The Israeli Forum
Otzma
The Project
Project Otzma offers college students from North America a year of national service in Israel. The program aims at developing a new generation of Jewish Leaders equipped with heightened Jewish awareness and a strong personal bond with Israel and its people, through an on-going process based on a partnership of mutual and equal relations between Israelis and Diaspora Jews.
Otzma is based on a partnership between the Israeli Forum and the Council of Jewish Federations of North America (CJF), assisted by the Noar Ve'Hachlutz Dept. of the Jewish Agency. The program is run by a professional staff, and its policies are determined by a committee of Israeli Forum volunteers in close cooperation with a committee of volunteers in North America.
In addition to Hebrew lessons on a kibbutz ulpan, the program includes educational and community work at Aliyat Ha'Noar boarding schools, absorption centers, army camps, development towns and agricultural settlements in the Arava desert. During the year, the participants benefit from a comprehensive educational program.
Each participant is provided with an Israeli "host" family, providing a "home away from home" on weekends and holidays. This very important dimension of the Otzma program contributes greatly to the strengthening of personal ties between the participants and their Israeli peers and to their involvement in Israeli life.
Prior to being accepted to the program, candidates undergo a thorough screening process and a series of compatibility tests, with the purpose of selecting high potential young adults, suitable for becoming the future Jewish Leaders of North America.
After completing the program, the participants join an active graduate organization, which maintains contact among the participants and organizes activities in the United States.
Facts and Figures
In 1996 the program took place for the 10th time.
Each year between 90 and 120 young adults participate.
To date, Otzma has 800 graduates.
Approximately 40% of the graduates hold positions in various Jewish organizations
Approximately 30% of the graduates are active in Jewish organizations on a voluntary basis.
Approximately 10% have stayed in Israel, 50% of them as olim.
The Future
The policy of the project is to continue and nurture the qualitative dimension of the project, to maintain its unique aspects in terms of participants and content.
The Pedagogic Center
Director: Dr. Motti Friedman
Web site manager: Esther Carciente, esthers@jajz-ed.org.il.
Updated: December 23 ,1996