Cleveland
Be a part of our amazing Cleveland cohort and spend 8 weeks living and working in the heart of Tel Aviv. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to grow personally and professionally as you explore Israel, gain valuable work experience, and make new friends!
Applications for this program have closed. You can still apply for select Theme Based Programs and Advance Programs.
Intern four to five days a week alongside Israeli peers and immerse yourself in contemporary Israeli society. Experience Israel through Onward Israel’s exclusive day trips, overnights and seminars. In your free time, explore Israel’s amazing restaurants, beaches, and nightlife with a cohort of other young adults. Spend time in Beit Shean, Cleveland’s sister city, and discover your home away from home!
If for public heath or security related reasons the program cannot take place in Israel, Onward Israel will make efforts to conduct the program remotely. Please note, if this happens, it will affect the types of internships available. Participants who do not wish to participate on an entirely remote program will be permitted to withdraw and receive a full refund for their program fee, within a week of the decision for the program to be conducted remotely. If a program is cancelled completely due to heath or safety conditions in Israel, participants will be able to receive a full refund of their program fee.
Before applying, please ensure you read our COVID-19 Response to understand the current entry requirements and other important information. Please be aware as you review our Covid-19 Response page that your program is considered a Masa program.
This Onward Israel – Masa program is operated through a partnership between the Beacon and Shapira Foundations and other lead philanthropists, Masa Israel Journey, Jewish Federation of Cleveland, and is organized by Tlalim.
Participants on Onward Israel programs that are run in partnership with Masa may return to Israel on long-term Masa programs after Onward Israel although the size of any potential scholarship may be influenced by prior participation on Onward Israel. For details please contact Masa Israel Journey directly. Beginning in 2022, Onward Israel will merge with Birthright Israel and will operate as a division within Birthright Israel.
Admission is rolling. Applications will close in March or earlier if the program fills.
Dates
June 9 – August 3, 2022
You MUST be available to participate for the entire length of the program.
Note, there is a chance that health/safety conditions will require us to implement a quarantine period upon arrival in Israel for some or all participants. There is also a chance that the program will shift to entirely remote if travel is further restricted. For more information, visit our FAQ responding to COVID-19.
Program Cost
$550*
The program cost includes housing, medical insurance, a modest food stipend, and ground transportation. Participants will be required to submit a security deposit of $275 in cash upon arrival. Deposits will be refunded after the trip, pending full completion of the program and good standing.
All participants are responsible for the cost and arrangement of their own flights and additional spending money. Participants should not purchase flights until approximately one month before the program begins. Participants are encouraged to purchase flights with a good refund policy or flight insurance. Onward Israel is not responsible for the cost of flights should the program be cancelled or shifted to be remote.
*If this becomes a remote program, the program cost will change to reflect this shift in expenses. The program cost will then be $150.
The actual cost of the Onward Israel program is much higher, and is subsidized up to 70% by Onward Israel, private donors, and local Jewish communities and institutions.
Masa-eligible participants in programs which are part of the Onward/Masa partnership may qualify for additional scholarships. For more information, call Onward Israel or your local partner professional.
Accommodations:
Apartment, hostel, hotel, or dorm-style housing in Tel Aviv.
The number of participants to an apartment or room is dependent on the size of the accommodations and number of participants on the program. While meeting common standards, Onward Israel housing differs by and within each program. To learn more about this and other Onward Israel housing details, please visit our housing FAQ.
– Jewish college students and recent graduates, from or currently living in the Greater Cleveland area, with priority given to rising juniors and seniors
– Applicants between 19-27 years old and not currently enrolled in high school
– Must meet MASA eligibility – identify as Jewish and have NOT spent 3 or more months in Israel as part of an educational or peer-program after high school (this includes semester abroad, gap year or any other MASA)*
*Note, Alumni of Onward Israel programs (even if they are Masa eligible) are typically not eligible to participate on a second Onward Israel program. In some cases this might be possible (alumni can check with Onward Israel staff on a case by case basis), but program subsidies will be significantly lower and therefore the program fee will be significantly higher.
– Fluent in English
– Valid Passport (passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the program end date)
– Previous participation in Taglit-Birthright Israel or other short term programs in Israel is encouraged but not required
Sample Internships
-Social Media and outreach internship with local NGO or non-profit
-Business Development internship with social media start-up
-Event coordination and promotion intern for management company
-Public Relations internship with a museum
Not sure what type of internship you are looking for or unsure if you can find it in Israel? Our internship coordinators work one-on-one with each participant!
*In the event that the program needs to shift to be entirely remote, there could be additional limitations on the types of internship placements available. Participants will be asked to be flexible under these circumstances and Onward Israel is committed to making sure participants still have a professional and positive work experience.
Applicants interested in internships in the fields of Engineering, Computer Science, Finance, Law and Medicine please click here for some important information regarding placements:
Remote Internship Opportunities
In the event that the program is shifted to remote, participants would be paired with an Israeli company or organization and assigned work projects to complete over the course of the program. It is expected that participants complete their work projects during the designated dates of the program and fully participate in all required enrichment activities. The type of work that participants would complete remotely might differ from what they would be doing in person. Additionally, some fields or internship types might not be available as hands-on work won’t be possible.
Contact
Rivki Ebner, rebner@jcfcleve.org
