advice

Choosing the programme or organisation that caters more to your needs is a challenging matter. Even more so: having so many options and selecting The Best might keep you up at night! All the highlighted organisations have a vast history, connecting thousands of teenagers over decades. Yahad Ba’Olam is an explorer that allows you to delve into even larger ones and explore the best programme of all. Masa, for example, offers a variety of experiences; from riding camels in the Negev to having an internship at the five-star David Intercontinental!

We understand that many factors come into play. You need to like the programme, the dates need to match, the conditions need to suit you, and your family needs to be on your team. We know this because we've also lived it.

To choose a programme, we recommend creating a sheet with the criteria you consider important and a brief description of the programmes you are comparing. An example: | Place | Type | Funds | Interest |. If you are part of a large Jewish network, we also recommend asking your acquaintances if they know the programme. There is always your friend's cousin who went to that summer camp in Maine and can share their experience with you.

We challenge you to embrace new experiences and be open and curious about getting to know new places and people. The beauty of life and what makes us grow the most is stepping outside our comfort zone and embracing challenges with passion and excitement. Travelling abroad is scary, of course. Whether for your parents or yourself, it might bring butterflies to your stomach. But only these sensations will keep you moving forward. And what's best is knowing you are safe and completely taken care by these organisations.

As a third point, we also encourage you to seek out the support of your closest community or Jewish family friend. They might be able to give you some recommendations or even make you aware of a programme that is not yet listed.

We are also here to assist in anything you might need. While we are not part of any of the organisations, we are here to help! Whether you are an Instagram person or prefer to email your thoughts, we are here to listen. The same goes for your recommendations and experiences. Yahad was built to connect teenagers from small Jewish communities to larger ones. That's our passion and reason! We would love to hear more ideas on how to do so!

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Thank you for choosing to connect with your Jewish family, and we look forward to the best choice you have ever made.

B'hatzlacha, Yahad Ba’Olam.