You can make a go of your extension on your own. There are also several organized programs to fall into if you have a spare week or two. Many are specifically geared towards specifically for people extending their Birthright trips. These programs are short in nature--usually lasting a week or two--enough to get your feet wet without taking too much of your time. They are usually heavily subsidized and cheap to you. And Birthright's already taken care of the most expensive part--your plane ticket. If you're interested in a longer-term program, that's awesome, but you don't need to cram it in now. Masa Israel Journey or other programs can help you get back to Israel another time for an internship, study, or volunteer program.
Learn the Language
Ulpans are Israel's institutes for intensive study of the Hebrew. The concept was initiated after the modern state was founded leading to an influx of new immigrants that needed to learn the language. Such things take time and typical courses take months. But there are ways to get an introductory taste. Ulpan Or and Ulpan Aviv both offer immersion courses with intensive instruction delivered over the course of a week or two. Another popular program is a four week Kibbutz Summer Ulpan where language study, other classes, and hikes are combined with kibbutz work. Language study isn't free or highly subsidized like the 'Jewish learning for unaffiliated' programs. This one breaks the $2000 mark for the month. A Beach, Hebrew & Volunteer program sets you up on the coastal city of Ashdod each week taking four Hebrew classes, spending 10 hours volunteering, going on an organized trip, and partying it up in this beach town in the evening.
Ulpans are Israel's institutes for intensive study of the Hebrew. The concept was initiated after the modern state was founded leading to an influx of new immigrants that needed to learn the language. Such things take time and typical courses take months. But there are ways to get an introductory taste. Ulpan Or and Ulpan Aviv both offer immersion courses with intensive instruction delivered over the course of a week or two. Another popular program is a four week Kibbutz Summer Ulpan where language study, other classes, and hikes are combined with kibbutz work. Language study isn't free or highly subsidized like the 'Jewish learning for unaffiliated' programs. This one breaks the $2000 mark for the month. A Beach, Hebrew & Volunteer program sets you up on the coastal city of Ashdod each week taking four Hebrew classes, spending 10 hours volunteering, going on an organized trip, and partying it up in this beach town in the evening.
Join the Army...For a Few Weeks
Volunteers for Israel offers the opportunity to live on an IDF base and performing non-combat support duties for two or three weeks. Housing and food is covered, you get to wear those green uniforms, and you have weekends off to explore. There is a nominal $50 application fee for post-Birthrighters. Other than that there is no cost to participants.
Volunteers for Israel offers the opportunity to live on an IDF base and performing non-combat support duties for two or three weeks. Housing and food is covered, you get to wear those green uniforms, and you have weekends off to explore. There is a nominal $50 application fee for post-Birthrighters. Other than that there is no cost to participants.
Reach Spiritual Heights in Tzfat
The Livnot Northern Exposure Program offers hiking, volunteering, and spiritual inspiration in Tzfat specifically geared towards those with little Jewish background. All Taglit buses stop at this northern city for an intro to Jewish mysticism and the Kabbalah, the historic synagogues, and perhaps a perhaps a visit with Avraham and his awesomely awesome artwork. So it's no surprise that Livnot incorporates spiritual content into its program without promoting any specific form of Judaism. Seminars and classes are mixed with work on historical preservation projects and two or three hikes a week through their Northern Exposure program. It costs $150 all inclusive and a new one begins pretty much every Sunday through the Birthright season.
Not affiliated with Livnot, the Ascent program in this spiritual city offers cheap accommodations along with a menu of learning opportunities to choose from to craft your own experience. This ascent is more
The Livnot Northern Exposure Program offers hiking, volunteering, and spiritual inspiration in Tzfat specifically geared towards those with little Jewish background. All Taglit buses stop at this northern city for an intro to Jewish mysticism and the Kabbalah, the historic synagogues, and perhaps a perhaps a visit with Avraham and his awesomely awesome artwork. So it's no surprise that Livnot incorporates spiritual content into its program without promoting any specific form of Judaism. Seminars and classes are mixed with work on historical preservation projects and two or three hikes a week through their Northern Exposure program. It costs $150 all inclusive and a new one begins pretty much every Sunday through the Birthright season.
Not affiliated with Livnot, the Ascent program in this spiritual city offers cheap accommodations along with a menu of learning opportunities to choose from to craft your own experience. This ascent is more
Chabad It Up
Mayanot, affiliated with Chabad, is another one of the bigger Birthright trip providers. They also offer a three week Post-Birthright Study extension program, a smorgasbord of Jewish learning in Jerusalem. The $99 program fee includes tuition, room, and board.
Mayanot, affiliated with Chabad, is another one of the bigger Birthright trip providers. They also offer a three week Post-Birthright Study extension program, a smorgasbord of Jewish learning in Jerusalem. The $99 program fee includes tuition, room, and board.
Encounter Alternate Perspectives on Peace
Dovish U.S. based advocacy group J Street was founded to offer an alternate voice to influential AIPAC. They were given approval to lead Birthright trips in 2011 only to have it immediately withdrawn. So their skin in the game has been offering day-long Friday tours and evening panels designed specifically for American college students through their Ta Shema: Encountering Israel with J Street U. In them you'll "delve into challenges and opportunities facing Israelis and Palestinians working on behalf of peace, democracy, social justice and a two-state solution."
