Ten Young Adults from Pittsburgh to Enhance Resumes in Israel this Summer

Jewish Agency and The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh Launch Summer Program for Young Adults to Experience Israel through Career Building Internships, Service Learning and University Study

Ten young adults from Pittsburgh will be traveling to Israel this summer to strengthen their resumes through custom-designed overseas experiences in Israel. The group is part of a new initiative called "Onward Israel"- a partnership between The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, the Edward and Rose Berman Hillel Jewish University Center, and the Jewish Agency for Israel.

These summer internships are from June 20 to August 7, 2012.  The cost is just $210 (not including airfare) for fully furnished apartment, meals, and all costs in Israel.

Interested young adults can apply online at http://www.careerisrael.com/OnwardIsraelPittsburghClevelandinTelAviv

But hurry – the application deadline is April 15, 2012! Get your application in by Sunday to be considered for this amazing opportunity!

Every year, tens of thousands of young adults travel abroad for summer internships, volunteer opportunities and summer study. Onward Israel addresses many of the obstacles that have prevented larger numbers of young adults from returning for second immersive experiences in Israel, such as cost and the need for resume-building. Seventy-percent subsidized, Onward Israel gives Jewish young adults the chance to build valuable work, service or study credentials while also experiencing Israel.

While most of the participants have already been to Israel through Birthright Israel or various teen programs, Onward Israel allows them to have a longer experience, which--research has shown--often translates into stronger connections to Israel and the Jewish community at home. The Pittsburgh group is part of the pilot year of a continent-wide initiative, including cohorts form Cleveland, Toronto, Boston and Metrowest New Jersey. Each delegation will focus on specific projects or work assignments that its local federation has developed with the Jewish Agency.

Pittsburgh’s delegation will be living in Tel Aviv where they will participate in a four-day-a-week internship and an extra seminar day focusing on contemporary social issues in Israel. The program will also include content components developed by the Jewish Agency in areas such as Jewish identity, pluralism, modern Israel, communal activism, and Jewish Peoplehood.

Jewish Agency Board of Governors member, Cindy Shapira, the national lay chair of the Onward Israel initiative, along with her husband, David, realized the need for Onward Israel when their own children were looking for overseas summer internships.

"I learned that one could go almost anywhere, but hardly anyone mentioned Israel,” Shapira said. “Through Onward Israel, we can give thousands of Jewish young people the remarkable opportunity of a resume building experience in Israel."

Jeffrey H. Finkelstein, CEO and President of the Pittsburgh Federation, ­­­­agrees that there was a specific need for a summer program in Israel that offers career-development and advanced study. 

"Combining a meaningful Israel experience with substantive career development is the best of both worlds for young adults," Finkelstein said. "Through Onward Israel, Pittsburgh's young professionals will deepen their connection to the Jewish homeland and its people and gain invaluable experience in the working world. We're excited for these young adults to personally and professionally start their futures with an authentic taste of modern Israel."

Questions? Please contact Benji Berlow at benjib@hilleljuc.org. 

About The Jewish Agency for Israel
The Jewish Agency for Israel has been confronting the Jewish People's greatest challenges for generations. Established in 1929, the Jewish Agency built the State of Israel and worked tirelessly to develop a vital modern nation. Today, working to ensure our Jewish future for generations to come, the Jewish Agency brings Jews to Israel, and Israel to Jews, while re-energizing young Israelis and their global peers to build a more idealistic society in Israel, and beyond. Concurrently, the Jewish Agency continues to be the Jewish world’s first responder, prepared at a moment's notice to rescue and bring to Israel Jews living in countries where they are at-risk, and to facilitate Aliyah.

About the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh

The vision of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh is to have a thriving, vibrant, and engaged Jewish Community. In order to accomplish this we raise and allocate funds and build community locally, in Israel, and around the world. As the preeminent resource for all donor and provider services in philanthropy, the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh is at the heart of Jewish giving. Giving care to those in need, giving deeper engagement in quality of life, and giving strength to the community, in Pittsburgh, Israel and around the world. Since 1912, the Federation has funded programs that care for people at every stage of life - strengthening community, providing leadership and nurturing the leaders of tomorrow.