program, which helps international medical professionals qualify to practice in Israel. They created the country's largest network for doctors who have made Aliyah, focusing on Russian speakers. "We recognized a critical information gap and worked to bridge it," Dmitry explained. "The Russia-Ukraine war brought thousands of medical professionals to Israel, all seeking guidance through our platform. We've become the country's premier resource for doctors, especially Russian-speaking ones."

Their community provides comprehensive support through meetings and information sharing, covering everything from job searching and residency placements to living arrangements and departmental insights. "We offer complete guidance, including job postings and emotional support," Samson noted. "The community has become self-sustaining, with members actively sharing experiences and supporting one another." Masa Doctors program graduates now serve throughout Israel's public health system, from hospitals to health maintenance organizations and military service. Samson himself exemplifies this commitment, having served as a combat battalion physician and continuing to serve in the reserves.

Alicia Schneider, originally from Canada, found her path to Israel through MITF (Masa Israel Teaching Fellows), teaching English for a year. When the war broke out, she pivoted from content writing to more urgent community work: "The war changed everything – my regular job suddenly felt insignificant. What began as cooking for soldiers evolved into something much bigger," she shared.

That initiative blossomed into Citizen's Kitchen, where Alicia now serves in leadership. "We've built a vibrant Olim community," she explained. "Beyond cooking for soldiers, we provide English therapy groups and host Shabbat dinners. Our volunteer base extends globally – it's remarkable to see people flying in from as far as Australia just to help prepare meals."

Sharona Shnayder, Nigerian-born, channeled her environmental passion through a Masa internship at a waste transformation startup. Her initiative, Tuesday-for-Trash, born during COVID-19 lockdowns, has mobilized thousands globally to collect 87,000 pounds of waste. Sharona is active in the President's Climate Crisis Forum and has been selected to receive the National Geographic Young Explorers grant as one of 15 young people aged 18-25 from 13 countries chosen for their "groundbreaking and impactful environmental solutions achieved through leadership and courage." She continues her impact through an upcoming children's book about environmental consciousness.

"Collecting waste opens eyes to our environmental impact," Sharona observed. "This simple action catalyzes broader behavioral change."

The list's diversity spans business innovators, social activists, political voices, journalists, and medical professionals. Yet they share a common thread: crediting their Masa experience as fundamental to their success. "Masa's influence permeates everything I do today," Alicia reflected. "Their community-centered approach showed me what truly matters."

In partnership with the Masa organization.

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Masa Israel Journey, founded by the Jewish Agency and the government of Israel, stands as the foremost organization connecting young Jewish adults from all around the world with Israel through transformative long-term programs. Welcoming approximately 12,000 fellows annually from 60 countries, Masa offers young Jews a unique opportunity to engage deeply with Israeli society, culture, and heritage.

Masa fellows participate in a wide range of programs tailored to their interests and goals. These include Masa Israel Teaching Fellows, where English-speaking fellows teach conversational English in Israeli schools for a year; Masa Career, offering fellows to internships with Israeli companies across various industries; and Masa Doctors, designed for medical professionals to prepare for licensing exams in Israel while learning Hebrew and familiarizing themselves with the country. Other programs include Masa Volunteers, Masa Academic, Masa Gap, and Masa Jewish Studies.

While some Masa fellows choose to make aliyah at the end of their program, most return to their home countries with a deep understanding of Israel and Israeli society. They carry this knowledge, along with a strengthened connection to Israel and their Jewish identity, back to their local communities. Many fellows describe their experience as transformative, often inspiring them to pursue careers in the Jewish world or become passionate advocates and supporters of Israel in various capacities.

To celebrate the impressive impact of its 200,000 alumni, Masa is launching the Masa Changemakers List in 2025. This inaugural list features 18 distinguished alumni selected from its vast network of graduates. These individuals have excelled across diverse fields: some lead in media and politics in Israel and abroad, others are social activists and entrepreneurs, while others make their mark in business and the medical field. Despite their varied professions, they all share a transformative Masa experience in Israel that has inspired them their impactful contributions to the Jewish people and the world.

