Live and Volunteer in Israel with OTZMA

Going on OTZMA was the best decision I ever made. I met some of the closest friends I have today, had some of the most unique and wonderful experiences of my life, and found my future heading in a new and exciting direction. They do a great job integrating you into the society and exposing you to all sides of Israel, letting you make up your own mind about what to believe and feel in a way other programs don't. A life-altering program that I'll always remember!

I spent ten consecutive months without being bored. Ever! Think about that.

If you're willing to throw yourself into something new with an open mind and a can-do attitude (along with incredibly friendly and helpful support from staff) you will have an adventure. I certainly did.

One of my favorite times on the program was the winter I spent in a small town called Kiryat Shmonah in Israel's north. Here was a typical day: wake up early, walk to the local elementary school to teach English, get coffee with some Israeli twenty-somethings studying at the local college, help teens collect costume donations for a Purim community fundraiser, shop for fresh veggies at the market, make a beautiful fresh dinner together with my room mates, try to bum a ride to a nearby kibbutz pub, and finally hit the hay, exhausted and happy back at the cozy apartment the three of us shared.

This was the day-to-day adventure. OTZMA also planned fantastic several-day education days and trips to supplement the important social work I was doing.

I work at a Hillel and recommend OTZMA to each graduating senior. And now I recommend it to you!

I learned incredible lessons about myself and my connection to Israel and the Jewish People through my volunteer work during Otzma. I met people who became my family and have continued to be close to since returning to the States.

The volunteerism I participated in through Otzma exposed me to the varied aspects of life and varied communities in Israel. I lived in the center in Tel Aviv and worked with Holocaust survivors. Meeting them and hearing their stories inspired me to live my life to its fullest and never take one day for granted. Their stories will soon be lost, as time goes on, but I know that I will be an ambassador for what they learned from their horrific experience for generations that will never meet them.

I worked with under privileged kids in Beer Sheva while I myself was learning Hebrew. I taught them English which really is key to their future. The impact that these students left on me inspired me to go into education as a career to continue to inspire youth to reach for their dreams.

Finally, my journey in Jerusalem exposed me to the important work that the Joint does on behalf of the most needy of the Jewish People spread throughout the world.

I would be remiss if I did not also mention my host family. I became incredibly close with my host family, joining them for holidays and celebrations. They took me into their home as if I was their own daughter and helped me to understand Israel from their point of view. I learned so much from their hospitality and continue to stay in touch with them.

The first 3 months of OTZMA were in a beach city called Ashquelon living in a dorms with all the other participants. A typical day was waking up and going to Ulpan for about 3 or 4 hours. The teacher was engaging and understanding of our different skills set. Then we would have time to rest and go volunteer.
Since our main objective the first 3 months was to learn Hebrew, I volunteered twice a week along with another participant from our program coaching youth soccer at the local sports center. We had a good time helping out the kids with their soccer skills, and I even learned some Hebrew.
When I wasn't at Uplan or volunteering I took full advantage of exploring the city, especially the beach. One of the highlights of OTZMA was about once a week during our first 3 months we would go on field trips to see different parts of the regions and get different perspectives from the various cultures in Israeli society.
The next 4 months I moved to a different city up in the north called Carmiel, where I lived with 2 other participants. 5 days a week we would be volunteering in various places; a kibbutz for adults with special needs, a local high school, a Bedouin community, an after school program and a foster home. These were very meaningful experiences that gave me great introspection while helping others.
The final months I spent in Tel Aviv, where I interned for a newspaper. It was a fast paced work environment, which I truly enjoyed. I was glad that Tel Aviv was saved for last because it was such a big bustling city compared to the first 2 cities I volunteered at, and it was a nice way to end the program.
The 10 months flew by, I learned so much, made a ton of new friends and gained once in a life time experience. It was amazing!

I did Otzma almost 20 years ago and still feel very connected to the experience. You are immersed in different communities so truly have an opportunity to learn Hebrew, meet Israelis, and help the local community in different ways.

I participated in OTZMA 1 way back in 1986-87. I know lots has changed since then, but my memories of my year in Israel on OTZMA are forever. That year helped shape who I am today.

I went on Otzma 2004-05. It was nothing short of amazng. I delved more deeply into Judaism, fell in love with a country, had so many volunteer experiences that helped me discover myself professionally, experienced beautiful nature, bustling cities, learned Hebrew, made great friends, ans grew so much as person. If you are thinking about this prgram, do it! Bring you motivation, a can do attitude, roll up your sleeves, and carve your own path. What you put in, you will get back in spades!

