Academics
Israel Gap Year
Israel Gap Year Guidance
Universities throughout the country encourage gap year programs because they offer experiences that lead toward more well-balanced, well-rounded college students. Further, the maturation process during a gap year typically leads to greater success when students ultimately transition to college.
Spending a year in Israel immediately after high school graduation strengthens young alumni’s connection to the State of Israel and helps solidify their pride and identity as Jews and Zionists. A gap year experience in an Israeli yeshiva, seminary, college program or the IDF is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Israel Gap Year Guidance at Scheck Hillel begins in Grade 9 and continues through Grade 12. The team presents regularly at Scheck Hillel college counseling events and hosts representatives from many yeshivot, seminaries and college programs throughout the school year. As a best practice, Scheck Hillel has developed a 20-point priority survey to assist in determining a student’s goals and aspirations throughout a multiyear partnership with each student and his/her parents. This survey helps the Israel Guidance team find the “right fit” for each student.
Scheck Hillel’s Israel Guidance team works one-on-one with students and parents to identify schools or programs that best meet the desired intellectual, spiritual and emotional objectives of each individual family and assists in the application process every step of the way. Importantly, Scheck Hillel’s Israel Guidance team partners hand-in-hand with the school’s College Counseling team to ensure a unified vision and plan customized to each individual student.
Israel Gap Year Programs
Yeshivot and Seminaries
- Yeshiva University offers a comprehensive guide to Yeshivot and Seminaries at yu.edu/israel-program/gis.
- The common application for all girls' Seminaries is located at applytosem.org.
- The common application for all boys Yeshivot is located at yeshivaapplication.org.
Co-Ed Programs
- Bar Ilan Israel Experience
- Aardvark Israel
- Young Judaea Year Course
- Maccabi
Colleges and Universities
- Bar Ilan University
- Hebrew University
- IDC Herzaliyah (3 year BA)
Israeli Army and National Service
- Army Volunteer*
- Sherut L’ am (National Service)
Additional Programs and Information
Masa Israel is an umbrella organization that connects young Jewish adults (18-30) to the right study abroad, internship, service learning, or Jewish studies program to help you grow – as a person, a professional, and a leader. Visit masaisrael.org/masa/english.
Scholarships
The Alisa Flatow Memorial Scholarship fund provides scholarship for study in Israel. Applications are available beginning in October alisafund.org.
*If you are interested in serving in the IDF, there are a number of options available, depending on your age, physical condition and status.
*If you are interested in serving in the IDF, there are a number of options available, depending on your age, physical condition and status.
Rabbi Greene has been involved in Israel guidance for 13 years. Prior to joining Scheck Hillel, Rabbi Greene advised students in Great Neck New York, Los Angeles, California, and St. Louis Missouri. He holds a Bachelor and Masters of Arts in Judaic Studies from Brandeis University as well as Rabbinic Ordination and a Doctorate in Education from Yeshiva University. Rabbi Greene is the head of our High School Beit Midrash and chair of our High School Judaic Studies department. He works closely with students and parents to find the best gap year program for each individual student.
Rabbi Avi Greene, Ed.D.
Director of Israel Guidance
Rabbi Avi Greene, Ed.D.
Director of Israel Guidance
305-931-2831 x510
Juda and Maria Diener Lower School | Samuel and Henrietta Scheck Middle School | Ben Lipson Upper School