The Masa Changemakers List aims to inspire hope and confidence in the next generation of young Jewish adults, demonstrating their readiness to embrace the mission of strengthening the Jewish people wherever they may be. These individuals exemplify the transformative power of a Masa experience, serving as a beacon of inspiration and a reminder that the future of the Jewish community is in capable and committed hands. These are the Masa Changemakers.

Sharona Shnayder

Nigeria/Israel

Masa-Career, 2019

Sachlav top Israel interns

Environmental activist

Born in Nigeria, grew up in the United States and today lives in Israel.

Sharona initiated an international environmental movement, Tuesdays for Trash: a mission to inspire everyone around the world to dedicate at least one day a week to the planet by picking up trash. Tuesdays for Trash has 15 chapters, participants in over 60 countries, and more than 87,000 pounds of trash removed. Today Sharona is active in the President's Climate Crisis Forum and has been selected to receive the National Geographic Young Explorers grant as one of 15 young people aged 18-25 from 13 countries chosen for their "groundbreaking and impactful environmental solutions achieved through leadership and courage." With the grant, Sharona is expanding the project and is currently publishing a children's book on environmental issues.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharona-s/

https://www.instagram.com/sharonashnayder/

Dov Forman

UK

Masa Jewish Studies, 2022

Yeshivat Hakotel

Author, activist, educator

Born in London, Dov Forman is an advocate for Holocaust remembrance, Israel, and Jewish education. At the age of 16, he began sharing the story of his great-grandmother, Lily Ebert, a Holocaust survivor, with remarkable sensitivity. Thanks to Dov's dedication to telling the truth about what really happened and combating Holocaust denial, over a billion social media users have been exposed to her story – many of whom may never have heard it otherwise. Dov co-authored Lily's Promise, a memoir that includes an introduction by King Charles III, which became an instant New York Times bestseller and has been translated into 15 languages. He is also the recipient of the prestigious Points of Light Award, presented by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Lily recently passed away at the age of 100, having traveled the world with Dov to share her harrowing Holocaust testimony with millions of followers on social media. Through their work, Dov and Lily created a lasting impact, ensuring her story continues to educate and inspire generations to come.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dovforman

https://www.instagram.com/dovforman/?hl=en

Dean Cohen

Australia

Gap year program, 2010

Habonim Dror

Social activist and initiator

Born and raised in Melbourne, Dean has been deeply connected to the Jewish community throughout his life. He now dedicates his time to the disability sector, striving to combat social isolation and foster meaningful connections between people with and without disability.

Dean is the Founder and Co-CEO of Flying Fox, a not-for-profit organization/youth movement that tackles social isolation by providing fun social opportunities for young people with and without disability. The organization facilitates regular social activities, getaways, and camps throughout the year, bringing together people with disability and their peers to share in a variety of exciting and adventurous experiences. Today, the organization includes 20 employees, 500 active volunteer buddies, and serves hundreds of young people annually.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/deancohen1/

Kristin Guerin

US

Masa-Volunteers, 2023

Israel experience

Social activist

 Kristin is a professional actor, director and producer. However, in March of 2020, when the entertainment industry closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she refocused her energy on Buddy System MIA, an organization she co-founded and leads.

Buddy System MIA supports over 5,000 people with access to free, healthy food, through three robust programs. Every year, the organization repurposes over 400,000 lbs. of rescued food that would otherwise be sent to landfills, with the help of 1,600 volunteers who foster community accountability across Miami. One of the programs is the Community Fridge Initiative, which is a network of public refrigerators in food deserts with the motto, "take what you need, leave what you can." These community fridges are life-changing for the 800+ weekly visitors who are able walk up 24/7 and find free, healthy food.

Kristin was one of the first fellows on Masa-Volunteers, a program Masa opened at the beginning of the war to allow thousands of Jews from around the world who wanted to come and help, to do it and assist Israel in its most trying times.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinguerin/

https://www.instagram.com/kristin.guerin

Samson Arveladze and Dmitry Lerman

Russia/Israel

Masa Doctors, 2010 & 2020

Israel Experience

MD and social activist

Samson and Dmitry both participated in Masa Doctors program 10 years apart.  They came as doctors and through the program were certified to practice medicine in Israel, while learning Hebrew and getting to know the country, the culture, and the medical system.