I participated in Otzma 2004-05. It was incredible. I delved more deeply into Judaism, fell in love with a country, made great friends, and got so many experiences I never could have gotten elsewhere. Before Otzma, I was conflicted about entering the finance career I had prepared for. All of the experiences I had in Otzma (volunteering at a teen crisis center, a kindergarden, a research insitute for counter terrorism, the Israeli yoga teachers' society, a therapeutic horseback riding center, etc etc etc) helped me to discover what truly makes me happy professionally: deeply connecting with others and helping others who are suffering to grow and thrive.

After Otzma, I ditched my path towards finance and became an integrative psychotherapist. I work in California as well as for an NGO based in Africa. It is an amazing experience to take a year out of one's life and see what work you are drawn to when money is not a factor. As a volunteer with Otzma, I was working as much as I would in a full time job, but all of it was my choice based on my passions. This program has structure, but also allot of room to roll your sleeves up and just get in there, in whichever area you are most drawn. If you are thinking about this program, do it, and don't look back! Bring your motivation, a postive attitude, and hard work, and everything you give you will get back in spades!

Being the Otzma director for 4 years almost 6 years ago, I can say that our volunteers truly made a deep impact within the communities they served. One of the advantages is being able to truly use your skills to find the right for volunteering - from becoming a swim coach to a local kids club, to teaching English in a local school.

In my work for the Jewish Agency for Israel, I got to work on several occasions with OTZMA's staff and participants.

In my role, I was in charge of young Israelis who got to meet and work with OTZMA participants, as they went through challenging education sessions together. Having done this from 2008-2010, and having worked with two OTZMA years (and ending up marrying a past participant!) I can say it is a true exploration of the Israeli experience, and probably the best way to spend a year volunteering, learning, and truly getting to know Israel.

have fun, and good luck!

OTZMA was absolutely the right choice for me. It gave me the opportunity to participate in a variety of different volunteer opportunities in many locations around Israel.

The first track can be most challenging, since the holidays intersect with a huge piece of this track. You need to be truly motivated to go out and find opportunities that can use your help and show them that you want to be there! This is also the time to take advantage of Ulpan!! You get out of it what you put in! (You will hear that about EVERYTHING you do on this trip and it is 100% true).

Track two is spent in your sister city, volunteering in a variety of ways. This is the perfect opportunity to see even more of Israel, by visiting your friends in their placements throughout the country. Again, you can have one volunteer placement or you can try three. You need to find the opportunities that interest you and go for it!

The final track you can choose between an internship or a kibbutz. I personally chose an internship in Tel Aviv and sought out a new internship with an organization I had found on my own. Zalul Environmental Assocation, focusing on protecting and maintaining Israel's natural water resources. Either way you should choose what is right for you. The people that had the best experiences did what they felt was best for them and didn't just follow their friends throughout their journey.

Throughout the whole experience you have the option to be with participants of the trip. Make an effort to go even further and meet Israelis in the communities all around you. It can be very easy and safe to stick with the other participants, but it is worth it and it is an experience you will not want to miss!

This experience absolutely changed my life and was an AMAZING year. Since I returned from the program I have gone on to work in the Jewish non-profit world back at home.

It has now been 16 (!) years since my Otzma year and it is an experience I talk about and draw upon frequently. It was a truly unique opporutnity to experience, at least on some level what actual day to day life is like in a country that gets sensationalized and often demonized. To live and work among Isrealis, learn the language and get an in depth look into social and political struggles they face has impacted my view and understanding of Israel. Professionally the experience exposed me to a model of service learning and a field I have worked in for the past decade. On a personal level, the friendships I made are some of the most important in my life, especially since I now share my life and family with a fellow participant.

I only hope that my daughters are one day able to have an expeirence like this.

It was a great program. So many activities that were really memorable for me. My favorite part was definitely spending time with the children at Ieladeinu. I really enjoyed making the crafts with the children and helping to organize their supply room. Overall this was a great experience and a trip that I would definitely recommend.

Otzma completely changed my life. I went from a Finance major in colelge to a professional in the Jewish communal world. I highly recommend this program to anyone that wants to better understand one's abilities, versatility, and ability to adapt.

Like many other opportunities in life, the more you put in to it, the more you get out of the experience. I think between that, and coming with a very open mind and the mindset to be flexible really made OTZMA 2008 a wonderful experience. Every moment was a learning experience,and by shaking off the American mentality little by little, I gained a true taste of what the country had to offer. Additionally OTZMA itself was flexible and encouraged its participants to seek out opportunities. OTZMA offers a great and supportive platform and framework so you never feel alone, all the while pushing and encouraging to make our OTZMA experience our own.

