Gap Year Programs In Israel Launched At Beyondyear.org

Online, December 4, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Committed to providing more Jewish teens with more meaningful Jewish experiences, BBYO announces the launch of a new pre-college, gap year program in Israel - "Beyond" beyondyear.org.

The program brings together 4 significant partners, including Authentic Israel, Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, Masa Israel Journey, and Tel Aviv University to offer a powerful academic experience along with service opportunities, leadership programming and travel.

Beyond is BBYO's first gap year offering amongst its fast growing menu of Israel experiences offered under its Passport brand.

"Knowing the impact of a gap year experience in Israel, we feel compelled to leverage our expertise and experience in providing powerful Israel experiences to increase the number of young Jews engaging in long-term study in Israel," says BBYO Executive Director, Matthew Grossman. "Our teens have requested a gap year experience, Israeli and North American Jewish leaders have called for more of these programs and we feel uniquely capable of delivering something scalable and life changing."

Beyond applicants can choose between a 5 month and 9 month experience, both of which are eligible for an automatic Masa scholarship of $1,000, with up to $3,000 more being available based on financial need. With Tel Aviv University serving as the program's home base, participants have additional opportunities to explore Europe, engage in community service in Africa, and develop new skills like scuba diving and cooking.

"Programs like Beyond http://beyondyear.org prepare students to thrive in a competitive university setting and shape their worldview in a way that gives meaningful context to their academic studies" says Dr. Larry Moneta, Vice President for Student Affairs, Duke University.

"We know that teens who participate in BBYO programs are much more likely than their peers to seek out positions of leadership and contribute to the world around them. We are pleased to partner in the program and welcome them to our dynamic campus" said Pnina Gadai Agenyahu, Director of Hillel at Tel Aviv University. Being in Israel and Tel Aviv specifically offers the unique learning experiences of an environment that is both ancient and modern - where Biblical archeology and micro-chip development are part of the fabric of daily life."