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While Jacob  Kieval , 25, of Sharon, Massachusetts, is only one of many graduates of the WUJS Israel program to return home to great professional opportunities, he may be the first one to immediately find a job with a popular reality show.  After finishing his volunteer internship in Israel in 2010, he began working on NBC's hit musical show "The Voice".

After graduating from Washington University in 2009, Jacob decided to go to Israel to help figure out what professional path to take.  Having spent a summer in Israel with USY Pilgrimage and three months during his senior year of high school, it was a logical choice.  He researched various Masa programs and based on the internship component, WUJS turned out to be exactly what he was looking for, placing Jacob in Tel Aviv for his Israel experience.

One of Jacob's two internships was working at Meirav Productions in Ramat Gan, a company which produces commercials and promotional videos.  His work included capturing footage and transferring media from one format to another, exposing him to a side of the business in which he had limited experience.  While many stories have been told about people falling in love with their internships, propelling them to further pursue a career choice, often ignored are the stories where people have valuable experiences figuring out what they don't want to do.  Through this experience, Jacob benefitted from realizing that this side of the industry was not a good fit for him. Though he thought he may have ended up in the wrong production house, his later experiences in Los Angeles only confirmed what he thought on the WUJS program. 

In his second internship, Jacob worked for WUJS itself, creating and producing videos of the program participants which were sent out to their parents on a weekly basis, giving him more hands-on experience of video and film editing which is his real passion.

While not working, Jacob enjoyed his free time exploring Tel Aviv from the beaches and restaurants to the bars.  Shabbat provided a valuable opportunity to take a break from traveling and spending money when Jacob would relax and enjoy time with friends.  He said that his time in Israel allowed him to learn much more about the country on a practical level.  More than seeing the sites, he got a real sense of what it's like to live in Israel day in and day out, using transportation and becoming familiar with city life.

As luck would have it, the director of WUJS at the time had a connection to Mark Burnett Productions, the production company responsible for such successful TV shows as "Survivor" and "The Apprentice".  A few phone calls later, Jacob had landed a position in the music department of "The Voice" as an associate music producer in Los Angeles.  Jacob works with the house band which backs the performers to make sure they know what music to play, helps them to acquire the lyrics and sheet music to prepare, and helps contestants prepare for their performances.

Jacob plans to stay in LA to see what this job leads to next and hopes to visit Israel every few years. 

And to anyone considering a Masa program?  Jacob says that WUJS is a great program for people looking for a great opportunity.

Coming to Israel has been quite a journey for me.  I won't lie, I too was looking to "find myself" as I'm sure everyone else here was as well.  But like other participants have already noted, I've realized during my time here that I was never actually lost.  Bare with me on this metaphor - but I think instead of having this pre-conceived notion of coming to Israel and expecting to blossom like a flower, perhaps one should come here expecting to be a tree - each experience helps your trunk grow a little thicker and each revelation helps you sprout a new branch reaching upward toward who you want to be.  I came here knowing exactly what I wanted - a once in a lifetime experience, living in another country, absorbing another culture, trying out a new career path, meeting new people, and if I happen to have a spiritual epiphany than so be it.  To quote Henry David Thoreau, "Do not worry if you have built your castles in the air. They are where they should be. Now put the foundations under them."  I have loved every moment of this incredible trip because I set my castles in the air, I had dreams to achieve, and after the last five months I feel extremely accomplished.

            After graduating college with a degree in art history, I was eager to explore the field of archaeology in Israel and see how I could apply an art historical perspective to a new and different discipline.  I was fortunate enough to have a dual internship - working both at the Givati excavation in the City of David as well as researching artifacts at Hebrew University.  At Givati, I was part of a team that worked to unearth an ancient palace, possibly from the Second Temple Period.  I have learned much from Dr. Doron Ben-Ami and Yana Tzechanits, the directors of the dig, and I was constantly excited to see what could be learned in each discovery of a newly found stone or piece of pottery.  You could say I really "dug" digging.

            I also spent half the week working with the marble artifacts found from the ongoing excavation in Tiberias at Hebrew University under the direction of Islamic archaeologist Dr. Katia Cytryn-Silverman.  I worked cataloguing the artifacts into the database as well as researching for comparable pieces found from other nearby digs to help learn the date and function of a piece.  Through my internships I have had the incredible opportunity to study archaeology not only from an academic standpoint but also from the field.  I got to witness the entire archaeological process - from finding an object in an excavation to learning its purpose and to its eventual publication in a journal.

            So let me go over my original list, once in a lifetime experience?  Check.  Living in another country and absorbing the culture?  Anyone who's been to the shuk on a Friday and still goes back has absorbed the culture, so check.  Tried out a new career path?  Check.  Met new people?  Absolutely - not only fellow WUJieS but many Israelis from my internships as well as many family members.  Spiritual Epiphany?  I can't say for sure that I've come to terms with understanding all the many facets of my religion and of G-d, but I feel that I'm more in touch with who I am as a Jew and the role that has and will play in my life.  So to return to Thoreau, I made my castles and dreams in America and have created the beginnings of their foundations in Israel.  All in all an amazing 5 months and I know I will bring the experiences and passions I've discovered in Israel with me into the next chapter of my life. 