OTZMA is one of those experiences that has the potential to change your life. It was most definitely life changing for me, as I learned so much about Israel and myself throughout the amazing 10 months of experiences. One of the highlight of this program over the many Israel programs to chose from is it's variation. OTZMA has 3 distinct parts, as well as other seminars and trips that really give participants the tools to experience all of Israel- no barriers, no holds, and there are many different aspects to the program that give it a wholistic approach to Israel. There are some things on the program that even Israelis don't have the opportunity to do- like meet with Arab Israeli english students and have engaging discussions about Israel. The program has 3 main parts. The first part is what I would consider the get acquainted to Israel part, where you get to know everyone in the group really well, study a bit of Ulpan, start volunteering a little, and take lots of trips and educational seminars. This part really helped me prepare for the next 6 months ahead. The second part, my personal favorite, is the full time volunteering in a small city in the periphery. This is really such an amazing opportunity to live in some of these really small communities and to experience Israel on a whole new level that you ever had before. I was placed in Beit Shean, where my volunteering was unbelievably rewarding and had a tremendous impact on both the city of Beit Shean and my own life. In this part, it's really important for participants to take initiative and make the most out of living in these small communities. The people in these communities are so warm, and have so much to offer. It's really a tremendous experience. The 3rd part is an internship in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem. I was in Jerusalem, and I loved it! I had a really great internship and lived with some of the best girls I know. Part 3 overall was a really nice chance to spend some time in the city after being in smaller communities throughout the year. Basically if you sign up for OTZMA you are should be ready for a year of amazing experiences, new friends and even family, and an incredible opportunity to learn about Israel, yourself, and give back to the communities. It's a great program to do post-college when you are at a cross-roads and unsure what to do. Trust me, OTZMA will help you figure out. As long as you have initiative and the ability to take advantage of the awesome opportunities presented to you, you are in for the best year of your life!

We all grow up with the thought of "next year in Israel", this program makes that a reality. I absolutely loved my experience on Otzma. I learned Hebrew, met some of my best friends, and volunteered in several different capacities. I got a chance to tutor Ethiopian kids, untangle parachutes on an army base, work in a community garden, bake alongside troubled youth at a local bakery, and even work as a hotel maid on an eco-kibbutz. Most of the program centers around volunteering, but there is also an educational component, as well as a chance to tour the country. Never would I have been able to experience anything like the opportunities Otzma introduced to me.

Otzma was a life-changing, life-affirming program. The program not only provides an opportunity to live in Israel for a year, but allows for enough independence that you can actually taste and experience Israeli life.

Each several months provides you with a different experience, both in work conditions and in living situation. Throughout the year, there is structure, free-time, play-time, travelling, learning, and ample opportunity for self-exploration and learning. Support is present, close by, very present but not smothering.

To this day, many of my closest friends are those that I made during my year on Otzma. Together we played, cried, worked, and explored our Judiac and Zionist ideals and newfound adulthood.

I would highly higly recommend this program.

Otzma is one of those experiences that will never leave you. The people, the place, the ups, the downs, are all a mumbled conglomerate of awesome. I was able to achieve things through this program that I never thought were possible. I was able to experience Israel in all of its capacities. I was able to give back to a country that had/has given so much to me. Otzma is the best decision I have made thus far in my life. It challenged me to really look inside myself and learn.

OTZMA was and is an amazing experience. Having traveled to Israel with Taglit-birthright and later attending Hebrew University my Junior Year abroad I felt like I never connected with Israel. The majority of my time over that year I felt like a tourist, hopping from city to city on buses, representing Rothberg and not meeting Israelis. Toward the end of the semester I knew I needed to come back to Israel to really have experience where I felt apart of the country and not an outsider.

I learned about OTZMA from friends and after researched realized it was the PERFECT program. OTZMA places you in situations where you are learning and experiencing the country through its people and not the windows of a bus. Living in an Absorption Center, learning Hebrew with new Olim (immigrants), volunteering with the locals I began to forge relationships with not only the members of my group, but those I worked with and learned Hebrew with. Following my three months in the Absorption Center, I was placed in Chicago's partnership city of Kiryat Gat. When you ask anyone in Israel where's Kiryat Gat, you get two answers. 1. The INTEL Factory is there and 2. OH!!! My Birthright bus stopped there on the way back from Eilat at the mall. My goal was to leave K-gat with more knowledge of it and the surrounding cities and the people who lived there. Working in an adult care, with children in after school programs and with immigrants on learning how to use computers (setting up email, online banking...even understanding how to "double click" to open an application,) I felt I was able to give back to a small city and leave with so much more. The last part of my journey on OTZMA was living and interning in Jerusalem. Being back in Jerusalem for the first time since Hebrew University, I really wanted to be a part of the city, the culture and day to day life that happened.

