Program Reviews

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.

Otzma provided a wonderful opportunity for personal growth and connection to Israel as a whole, the communities we lived in, and the Jewish peoplehood. The program provided a safe and meaningful ways to connection with Israeli communities and allowed me to work in fields that were of great interest to me. I learned so much from the communities I worked with and developed a very strong relationship with my host family and still visit them when I go back to Israel. And if it weren't for Otzma, my Hebrew wouldn't be as good as it is!

This is a great program. I became part of the local community, met fantastic OTZMA participants, learned new skills through my volunteer and intern work, and traveled around Israel and nearby countries on the weekends. For anyone who is looking for a safe, interesting, and fun adventure - OTZMA is for you.

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!

What can I say... my decision to do OTZMA was one of the best decisions I made in the last 26 years of my life.

The best way to learn about a country and connect with the people and connect on a personal level, is to spend a year there living and volunteering.

Otzma provided me with a life changing experience, that allowed me to connect to Israel through volunteering and living in several areas around the country. It is this experience that has influenced many decisions that I made afterwards and gave me life long friends that I am still close with today.

Most importantly, I was given the opportunity to give back and hopefully make a impact in the lives of the youth and teenagers that I worked with in after school programs, schools and community centers.

Are you looking for a way to give back, learn, grow and have an out of the box experience? Than Otzma is the program for you.

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.

How can I summarize the value of a year on OTZMA?
Do I start with the beauty of the country, the vibrant people, the history, culture, or incredible food?

Do I share grand stories of hiking the desert, swimming in the Mediterranean or camping in the Galilee?

Should I count the number of live, open air concerts I went to of big name Israeli artists with thousands of people in attendance?

Should I talk about the daily love that happens on volunteer sites with children of all ages, and adults that you come to admire as the most heroic you've ever met?

Do I tell about growing my Hebrew abilities and connecting with local families and professionals?

Do I tell about the street performers, artists' colonies, student activist groups, or community song sessions?

And, perhaps above all, how can I tell about all that, while also remembering the shared experiences of 40 OTZMA XXI friends that will last a lifetime?

I don't know where to start, but I know where to end: feeling at home in Israel with unique connections that have carried me farther than I ever dreamed!

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!

I had a wonderful 10 months in Israel, complete with learning Hebrew in the desert, studying Torah in Jerusalem, volunteering teaching English at an elementary school, helping out at a nursery school and doing an internship living by the beach in Tel Aviv. I have lifelong friends from my time on OTZMA!