Advisors from 25 leading high schools, including secular and religious institutions, toured Israel the past week in preparation for the fifth year of MASA year-in-Israel programs, despite the Cast Lead counterterrorist operation and Hamas attacks on Israel.

 

The program, jointly sponsored by the government and the Jewish Agency, provides for high school graduates the opportunity to volunteer for a year in Israel before beginning university. The number of students from abroad choosing to spend time on programs in Israel immediately after graduating high school has more than doubled since the year 2000, from 1,000 to 2,500 this year.