Together they co-founded "group for Russian-speaking repatriate Doctors in Israel": From their own experience of immigrating as doctors to a foreign country, they now assist doctors who made aliyah or in the process to fit in the Israeli society better and navigate the medical system in the country. They provide help in Russian, offering all the necessary information about the rights and needs of immigrant doctors in Israel. "It's almost impossible to find information in Russian in an accessible way, so we made it available to those who need it". Today it is the largest group of doctors in the country with over 3000 involved members.

Upon completing the program, Samson began an internship at Rambam hospital in Haifa. He then enlisted in the IDF as a battalion doctor in the 55th artillery battalion during Operation Protective Edge. He recently returned from his third reserve duty rotation. Samson is a specialist in orthopedic surgery working at the hand surgery unit in Ichilov Medical Center. Dmitry is a urology resident at Kaplan hospital, and is very active on social media, where he posts many videos related to the medical profession, with accessible explanation in Russian about various medical conditions and treatments.

Samson:

https://linkedin.com/in/samson-arveladze-890753135

https://www.instagram.com/samson_dzen/profilecard/?igsh=Y2Q4d3Z1ODd5M3l1

Dmitry:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmitrylerman/

https://www.instagram.com/doctor_ale/

Emily Schrader

US/Israel 

Masa academia, 2018

Tel-Aviv university

Journalist and social activist

Emily is a journalist and news anchor at Ynet and ILTV. In addition, she is one of the leading advocacy figures in Israel and internationally, even before the current war, with a focus on the fight for women's rights and freedom everywhere, and especially in Iran, sending these messages to hundreds of thousands of followers she holds in her social media assets. In December 2023, Emily initiated an open letter condemning terror activities of the Islamic republic of Iran and Hamas which was co-signed by 55 female leaders from 12 middle eastern countries. She was named by Algemeiner as one of the 100 people positively influencing Jewish life in 2022, and in 2023 as one of the 18 "Women to Watch" by Hadassah Women's Zionist Organization. She is the recipient of the 2023 Bonei Zion award for Young Leadership from Nefesh-b'Nefesh. Emily will soon be publishing her first book: "10 things every Jew should know before they go to college".

Jacobo Cohen Mann

Mexico

Gap Year Program, 2018

Maccabi World Union

President of the Mexican Federation of Jewish Youth

A leading young Jewish activist in Mexico City, Jacobo has distinguished himself as a dynamic, energetic, and dedicated leader. Jacob now serves as the President of the Mexican Federation of Jewish youth, which started as a small movement and today encompass all youth activities, from all backgrounds. The federation serves as the official representative of Jewish youth in Mexico's civil and political spheres, as well as on the international stage. It sends the official Mexican Jewish youth delegations to the world Zionist congress, the American Jewish Committee Global Forum, to the World Union of Jewish students, it works with JFNA and the Mexican Jewish Community institutions and organizations. The federation has 29 different institutions, and together they represent about 5,000 young Jewish Mexicans aged 18-35.

Alicia Schneider

Canada/Israel

Masa-Israel Teaching Fellows, 2016

Israel Experience

Social activist

Born and raised in Montreal. Alicia Co-founded Citizen's Kitchen - a Tel-Aviv based wartime meal operation providing food to anyone in need, whether its soldiers, displaced families, hostages families, "miluim" families, holocaust survivors, Nova survivors or anyone else. To date, Citizen's Kitchen sent out over 100,000 meals and raised over 350,000$ from individual donors to help fund the operation. The initiative also grew to become a community for Olim, providing a community for them with events and opportunities to meet and mingle. Citizen's Kitchen also have Masa interns from career programs on board at almost any given moment. Alicia participated in the Masa Israel teaching program, during which she taught English at a school in Israel for a year, and afterward, she made aliyah.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicia-schneider-content-writer/

https://www.instagram.com/travelsofalicia/

Kevin Malka

France/ Israel

Masa-Career, 2015

Gvahim

Business

Kevin was born and raised in Nice, France. He studied at a business school in France and the United States. Kevin came on Masa to intern at Ernst & Young, one of the "Big Four" global accounting firms, operating in over 140 countries. Kevin was already registered for a very prestigious master's program abroad but decided to make aliyah anyway. He later accepted a full-time position at EY.

