[New] Jewish Toledoan pursuing aliyah after transformative long-term Israel program

Masa initiative aims to foster deep community engagement among Jewish young adults

Sam Light has been living in Israel’s Rishon LeZion (five miles south of Tel Aviv) for approximately 15 months. A Toledo native, Sam traveled across the world just after Covid hit in 2020 to take part in a 10-week Masa Israel Journey program in which he and a fellow participant were placed in a middle school to assist third through sixth graders with their English lessons.

“We would help the English teacher deliver her lesson to the kids, trying to foster a good connection between them and the English language,” he said. “It was rewarding to take the reins and help her deliver the lesson plan to captivate their attention. I wanted them to learn and have fun with the language. It was rewarding for me when I would see that they were laughing, paying attention, and participating.”

According to Sam, he learned about Masa while on his Birthright trip and was encouraged by his mother, Ruthie Light, to take part. He was also influenced by his two older siblings, a sister who took part in a similar Israeli program, and his brother who taught English in South Korea.

Masa, a joint initiative of the Government of Israel and the Jewish Agency and a global leader in cultivating Jewish connectedness through longterm, immersive programs in Israel, recently released an Impact:NPO study quantifying the impact that programs in Israel lasting four months or longer have on young Jewish adults. Results reveal that long-term programs in Israel can transform young Jewish adults, even those who are largely unengaged from Jewish life, into deeply integrated community members whose impacts are felt locally and internationally.

Sam added, “I decided to stay [in Israel] to make aliyah and get my citizenship. I reached out to my Rabbi [Sam Weinstein, former long-time leader of Temple Shomer Emunim] to obtain ink-signed documents. I’m currently job searching and applying for jobs to become more independent [in these new surroundings]. I would recommend [Masa] to someone who is looking for a change in their life. If they want to experience a different culture and lifestyle, live a bit more independently, see a new part of the world, become a bit more cultured, and see how people live on the opposite side of the world. It’s a big learning experience, one that’s easier to do when you’re young, to connect with your Judaism.”

Impact:NPO surveyed 2,433 young Jewish adults from the United States between August and October 2021. Among the 1,254 relevant respondents, 497 had participated in a long-term Masa program in Israel - called a Fellowship - lasting at least four months between 2009 and 2019; 632 had participated in a short-term program in Israel lasting less than one month; and 127 had never visited Israel.

“This study represents a tremendous achievement and a source of hope for the entire Jewish world,” said Masa CEO Ofer Gutman. “Looking ahead, we now have concrete evidence of the transformative effect long-term programs in Israel has on young Jewish adults. Israel gains devoted