Program Overview
WUJS Intern Jerusalem is a program that gives you the opportunity to combine a professional internship in a field of your choice with the additional benefits of a regular Ulpan (Hebrew language) course, weekly field trips, overnight hikes, meetings with Israeli peers and a variety of fun and enriching activities.
Jerusalem is the most special and unique city in the world rich with over 2000 years of history on your doorstep and today a mix of cultures, aromas, languages and religions. Participants will live in apartments close to the trendy area of Emek Refaim and intern in almost any area of industry and commerce, public and private sector, art and culture, hi-tech, politics, medicine and much more. This is a great opportunity for you to enhance your resume and live as an independent Israeli all within a warm yet dynamic environment and supported by professional and experienced staff.
Typical Week for WUJS Intern Jerusalem
|
Sunday |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
AM |
Internship Placement
|
Internship Placement |
Israel Update |
Internship Placement
|
Internship Placement |
Free Weekend – why not go on a camping trip with friends to the Golan Heights |
Free Weekend – why not have a cultural weekend visiting Jerusalem 'off the beaten track' |
Group Meeting |
PM |
Siyur (field trip) may run until late |
Evening |
Group Activity |
Hebrew Ulpan |
Hebrew Ulpan |
Free Evening |
The Internship
Prior to your arrival an Israel, a member of the WUJS staff will be in
contact with you to discuss your areas of interests and your
CV/resume. Following that you will be presented with potential
internship placements and asked to be in contact with each one
individually before making a final decision on your five month placement. Please note that acceptance to an internship is often dependent on your experience and qualifications. In addition, those who have a good command of the Hebrew language will have more options available to them.
Beyond the Internship
Hebrew Ulpan
The Hebrew Ulpan classes on the WUJS program in Jerusalem are run in conjunction with Ulpan Or. The method of teaching adopts the theory of Rapid Language Acquisition in which participants learn intensively in small class sizes for four hours a day for the first three weeks of the program and then settle into a routine of two classes a week each one for two hours. It has been proven that this method builds up a strong feeling of self confidence in using Hebrew to communicate in Israel from the first week of the program. Ulpan Or uses modern teaching methods that involve participants downloading Hebrew programs to their MP3 players and using the innovative online electronic newspaper.
Key Issues in Israel Seminars
During the first month of the program, in addition to the Hebrew Ulpan, participants will have the opportunity to engage in a variety of educational seminars that tackle the key issues that any participant on a long-term program in Israel should consider. These may include such topics as: History of Israel, Overview of Israeli Political System, Religion and State, Understanding the Conflict, The People of Israel, Israeli Culture and more.
Siyurim and Tiyulim
One of the highlights of the WUJS program is the field trips that take place every Tuesday. This is an opportunity to take a break from the week's routine and get out and about seeing Israel through your own eyes and feet. The field trips are based on a variety of topics and can take you to somewhere local in the city of Jerusalem or beyond and into the country at large. Previous field trips have included: The Old City of Jerusalem, Yemin Moshe and Rechavia, Neot Kedumim, Neve Tzedek in Tel-Aviv, Sderot, Yad Vashem, Rosh Haayin, Kibbutz Metzer and many, many more.
In addition there are three hikes that take place during the course of the program. One in the North of the country, one in the Judaean Desert and the Dead Sea and one in the Arava that is situated in the South of the country and involves a Shabbat experience at Kibbutz Ketura.
Requirements
Participants on the WUJS Intern Jerusalem program are required to intern
25-30 hours a week. In addition participants have the option of
taking a Hebrew language ulpan and a weekly educational day-trip.
Finally participants are free to take advantage of all the other
evening options made available by the WUJS staff.
Jewish Experience
One of the greatest advantages of spending six months in Israel is the opportunity to experience
Judaism. Explore the options, feel the fervor, learn and
encounter Judaism as you never have before. WUJS, as part Young
Judaea/FZY Israel programs, is a Jewish pluralist program; whether you
are Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist or
non-affiliated, you will be given your space to express your Judaism in
your way.
Israel Experience
Beyond the internship placement participants on the WUJS Intern Jerusalem program will have the option of participating in a variety of informal educational and cultural activities that primarily take place in the evenings. These may include: Israeli film night, going to an international soccer match, visiting a new bar on Emek Refaim, going to a political rally, meeting an environmental lobby, going to a concert and much more. In addition, during free time, participants can enjoy all the wonderful cultural and social opportunities that Jerusalem has to offer.
Adopted Families
The WUJS Intern Jerusalem program can arrange for students to be
"adopted" by a local family. This provides a home away from home and an
opportunity to get to know an Israeli family. These families are often
immigrants themselves from around the world. It can be a way of
practicing Hebrew and discovering Jerusalem from a different angle.
While this is not a compulsory part of the program, experience has
proven that life-long relationships can be formed between students and
local families.
Weekends
The weekends are often one of the highlights of the program as
participants have the time to get out and about exploring the country
from north to south. All WUJS participants have the luxury of
using our tiyul (hiking) consultant who will help you to plan your
treks around Israel and even provide you with maps, tents and gas
burners.
Shabbatot
There are a number of group Shabbatot weekends over the course of the program in Jerusalem. Each Shabbat can be meaningful in its own way either due to a new and interesting encounter or simply because of the unique atmosphere that each Shabbat brings. Just be ready to be spiritually uplifted in some way.
Accommodation
All participants on the WUJS Intern Jerusalem program receive
accommodation in apartments within the city of Jerusalem. In most cases four participants live per apartment (two people per bedroom). The area provides easy access to all of
Jerusalems highlights including restaurants, cafes, bars, museums,
theaters and more. Each apartment is equipped with beds, closets,
sofas, table and chairs. In addition the kitchen is supplied with
a microwave oven, electric stove, refrigerator, and all necessary
cooking utensils.
Getting Around the City
As anyone who lives in Jerusalem will tell you the most enjoyable way to
get around the city is on foot. However, just in case,
participants will also be provided with monthly bus passes that allow
you to get around the city freely using the vast public transportation
system.
Apply now to secure your place on WUJS Israel