Within four years, Kevin advanced to a senior manager position, and 3 years later to his current position, Managing Director at only 31 years old. Kevin also employs Masa interns, and he says that at any given moment he has 2-3 interns on his team from Masa, "and I have already hired four interns full-time".

https://il.linkedin.com/in/kevin-malka-97130866

Lucas Adlerstein

Argentina

Gap year program, 2018

Israel Way LTD

Influencer

Born and raised in Buenos Aires. As a child, Lucas attended the Maccabi club and studied in Jewish schools. But at the age of 15, everything changed: he lost his hearing, gradually and unexpectedly. Lucas participated in a Masa gap year program: "when I interacted a lot in English and Hebrew, I didn't have an issue with my hearing. I couldn't understand what people were saying to me because of the language, not the hearing. I didn't feel disabled in Israel".

Through his journey, Lucas went from being angry and confused, to sharing his insights with the world. Today, Lucas is helping countless people with hearing loss all over the globe, by raising awareness to accessibility for people with disabilities. He hosts a podcast on the subject, gives interviews in the media, being consulted by politicians about disability and awareness and was recently invited to attend at the AFS youth assembly in the United Nations.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasadlerstein/

https://www.instagram.com/hipoacusico/

Eitan Bergman

Belgium

Kibbutz-Ulpan, 2012

Israel Experience

Politics, Jewish world

Eitan Grew up in a small community in Belgium. He was active in Hashomer-Hatzair for nearly two decades and involved in various Jewish organizations during his studies (political science & international relations). He participated in a Kibbutz Ulpan program with Masa learning Hebrew. Eitan evolved through time towards his focus: politics. Eitan serves as the Executive Director of the European Union of Jewish Students (EUJS), Secretary General of the Committee of Belgian Jewish Organizations (CCOJB), and a member of the WJC Diplomatic Corps. In June 2024, Eitan was elected at the City Council of Forest, a district of Brussels as a member of the Mouvement Réformateur, the French-speaking Liberal Party of Belgium.

Eitan is very active in preserving the memory of the Holocaust in Europe, all of this before the age of 30.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eitan-bergman-3ba16b8b/

https://www.instagram.com/eitanbergman/

Talia Datt

Australia

Gap year, 2014

Tlalim

Business

Born in Johannesburg, grew up in Melbourne. Talia founded two social media agencies: The Social CliQ and The Content CliQ. She invested in several eCommerce businesses, including Matcha Maiden and TAPT, and co-founded an elevated lifestyle club, Pretty Privilege. Talia achieved all of this before she was 30.

In 2022, Talia was featured on Forbes' "30 Under 30" list for Asia. From Forbes: "Datt founded full-service social media and e-commerce marketing agency The Social CliQ out of her home office in Melbourne in 2018. She started by knocking on doors to get her earliest clients and now claims to have significantly expanded the online reach and revenue of multiple brands".

Talia defines herself as a "proud Zionist": "After Oct. 7, I was already well-known for my positions, and this sparked many conversations. Some people no longer work with us because of these opinions. It's precisely because I am a strong voice on social media among young people, that I will continue to support Israel."

https://www.linkedin.com/in/talia-datt/

https://www.instagram.com/_taliadatt/

Karin Zaiden (Rubinstein)