         My name is Avital Andron and I am twenty-four years old.  I grew up in Los Angeles California and moved to Jerusalem as a young child with my family. Four years passed, and my family once again journeyed to New Jersey where they have been living for the past seventeen years.  I studied in Orthodox Jewish day schools and attended summer camps and programs in Israel.  I spent my college years studying education in Chicago and lived in Evanston, Ill.  After college, I knew that I wanted to return to live in Israel, so I decided to return to Israel on a Masa program.

I wanted to choose a Masa program that included an internship with an Israeli school.  I wanted to learn Hebrew, intern in a Hebrew speaking environment, and travel around the country.  That's when I found WUJS. I also knew in my back of my head that I wanted to be in Jerusalem.  So I discovered WUJS Jerusalem!  When considering the program, I mentioned to the staff that I wanted to intern in Special Education.  They found me a special education kindergarten, which is walking distance to my apartment.  The kindergaden focuses on children with developmental delays and other challenging learning differences.  I am a full time intern and arrive early each day (except Tuesdays) to greet the children and leave at the end of the school day.

            The most exciting thing in my Israel experience is having a familiarity with my surroundings, personal connections and understanding and using Hebrew every day at school and with others. These three components are vital when living in Israel.  After so many times being in Israel, I can truly say that I feel comfortable living in Jerusalem. Since I have increasing knowledge of the language, I communicate with the staff and children in Hebrew that has improved my Hebrew dramatically.

            The most special and exciting aspect of my internship is relating to each one of the children and providing them with opportunities of growth. This could be in ways of feeding a child, working with them individually or by speaking to them, which increases their language skills. In all these three areas, I benefit from the job that I do at Gan Tzpit. The gan provides me with challenging aspects and rewarding opportunities when interning.  To sum up, this internship has provided me with resources of growth, learning and experimental education.

            As I conclude, WUJS Jerusalem has introduced me to the " Israeli experience" of working, speaking Hebrew and living the daily life of living as an Israeli citizen.  These three areas will increase my desires of making " allyiah".

To reach me please email me at

Interview with Arielle Lothman, current WUJS participant

So Arielle, tell us a little bit about yourself.

Well, my name is Arielle, I'm 21, was born and raised in Houston, Texas, and I graduated from Texas State University in San Marcos.  I've been in Israel so far for four months and have two left.

Why did you decide to come to Israel?

After Birthright, I wanted to experience living in a different culture.  My mom is Israeli so I was really inclined to come here.  I also wanted some job experience to help my resume.

Your mom is Israeli?  How's your Hebrew?

I started off in level two of Ulpan but I'm progressing.

So what has been your experience so far?  Do you feel like you're immersed in Israeli society on WUJS?

Definitely.  Birthright is very go-go-go!  For ten days, you see everything from north to south.  On WUJS, we get to do everything but spaced out over time.  We're taking the buses, sheiruts (shared taxis), going to work, dealing with people at the shuk....experiences that you don't really get on Birthright but only by living in Israel.

How did you find out about WUJS?

I found out about WUJS after I did Birthright with the University of Texas.  My Hillel helped me decide which program I wanted to go on.

So where are you volunteering and what has your experience been like?

I am volunteering at Yukon Software Services doing Human Resources. I've really enjoyed going to work every morning.  The people I work with are great.  It's a young company and staffed with people from all over the world. I have also gotten a first hand look at HR which is what I want to pursue as my career when I get home.

And you're doing meaningful work?

Absolutely.  Just today, I spent a few hours working on job descriptions, creating them and posting them on websites targeted both to native Israelis and also to people who make aliyah.  I also helped filter resumes which were submitted for positions and oversee our LinkedIn profile and other social media things.

What about when you're not working?  What do you do on weekends and free time?

Go out to eat, shopping and errands (whatever I don't have time for during the week), travel....right now, I'm planning a trip to Petra.

So you're staying busy.  What are the best parts about the program?

The best parts are definitely the Tuesday siyurim (field trips).  We've gone to many places such as the Dead Sea, the Old City in Jerusalem, Akko, the Ein Hod artist village, and more.  These trips really help you see all of Israel.

How has your connection to Israel has changed since arriving?

I love Israel.  I feel comfortable living here.  Celebrating Shabbat every Saturday is a very unifying experience with friends and family. I'm glad I've been able to live here, even for a brief period of time. The best part about living in Israel is definitely the fact that you are surrounded by people who are Jewish; it's a very powerful connection.

What do you mean by celebrating Shabbat?

It's an experience; everything closes.  It's just completely different from Shabbat in the States.  It forces you to be with your family and friends, to spend time with people you love and care about.  It makes it easy to dedicate a day of the week to relax.

And after the program ends?

My plan is to move back to Houston and look for a job in Human Resources with all the new skills I've acquired here.  Thank you, WUJS!

Abbie was recently interviewed by her university alumni association.  Check it out at http://alumni.indiana.edu/singinghoosiers/docs/sh-spring11.pdf

You can also check out Abbie's own site at http://abbiesilber.com/default.aspx