During both part 1 and part 2 of my time in Israel with OTZMA I was able to travel to all the different cities my co-OTZMAnikim were living in and meet their friends, work with them in their placements and experience Israel in a broader sense. I traveled from the North to the South and East to West and when I left Israel to return to the States, I knew I was leaving one home to return my old home.

OTZMA gave me the opportunity to fall in love again with the Israel I first new and leave loving the country, its people and the land so much more. Living, working and hiking among Israelis and my fellow participants has made my bond with Israel stronger.

OTZMA will give you a chance to be a part of something bigger than yourself. Educational days, speakers, hikes and the volunteering will change your life for the better. You will leave feeling a better version of yourself than when you arrived 10 months earlier.

If you're not associated with a youth group that has its own Israel program (e.g. Young Judea), and you're not particularly religious (i.e. not interested in a year of yeshiva study), there's few better options than Otzma.

The program's structure gives you experience in several locations/activities over the course of the year. And if you value the US-Israel relationship (as I do/did), representing your home community by volunteering in groups among Israel's disadvantaged is an invaluable experience.

Highly recommended; email me if you have any questions about my experiences or the program generally. benklafter@yahoo.com

When I look back at my 10-months on Otzma, I smile. There are some days when I wish I was still on our porch in Kiryat Gat or working in the Gan in Afula. My world and my future was sealed during those 10 months. My only regret, that the program was not longer. Had it been longer, I know that I would have stayed. From my adoptive Israeli family, to the friends I made, each day and each moment was an awakening. My career today is because of those experiences. I look forward to many more trips to Israel, because when you return to Israel it is like "coming home".

Had an awesome year. Got to immerse myself in Israel and had plenty of time to travel and explore on my own on top of the volunteering. The program allows you to be very independent if you want to be, which I think is its best feature.

This program with OTZMA allowed me to make an impact not only in parts of Israeli society, but on myself. It offered me the opportunity to work with so many wonderful people, forge life-long friendships (I did the program over 20 years ago) and grow as an individual and member of my community. I would absolutely recommend this program!

Project Otzma was/is one of those life affirming experiences. The age requirments are perfect in that during those formative years our core values, beliefs and the direction our lives are taking is being solidified.

The experience was at times amazing and joyful while at other times difficult and challenging. It is those experiences that you go through with your fellow participants and Israelis that make the program priceless. At different times throughout the program you work the land, navigate and experience "big" city life, work in business and connect with people.

If you are looking to "find yourself" and/or gain an experience that few others will have, then Project Otzma is for you. When you return and people ask you, "so, how was it?" and you smile and respond, "so, how much time do you have?". You will undertand the amazing gift you have just recieved.

I participated on Project Otzma from 1993-1994 (Otzma 8). Without a doubt Otzma changed my life forever. I met my husband on Otzma. It was unbelievable spending a year with other passionate, intelligent, motivated and socially conscious college grads. I worked and studied Hebrew on Kibbutz in the stunning Negev desert for 4 months. By the end of that period I was comfortable speaking & understanding Hebrew. Then I moved to an incredible youth Village (boarding school for underprivileged kids). We taught English & acted as mentors to new immigrant kids from Ethiopia and the FSU as well as native Israelis. This was among the most powerful experiences of my life. I have gone on to become a Marriage & Family Therapist largely based on some of the experiences I had here. I later went on to an agricultural kibbutz experience where I learned about the Arab Israeli- Jewish Israeli conflict. Then I spent the remaining 4 months working at a special education school in the center of the country.
If you want to give deeply of yourself while gaining immeasurable experiences and meeting life long friends Otzma is THE experience for you!

OTZMA is a wonderful program. There was enough structure to make you feel you had support and direction, but enough space to encourage you to utilize your own talents to make the program fit your strengths. I solidified my Hebrew knowledge, worked with children, taught swimming and English, had a meaningful internship, learned about and experienced Israel in depth, and had a lot of fun! I made friends that will last a lifetime, as well. The most important thing to remember on the program is that OTZMA is what you make of it. The outline of the year is provided for you, but think outside the box--if you love drama and you're asked to teach English then write a play in English to combine the needs of the community with your skill set. Not learning enough Hebrew in ulpan? All of Israel is your ulpan...go speak to the taxi driver, the people at the beach, the employees at the grocery store. Make mistakes. Explore. Be a leader. Support your fellow participants. Have a positive attitude. Make the most of each day you have. Ask for help when you need it. The program provides it all, you just have to make it fit. It's fantastic, challenging, and exciting. A once in a lifetime experience!