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What is I-Connect?

I-Connect provides young adults in Cleveland with opportunities to experience Israel in whatever way you choose — programs that last 10 days, two months, or one year — deepening your connection to Israeli life and culture and changing your life forever, for the better.


Connect with your Jewish identity

Boost your resumé

Volunteer

Have a (low cost) adventure abroad

Learn Hebrew

Advance your career

Personal & professional development

Immerse yourself in Israeli culture

Expand your network, both in the U.S. and Israel

Tour Israel with Birthright

Birthright is a free 10-day trip to explore Israel’s most remarkable tourist destinations and beyond with fellow Jewish Cleveland young adults. Spend your time hiking the rugged sites of Masada, strolling Ben Yehuda Street in downtown Jerusalem, and experiencing Tel Aviv’s cosmopolitan lifestyle.

Over 750,000 participants have taken part in this life-changing experience!

Now, it's your turn!

Learn More

Birthright

Jewish Cleveland young adults, ages 18 – 26 in 2 age categories: 18-22-years-old and 22-26-years-old.
10-day trip to explore Israel’s most remarkable tourist destinations
Spend your days traveling across Israel, from Masada to Jerusalem to Cleveland’s sister city of Beit Shean
Summer Programs:
18-22-Year-Old Summer Trip: May/June 2024
22-26-Year-Old Summer Trip: May/June 2024
18-22-Year-Old Winter Trip: December 2025
Free
Pair a Birthright trip with another Israel program and save the cost of airfare! Extend your ticket for a nominal fee and stay in Israel for an even more impactful experience.
Cleveland Birthright Israel
Contact:

Elle Henig
ehenig@jewishcleveland.org

Visit the website
Fill out an interest form

Israel Outdoors logo

Build your resumé with Onward Israel

Onward Israel is an eight-week summer internship program for college students and recent graduates. Champion your professional development with a 4-5 day/week international internship experience in your field of study. Whatever your ambition, Israel is yours to discover.

Spend the summer connecting with your network, immerse yourself in Israeli culture, experience Tel Aviv’s vibrant nightlife and beautiful beaches, and learn about important issues facing Israeli society today. Plus, the 2024 Cleveland Onward program has an added cohort of Israeli peers that will join throughout the summer and a special overnight excursion to Beit Shean, Cleveland’s sister-city.

Build for your future with Summer 2024 in Israel!

Read past participants' experiences on Onward Israel

*Scholarships may be available to help offset the program cost for those who need additional assistance and meet Onward’s eligibility criteria.
**The true cost of Onward Israel is over $7,000 per participant. Generous support of philanthropic funds from Birthright Onward Israel, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, and leading North American Jewish Foundations makes Onward Israel possible and substantially reduces the program costs incurred by participants.

Onward Israel

College students or recent graduates, with priority given to rising juniors and seniors, from or currently living in the Greater Cleveland area, who identify as Jewish.
June 5 – July 30, 2024
Eight-week summer internship in your field of interest
Live like a local in the heart of Tel Aviv
Rolling applications open November 2023 through mid-March 2024
$999* + airfare
Pair your Onward program with a Birthright trip for a free flight!
Elle Henig
Cleveland Onward Israel
Contact:

Elle Henig
ehenig@jewishcleveland.org
216-593-2899

Visit the website
Fill out an interest form

Discover your passion
with Masa Israel Gap Semester or Year

Masa Israel’s Gap Year fills the gap between high school and college with new life experiences. You will feel part of the fabric of the Israeli community – traveling with new friends to destination spots in the city, sipping coffee in the cafes, hiking trails in the mountains, and buying local ingredients from the market.

Travel to a part of the world where your Jewish community is warm, welcoming, and waiting for you!

Your Gap Year program awaits

Gap Year

College-bound high school graduates
Acquire a global perspective and venture into independent living, while having an incredible Israel experience
Programs are offered across Israel, from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv
Semester or year-long programs
Dates and cost vary per program
Eligible participants will qualify for a Masa grant
Elle Henig
Cleveland Masa
Contact:

Elle Henig
ehenig@jewishcleveland.org
216-593-2899

Visit the website
Fill out an interest form

Live & learn like a local
with Masa Israel Study Abroad

Masa Israel’s Study Abroad Programs provide academic opportunities in your specific field of study at one of Israel’s distinguished universities. Take in the culture and become part of a global Jewish community. With more than 150 programs available, it’s easy to find the right one for you!

Return home with an impressive, international experience, a great education, and a lifelong social and professional network.

Study Abroad

College students, ages 19 – 35
Study at one of Israel’s elite universities’ undergraduate or graduate programs
Diverse programming is available, from dance to international politics, at campuses across Israel
Semester or year-long academic study
Dates and cost vary per program
Eligible participants will qualify for a Masa grant
Elle Henig
Cleveland Masa
Contact:

Elle Henig
ehenig@jewishcleveland.org
216-593-2899

Visit the website
Fill out an interest form

Jumpstart your career
with Masa Israel Post-College

Masa Israel’s Post-College programs give recent college grads and young professionals a competitive edge against fellow job seekers. Boost your resumé while living and working in Israel, a country known for its global leadership in the arts, science, and technology.

Be part of the innovation through an internship experience tailored to your timeline and talents.

Masa Israel Teaching Fellows is a 10-month fellowship for college graduates who want to make a difference. Teach English while immersing yourself in Israeli society and become an integral member of the city in which you live, teach, and volunteer.

Fellows can work in cities across Israel, but there’s no place quite like Beit Shean – Cleveland’s sister city – that’s known for its warm, friendly, and diverse community.

Post-College

College graduates, ages 22 – 35
Work an entry-level job with a leading Israeli company or volunteer to make a difference in the lives of others
Programs are offered across Israel, from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv to Israel’s periphery cities
5 – 10 month programs in your field of interest
Dates and cost vary per program
Eligible participants will qualify for a Masa grant
Elle Henig
Cleveland Masa
Contact:

Elle Henig
ehenig@jewishcleveland.org
216-593-2899

Visit the website
Fill out an interest form