Ukraine/ Israel

Masa-Career, 2019

Beitar

Journalist and anchor, Channel 9

Born in Odessa, Ukraine. Karin came to Israel on a Masa-Career program, to intern in the media field at Channel 9, a Russian-language channel based in Israel, which serves as the main news source for Russian speakers in the country. The channel also has a large following internationally among Russian-speaking Jews, and even non-Jews who want reliable news about Israel. after completing the internship, Channel 9 offered Karin a permanent position. Today, Karin hosts a daily four-hour current affairs program, which, since the war began has been running special broadcasts continuously. The show receives hundreds of thousands of live viewers on the program's YouTube channel every day, with close to 400,000 subscribers. "People write to me all the time, thanking me for providing real information, not the propaganda that is broadcast in other countries about what's happening here".

https://www.instagram.com/invites/contact/?igsh=4lw3sqa6vn7o&utm_content=5jdufd

Rebecca Fine

US

Masa Israel Teaching Fellow

Israel Way LTD

Associate גirector of Campus Education at StandWithUs

For several years now, Rebecca has worked at StandWithUs, an international nonpartisan nonprofit that supports Israel and fights antisemitism. For the past two years Rebecca has served as the Associate Director of Campus Education, responsible for all education and content creation, as well as running the StandWithUs First-Year Leadership internship, a program for first-year students.

"My Masa program had a profound and transformative impact on my life and professional path. When I began the program, I was deeply disengaged from both my Jewish identity and my connection to Zionism. I reconnected with my Jewish roots in ways I had never imagined, finding pride and purpose in my heritage". Since Oct. 7, Rebecca's focus has been education against antisemitism more than ever before, in hundreds of campuses across the US and Canada.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-fine-89a619189

Naftali Shavelson

US

Jewish Studies program, 2018

Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi Jerusalem

Media advisor, speechwriter and ghostwriter, consulate general of Israel in NY

It was a chance encounter at a Masa event in Manhattan that led Naftali Shavelson, then a recent university graduate, to his current role at Israel's consulate in New York. Since then, Naftali has served as writer, media advisor and communications strategist for Israel's diplomatic corps in New York, now under Consul General Ofir Akunis. His work has appeared in major global media outlets, lending a much-needed pro-Israel voice to contemporary political discourse. Naftali considers his and his team's efforts more meaningful than ever in the wake of Oct. 7: "since then I've been especially aware of the urgency and impact of our efforts. It's that responsibility that keeps us going. The job can be extremely demanding, but I – and all of us – know that it has never been more important".

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shavelson/

Margot Touitou

US/Israel

Masa-Career

Israel Way LTD

Influencer

Margot grew up in Colorado. After her program, she made aliyah and started a career in the tech industry that lasted 10 years. However, with time Margot began posting and sharing her life as a new "Olah" in Tel Aviv and quickly became a well-known online personality, especially in Israel, thanks to the "Tomer" persona she created to characterize the Israeli man from the perspective of an American woman. This caught a lot of attention online and brought her many followers. In 2021, during Operation Guardian of the Walls, Margot felt compelled to speak out and explain to the world what was really happening. Since the current war began, Margot's efforts have intensified. She shares and publish content about Israel globally and has gained significant recognition in Israel and abroad for her activities.

Margot has positioned herself as the aliyah Big Sister to new Olim, offering straightforward advice to those who need help adjusting to life in Israel.

https://www.linkedin.com/public-profile/settings?trk=d_flagship3_profile_self_view_public_profile

https://www.instagram.com/margotexplainsitall

Gideon Keyson

Netherlands/Israel

Masa-Career, 2018

Israel Tech Challenge    

Hi-tech industry

Originally from Amsterdam, today lives in Tel-Aviv. At the age of 18, Gideon came on a Masa career program and was the youngest in the program that was designed for people who want to learn programming. After the program ended Gideon enlisted in the IDF Navy and served in the Dabur unit.

After his discharge, Gedeon began studying biomedical engineering at Ben Gurion University. Coding was a semi-professional hobby that he started developing during the Masa program, and so, in the first year of his studies, he launched a start-up together with his brother. Gideon is the co-founder and CPO of Riverside, a platform for podcast recordings, webinars, and more. Today, it employs 250 people globally, and among its hundreds of thousands of clients, you can find Hillary Clinton, along with very well-known podcasts in Israel and around the world that use its services. Almost everyone who records from home uses our platform.

