Best All Around Israel Program

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.