Masa Israel Journey Blog

Perfect Harmony

November 22, 2006

By Nir Librach

Imagine a young Jew living in Chile who has two major loves in his life − music and Israel. If he could somehow combine the two, he would be the happiest of men. One day, this student reads something in a publication of the Chilean Jewish Agency about the Rimon Music School, which has just partnered with Masa Israel. "Come and join us at the Rimon music experience in Israel!" it says, and the young man knows his life is about to change.

The young man is Jonathan Goldfrid. The 23-year-old's dream is to compose movie soundtracks. At the new Masa program in Rimon, Israel's largest independent contemporary music school, he isn't only fulfilling that dream, he is doing so in Israel − which means the world to him. "I am already planning to stay in Israel afterward,"...

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Kaela Frank's speech at the Prime Minister's residence

October 10, 2006

Below is the text of Kaela Frank's speech delivered at Prime Minister Edud Olmert's residence, October 9, 2006.

Good afternoon Prime Minister Olmert and esteemed guests. My name is Kaela Frank and I am honored to be here today representing the 437 chanichim from North America, England, Scotland and Puerto Rico that are currently on Hadassah’s Young Judaea and FZY Year Course, one of Masa’s largest programs. Year Course is a nine-month program that offers a variety of experiential, volunteer and academic opportunities in Israel.

I am currently involved in the Jerusalem Studies component. We can take classes for credit in Hebrew language, Zionism, contemporary Israeli politics, philosophy, Jewish texts, Jewish history and Israeli dance. All Jerusalem studies are augmented by educational...