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Masa Israel Journey, an organization that brings Jewish youth to Israel for educational and work programs, held its 16th annual Memorial Day ceremony at the Yad L'Shiryon Armored Corps Memorial Museum in Latrun on Sunday. The theme of this year's ceremony is "We Are One".

This event, "the largest of its kind conducted in English," attracted over 5,000 attendees and countless viewers worldwide. This year's observance came at a particularly poignant time following the October 7 Massacre, the ongoing war, and the sharp increase in global antisemitism. As Yael Sahar Rubinstein, acting CEO of Masa Israel Journey, stated: "At Masa, it is extremely important to us that we recognize we are one people, wherever we are, and if there is anything to learn from these past months, it is that we need to stay united."

The ceremony honored Israel's fallen soldiers and victims of terror under the theme "We Are One." Notable attendees included government representatives such as Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and Jewish leaders such as Senior VP, Global Operations & Director General, JFNA Israel Rebecca Caspi, and Amira Ahronoviz, the CEO and director general of The Jewish Agency for Israel.

The ceremony was live-streamed to a global audience with speeches of the many dignitaries.

Major General (Res.) Doron Almog, chairman of the Executive of the Jewish Agency for Israel, reflected: "On the eve of Memorial Day, we connect to the living memory of the fallen who linked their fate with the State of Israel, sacrificing their lives to defend and uphold it...We will remember the fallen of Israel's battles with respect, pain, longing, and gratitude, and we will do everything to be worthy of their sacrifice."

The ceremony shared the powerful stories of fallen soldiers and victims like Omer Balava, the America-born combat soldier who fell in battle on the northern border after being hit by Hezbollah fire, as well as Rose Lubin a border police officer who was killed in a stabbing attack in east Jerusalem. It also honored victims like Dr. Daniel Levy, who was born in Peru and was murdered in Kibbutz Be'eri on October 7; and Lucy, Maia, and Rina Dee, who were murdered in a terror attack in the Jordan Valley last year.

Masa alumni lit a commemorative torch for Nathan Leor Hai, a French national who tragically fell on October,7, and laid wreaths to pay tribute. A prayer was held for hostages' return, including Andrei Kozlov, a Masa alum from Russia who remains captive in Gaza.

As Rubinstein summarized: "This ceremony is for us to focus on the heroes, cherish the world they left behind, and try to be worthy of their sacrifice. May their memory be a blessing."

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Masa Israel Journey, an organization that brings Jewish youth to Israel for educational and work programs, held its 15th annual Memorial Day ceremony at the Yad L'Shiryon Armored Corps memorial museum in Latrun on Monday. The theme of this year's ceremony was "Forever Connected".

The organization claimed over 7,000 attendees and hundreds of thousands of viewers across the globe, in dozens of countries, took part, making it the largest English ceremony in the world. The ceremony was also simultaneously broadcast in Spanish, French, and Russian.

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Jewish leaders, including Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency for Israel Mark Wilf, President and CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America Eric Fingerhut, and Steven Lowy AM, who is the chairman of the World Board of Trustees of Keren Heysod-United Israel Appeal, joined Masa Fellows and alumni, board members, Jewish Federation delegates, bereaved families, and community members to commemorate the lives of fallen Israeli soldiers and Jewish victims of terror originally from France, the US, Russia, Ukraine, and Argentina. In addition, Hakeem Jeffries, who is the minority leader in the US House of Representatives, and 12 other congressmembers members laid a wreath in memory of the fallen.

The ceremony was livestreamed to global audiences and included speeches from Major General (res.) Doron Almog, who is the chairman of the executive of the Jewish Agency for Israel; Julie Platt, the chair of the Board of Trustees of the Jewish Federations of North America; and Ofer Gutman, the CEO of Masa Israel Journey. David Koschitzky, who is the immediate past chair of Keren Hayesod's World Board of Trustees, led the Yizkor (remember in Hebrew) prayer.