Dovish U.S. based advocacy group J Street was founded to offer an alternate voice to influential AIPAC. They were given approval to lead Birthright trips in 2011 only to have it immediately withdrawn. So their skin in the game has been offering day-long Friday tours and evening panels designed specifically for American college students through their Ta Shema: Encountering Israel with J Street U. In them you'll "delve into challenges and opportunities facing Israelis and Palestinians working on behalf of peace, democracy, social justice and a two-state solution."
Aish HaTorah
http://www.aish.com/ai/ip/
Aish is an enormous Jewish Orthodox institution that offers programs across the world specifically for unaffiliated young Jews. In Jerusalem they offer men aged 18-29 their Essentials program which you can fall into for an hour, a week, or a month to explore themes and practices of Jewish spirituality and see what they're all about. There's unfortunately not an equivalent informal program for women, only longer term programs like their Hasbara Fellowship that both sexes can apply for but may be more appropriate for a return trip.
http://www.aish.com/ai/ip/
Aish is an enormous Jewish Orthodox institution that offers programs across the world specifically for unaffiliated young Jews. In Jerusalem they offer men aged 18-29 their Essentials program which you can fall into for an hour, a week, or a month to explore themes and practices of Jewish spirituality and see what they're all about. There's unfortunately not an equivalent informal program for women, only longer term programs like their Hasbara Fellowship that both sexes can apply for but may be more appropriate for a return trip.
Various Ways to Volunteer
GoEco runs volunteer projects all over the world and has a great lineup in Israel. Most will run a minimum of two weeks but can go for several more. Options include coral reef conservation in Eilat, building an eco village in the Arava Dessert, working with at-risk youth in Jerusalem or a food program in Tel Aviv, or working at the Nimrod Eco Lodge on the slopes of Mr. Hermon. Programs can accommodate limited numbers of participants and program fees cost several hundreds of dollars, the amount varying for each program.
GoEco runs volunteer projects all over the world and has a great lineup in Israel. Most will run a minimum of two weeks but can go for several more. Options include coral reef conservation in Eilat, building an eco village in the Arava Dessert, working with at-risk youth in Jerusalem or a food program in Tel Aviv, or working at the Nimrod Eco Lodge on the slopes of Mr. Hermon. Programs can accommodate limited numbers of participants and program fees cost several hundreds of dollars, the amount varying for each program.
Get in Touch with Nature
In a country the size of New Jersey, Israel holds arid dessert, fertile plains, coast, coral. Water scarcity and allocation is a major issue though innovative Israel has also found ways to make the dessert bloom. Environmental studies programs are world class. Get out and be a part of that nature. The EcoExperience Program at the Lotan Center for Creative Ecology offers two week programs to get your hands dirty working and studying at their sustainable EcoCampus down in the Arava valley. Residents work on gardening, natural building, maintenance of trails and wetland preserves, and other projects and bunking in geodesic domes. Participants pay a $40 per day fee which includes room and board in the kibbutz dining room.
In a country the size of New Jersey, Israel holds arid dessert, fertile plains, coast, coral. Water scarcity and allocation is a major issue though innovative Israel has also found ways to make the dessert bloom. Environmental studies programs are world class. Get out and be a part of that nature. The EcoExperience Program at the Lotan Center for Creative Ecology offers two week programs to get your hands dirty working and studying at their sustainable EcoCampus down in the Arava valley. Residents work on gardening, natural building, maintenance of trails and wetland preserves, and other projects and bunking in geodesic domes. Participants pay a $40 per day fee which includes room and board in the kibbutz dining room.
Connect with Your Home Community
Cities have sister cities. Cities in the U.S. and elsewhere with established Jewish populations all cities in Israel they're paired with through the Partnership2Gether Program, probably including your city. Where is your hometown partnered with?You can find out here and check in with coordinators ahead of time to ask if there's anything you could see or ways you could get involved if you came for a visit.
Cities have sister cities. Cities in the U.S. and elsewhere with established Jewish populations all cities in Israel they're paired with through the Partnership2Gether Program, probably including your city. Where is your hometown partnered with?You can find out here and check in with coordinators ahead of time to ask if there's anything you could see or ways you could get involved if you came for a visit.
Travel Agent
Sometimes you just want to travel with like-minded travelers--no classes, no religious lecturing or spiritual seeking, no volunteering. Plenty of companies would love to play travel agent for you, ready to seamlessly extend the Birthright experience with another organized experience for you. One such one is Puzzle Israel; they offer four three-day excursions--two in the North and two in the South of the country.
Sometimes you just want to travel with like-minded travelers--no classes, no religious lecturing or spiritual seeking, no volunteering. Plenty of companies would love to play travel agent for you, ready to seamlessly extend the Birthright experience with another organized experience for you. One such one is Puzzle Israel; they offer four three-day excursions--two in the North and two in the South of the country.