September 2009 Archives

Jamie Simon-Meyer, 22, Milwaukee, WI

University of Delaware, Elementary Teacher Education 

Track: WUJS Intern Tel-Aviv 

Internship: The Jaffa Institute

The Jaffa Institute is a private, non-profit, multi-service social agency that assists thousands of disadvantaged children and their families. Their mission is to provide educational, recreational and social enrichment programs to help break the cycle of poverty. The Jaffa Institute works with children from Jaffa, South Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and more. Click here learn more The Jaffa Institute 

How did you hear about this WUJS Israel program? 

Research from MASA. Find out more @ Masa: WUJS Intern Tel Aviv

What responsibilities will you have during this internship?

I am interning at a NPO that works to help the underprivileged Arab and Israeli children and their families in Jaffa and Southern Tel-Aviv and learn to coexist peacefully. I am also an assistant coach for a few Arab/Israeli soccer teams. 

What are your goals for this internship program?

I hope to become more fluent in Hebrew, make tons of new friends, learn about myself, travel get new experiences and be involved in things I have never tried and may never get a chance to do again. 

Have you had any difficulties settling in?

I bought salt but it was terrible! It was the correct purchase, but I didn't bother to look at the type that I was buying.

What did your friends say when you told them your plan to come to Israel?

They were very jealous that I chose to flee the country and wanted to come along.

Hallie Cohn, 22, Rockville Centre, NY

University of Rochester, BA - Health and Society

Afik Turgeman is a full-service legal firm based in Tel Aviv. Afik Turgeman conducts mostly business and international legal work.  http://www.at-law.co.il

How did you hear about this WUJS Israel program? 

I found it through MASA, but I originally heard about it from my high school biology teacher who participated many years ago when it was in Arad. 

Find out more @ Masa: WUJS Intern Tel Aviv

What responsibilities will you have during this internship?

The specific project I am working on is first doing research on shareholder disputes from a psychological perspective, as well as helping to create an international and academic collaboration on these issues.  Its fascinating being at the firm even though everything is in Hebrew, but I love asking the other interns and lawyers about what cases they are working on ...especially when they just come back from the court down the street. 

What are your goals for this internship program?

I hope to feel fully integrated into Israeli society and culture and eventually be able to have a conversation with someone (in lets say a coffee shop) where I don't need to rely on English.  I also look forward to making life long friends with people from around the world. 

What were you doing before you came to Israel?

I just graduated from the University of Rochester in May and worked at the Office of Undergraduate Admission throughout the summer - I was interviewing prospective students.

What did your friends say when you told them your plan to come to Israel?

"I'm jealous!" - "I'm coming to visit!"

Click on Hallie Profile.mov to see Hallie at work!

Vivian Cherman Mendlowicz, 24, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio de Janeiro,  BA in Business Administration

APCO Worldwide is a public relations firm that specializes in corporate, investor and internal communication along with crisis management, litigation communication, media relations and market research. Former Israeli ambassador, Itamar Rabinovich is a member of the Israel branch. Here he specializes in business diplomacy, crisis management, and policy research & analysis. APCO Worldwide

How did you hear about this WUJS Israel program? 

In a lecture about MASA programs at the Hillel House in Rio de Janeiro.

Find out more @ Masa: WUJS Intern Tel Aviv

What responsibilities will you have during this internship?

Before I came here I was working at a company in Brazil called VALE, doing procurement and logistics for the aluminum department. With this placement at APCO, I will be helping out with ongoing consulting projects.

What are your goals for this internship program?

From this experience, I hope to get hebrew, consulting, traveling and life experience. 

Have you had any difficulty settling in?

Well, I spent 15 minutes trying to figure out which bottle was laundry detergent and which was fabric softer. Buying cheese has also been a very frustrating experience.  I haven't got lost yet, thanks to my AM:PM map that I carry around everywhere!

What did your friends say when you told them your plan to come to Israel?

"What?! Israel?!", "Are you getting married and never coming back...?",

WUJS Participants Attend Israeli Presidential Conference 2009 - WUJS Israel News

Click here to see more pictures of our interns: Internships

Matthew Lee Goodman, 25, Granite Springs, New York

Dartmouth College, AB in Anthropology

Track: Jerusalem Arts WUJS Arts

Check out Matt's blog:http://hummusandkimchi.blogspot.com/

Articles by Matt: JUF News : Living in the Israel that exists

What were you doing before you came here?

I was working at Zephyr Media (an infomercial company) and writing

How did you hear about this WUJS Israel program? 

Through a MASA representative who was participating in the Israel Diplomatic Fellowship, a Birthright NEXT program, with me. Find out more @ Masa: WUJS Arts Program

What are your goals for this WUJS arts program?

As part of the Arts track in Jerusalem, I am finishing a novel and writing about my time in Israel.  I am also part of the Arab-Israeli conflict course and take ulpan classes.

What do you hope to get out of this Israel arts program?

To make lots of finished work, to experience living abroad, and to make good friends

What did your friends say when you told them about your plan to come to Israel?

That sounds pretty sweet!

Have you purchased a wrong item because of the language barrier? 

No, although I have almost done so on a few occasions.

Have you gotten lost or wound up somewhere else since you've been here?

I get lost everywhere I go so that's nothing new.




On September 3, the participants from Jerusalem and Tel Aviv joined together for a spectacular hike to the biblical and beautiful Ein Gedi. Ein Gedi is an oasis located on the eastern border of the Judean Desert. Here, the machzor bonded while scaling boulders and trekking through the fresh stream to reach the high trails that overlooked the Dead Sea. Nothing builds trust and friendship like an extreme hike under the beating sun.

Everyone had a much needed swim under the Hidden Waterfall before heading back under the sun for the rest of the hike. After a picnic lunch, everyone took a float together in the Dead Sea. Those with cuts were not happy but at least everyone came out of there with softer skin and a nicer tan. 

See more photos of this tiyul at Ein Gedi Hike