According to a statement, the ceremony shared the stories of Joyce Fienberg, a victim of the Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, who she spent her life as a child development researcher and left behind two children and six grandchildren; Second Lieutenant Carmi Elan, a Los Angeles-born pilot who died at the young age of 19 due to injuries he received during a training accident; officer Shirel Aboukarat, a 19-year-old Border Police Officer who made aliyah from France and was killed by two terrorists during an attack at a bus station in Hadera; Michael Ladygin, a Russian native who made aliyah and was murdered by a Palestinian terrorist in Ariel in 2022, leaving behind a wife and two children; Captain Alexander (Sasha) Schwartzman, an IDF soldier from Ukraine. She refused evacuation after being injured in battle to ensure her fellow soldiers were treated first. However, she was later killed by enemy fire; and Uriel Bar-Maimon Wolf, a Border Guard Officer who made aliyah from Argentina and fell during operational activities at the Erez checkpoint.

 Nine wreaths were laid by the bereaved families, members of the Israeli government, the Knesset, and the House of Representatives delegation in honor of the stories shared.

"Yom HaZikaron, our Day of Remembrance, is an essential part of Israel and the Jewish people. At Masa, it is extremely important to us that we recognize we are forever connected people, and we must reflect on our journey. It makes us who we are. We must honor our fallen and we must mourn our losses. The individual stories shared here tonight are connected by the values of love, determination, sacrifice, and commitment. This ceremony is for us to focus on the heroes who gave their 'last full measure of devotion'–and they gave it to Israel. To the Jewish people," Gutman said.

"The shared fate between world Jewry and the State of Israel is molded by the spirit of dedication of those who gave their lives in Israel's wars and also by the terrible sacrifice of the victims of terrorism and antisemitism around the world. The spirit of the fallen and the murdered is a source of inspiration among our people for continued acts of mutual responsibility and love of humanity. A spirit that sanctifies life and action. May the mourners of Zion find comfort. Carrying on out of a commitment to continue the life that was interrupted. A spirit that connects most deeply between Jews in all corners of the world. The State of Israel was founded and built thanks to this partnership, thanks to devotion, and unconditional love. This is our commitment -- to continue together, to remember what unites us, to bring hearts together and magnify love" Almog said.

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Recent efforts by the Masa Israel Journey organization and the Jewish Agency to petition the Health Ministry came to fruition on Wednesday with the launch of a vaccination program for Masa participants residing in Israel.

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Health Minister Yuli Edelstein and Jewish Agency Chairman Isaac Herzog visited Magen David Adom's vaccination center in Jerusalem, where hundreds of Jewish youths from dozens of countries, including Uzbekistan, Mexico, Argentina and Tongo, receive vaccination shots.

Some 5,000 youngsters who are expected to be vaccinated are participating in a variety of long-term programs in Israel spanning between four and 10 months. The participants intern at high-tech companies, teach English in schools in the periphery, study at universities, volunteer in the community and more. Hence, despite being foreign nationals, it was decided to vaccinate them as they are deeply embedded in the fabric of Israeli society.

According to the approved outline, the vaccination program will span 1.5 weeks and take place at five vaccination centers in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, Beersheba and Eilat. The Masa participants will be able to receive services, guidance and medical advice in English, French and Russian.

"As of today, some 4.5 million people have been vaccinated in Israel," Edelstein said on Wednesday. "I'm happy to be here today with the chairman of the Jewish Agency and the wonderful Masa participants. This is a very important vaccination operation… It's good we were able to remove all the bureaucratic obstacles that were in our way."

Herzog thanked the Health Ministry and MDA for coming together to launch the vaccination program for the Masa participants.

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Among the Fellows who have remained in Israel are Abby Goldstein and Nechama Klajn. These young women are not your average Fellows. Both 18-year-olds were adopted separately by Jewish families in Australia. Prior to the global corona outbreak, they arrived in Israel on a volunteer program with Masa, founded by the Jewish Agency and the government of Israel. Their program plans were changed due to Covid-19 and they went to help farmers who were just beginning to cope with the new reality, and now they are volunteering with Magen David Adom in Jerusalem.

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Goldstein was born in China and Klajn in Thailand. Goldstein was adopted at the age of a year and a half by a Jewish family from Melbourne, Australia, and converted to Judaism. Klajn's biological parents left her at the hospital where she was born, and from there she was sent to an orphanage. Later, she was also adopted by a Jewish family from Melbourne and converted.

Over the years, both Goldstein and Klajn developed a relationship with a culture and heritage that they were not born into. They formed a connection with Judaism and Israel, and a short time before the global pandemic crisis they decided to embark on a volunteer program in the Jewish state with Masa. Although the pandemic changed their original plans and expectations, they both decided to stay in Israel and volunteer in the Ayanot youth village, where they stayed for the majority of the quarantine closures. Now, they are volunteering with MDA, assisting with the day-to-day operations of rescue forces.

Annually, about 1,400 young Jews aged 18, from dozens of countries around the world, come to Israel on a gap year program with Masa to volunteer. Among the volunteer activities, some of them assist with agriculture in moshavim and kibbutzim. Through this experience, they strengthen their Jewish identity and learn about the State of Israel. Like Goldstein and Klajn, who came with "Israel By Choice", the programs are an opportunity for personal growth and discovery, and help participants prepare for the next chapter of their lives.

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Ofer Gutman, acting CEO of Masa said, "I'm happy that despite the pandemic, young Jews from around the world are choosing to volunteer in Israel. We are witnessing an increase in demand for enrollment for the coming year, and we are excited about this opportunity."

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Each year, thousands of young Jews arrive in Israel from 60 countries around the world to intern and to teach in various programs led by the organization, Masa Israel Journey, founded by The Jewish Agency and Israel's government.

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Fellows normally spend between two to ten months in Israel, in an effort to "contribute to society and economy, develop personally and professionally, and strengthen their Jewish identity and connection to Israel's heritage and culture," Masa said in a statement. "The number of completed registration forms is increasing, with 50% of applicants interested in interning at Israeli companies and participating in Masa's career development programs. The five countries with the most applicants are: United States, Canada, France, Argentina and Russia," the statement read.

"Israel is the most secure place to be, especially now, during the corona pandemic, as opposed to the conditions in Spain. I am not concerned; I am interested to grow in Israel and succeed there," said 18-year-old Erik Cohen, from Venezuela, who is currently in a student exchange program in Spain and waiting to travel to Israel.

According to Masa approximately 35% of program participants make aliyah.

Masa's acting CEO, Ofer Gutman, added: "We are preparing to open the next programming year with a higher demand than past years. At this time last year, we had 2,500 registrants. Now, the number has jumped to 5,500 registrants who are on the waiting list. We are witnessing a 120% increase from last year. Participants are determined to contribute to Israel's society and economy at this moment of crisis so that they can be a part of Israel's success story. We are preparing to absorb the growing number of applicants and to provide them with a meaningful experience in Israel."

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The Oct. 28 event marks Israel's largest-ever single gathering of Diaspora Jews volunteering and working in Israel. More than 2,500 attendees enjoyed a performance by international pop star and 2018 Eurovision Song Contest winner Netta Barzilai and a keynote address by Masa's Acting CEO Ofer Gutman.

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Attendees participated in community-building workshops consisting of games, an art wall and a volunteer event: Sixty-seven bicycles were assembled and donated to Potchim Atid, a Jewish Agency initiative that supports children and their families living in Israel's social and demographic periphery.

"We are proud to open the new year with thousands of new fellows who are excited to experience Israel firsthand and deepen their connection with the country and its people. Together, our growing global community displays an unparalleled commitment to support and strengthen Israel," said Gutman.

Masa also announced the full-fledged launch of its MasaTech program. A first-of-its-kind, innovative initiative, MasaTech will bring more than 200 full-time high-tech professionals to Israel for unmatched work opportunities at the highest echelons of Israel's high-tech sector.

"MasaTech will completely transform the way Israel's robust high-tech industry conducts business, recruits talent and engages with the global workforce," said Gutman.

At the event, attended by people from 41 different countries, participants posed with Barzilai for a photograph.

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org

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