Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI)
ISRAEL The commitment of the Philadelphia Jewish community to Israel is
evidenced by the large number of organizations and programs whose goals
are to support the health, education, social, cultural and political institutions
in Israel; organizations that sponsor trips; and those that assist Philadelphi-
ans who wish to make aliyah or to volunteer, travel or study in Israel.

GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS
Consulate General of Israel to the Mid-Atlantic Region
1880 John F. Kennedy Boulevard • Philadelphia, PA 19103
267-479-5800 • Fax: 267-479-5855
cga@philadelphia.mfa.gov.il • embassies.gov.il/philadelphia
Serves as the official representative and liaison between the residents of the
Mid-Atlantic Region and the State of Israel. Provides activities in the fields of
academia, culture, economy, politics, press, public diplomacy and social media.

Israel Bonds
Development Corporation for Israel
1500 Walnut Street, Suite 1302 • Philadelphia, PA 19102
215-545-8380 or 1-800-752-5671 • Fax: 215-545-6164
philadelphia@israelbonds.com • israelbonds.com
See ad on cover 4
Philadelphia-Israel Chamber of Commerce
Central Atlantic Region
200 South Broad Street, Suite 910-G • Philadelphia, PA 19102-3896
215-703-3135 • Fax: 215-790-3601
picc@phillyisraelchamber.com • phillyisraelchamber.com
Promotes business development with Israel. PICC is a member-based, inde-
pendent professional network serving Pennsylvania, Delaware and Southern
New Jersey. Educates constituents about the range of business opportunities
available in Israel, and helps members to achieve their business goals through
referrals, consultation and access to business resources. Members represent
manufacturing, high technology, investment, professional and financial firms.

ISRAEL EXPERIENCES
Center for Israel & Overseas
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
2100 Arch Street • Philadelphia, PA 19103 • 215-832-0537
info@jfgp.org • jewishphilly.org
A central informational resource for teens, college students and adults wishing
to travel, study or volunteer in Israel under the auspices of a variety of pro-
grams. Also administers Jewish Federation's Israel Scholarship Aid Fund, which
assigns financial aid based on financial need to students participating in organ-
ized educational programs.

Missions to Israel
Sponsors missions to Israel for singles, couples and families. Provides
fast-paced, intense educational experiences for veteran travelers, as well
as for first-time visitors to Israel.

Birthright Israel–Taglit
The Birthright Israel Foundation
33 E. 33rd St., 7th Floor • New York, N.Y. 10016
1-888-99-ISRAEL (trip hotline) or 1-888-994-7723 or 212-457-0036
information@birthrightisrael.com • birthrightisrael.com
Offers young adults ages 18 through 26 trips to Israel. Airfare and
10 days of land and program costs are covered by the program.

Israel Aliyah Center
301-881-4407 or 866-835-0430 • Fax: 301-881-4408
aliyahny@jafi.org • jewishagency.org
Helps in bringing Jewish people to Israel to live (make aliyah) and ensure their
successful integration into Israeli society. Promotes Jewish-Zionist education
programs, and the partnership of Jews around the world with Israelis and
Israeli society.

MASA Israel Journey
1-866-864-3279 • masaisrael.org
Connects Jewish young adults, ages 18 to 30, to over 350 programs across vari-
ous interest areas including: 5-10 month gap year, study abroad, internship, and
volunteer experiences in Israel. All Masa Israel participants receive an automatic
grant and can apply for additional needs-based financial aid.

Nesiya 234 Fifth Avenue, Suite 411 • New York, N.Y. 10001
516-203-4611• Fax: 212-696-2842
info@nesiya.org • nesiya.org
Combines outdoor adventure; workshops in the visual performing and literary
arts; community-service projects; cultural activities; and creative Jewish study in
Israel. Participants travel through four regions of Israel — the Negev, Galilee,
Jerusalem and Tel Aviv — and the Judean Desert, and focus on the origins,
development and role of the land of Israel in the future of the Jewish people.

The program is open to North American and Israeli students completing grades
10 through 12.

Operation Understanding
P.O. Box 7765 • Philadelphia, PA 19101
215-665-8575 • Fax: 215-665-8737
director@operationunderstanding.org • operationunderstanding.org
Identifies and develops future leaders in the African-American and Jewish com-
munities while educating the community at large about diversity, race and ethnic-
ity, conflict resolution and the need for mutual respect for others.

USY Pilgrimages and Adventures
c/o United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
212-533-7800 ext. 1146 • pilgramage@uscj.org • usy.org
For students in grades 10 through 12, a six-week tour of Israel. Various
programs are available.

Volunteers for Israel
P.O. Box 693 • Skippack, PA 19474
610-584-0468 • 215-646-6381 • Fax: 1-866-514-1948
philadelphia@vfi-usa.org • vfi-usa.org
Assists volunteers ages 17 and up who want to work in Israel on noncombat IDF
logistics and maintenance bases. VFI’s mission is to give support and help
strengthen America’s bonds with Israel. Volunteers live and work alongside
Israelis and other volunteers from around the world. Their jobs might include
packing medical supplies and equipment, repairing machinery and outdated
parts, building fortifications, assisting in the kitchen and maintaining the base.

There are one-, two- and three-week programs year-round. Special programs for
students include the summer International Youth Program (IYP) for young adults
ages 17 to 25, and an add-on to Taglit-Birthright tours. During the work week
(Sunday through Thursday afternoon), participants get free housing, kosher
meals, work clothes and cultural programs. There may also be tours. Volunteers
pay only for airfare, weekend expenses and an application fee. VFI is a nonprofit,
nonsectarian, nonpolitical U.S. organization. All programs in Israel are under the
auspices of SAR-EL, an Israeli organization.

BBYO Passport to the World
484-429-6645 • liberty@bbyo.org • passport.bbyo.org
Multiple departure dates throughout the summer and four continents. Choose
from 16 countries, including Italy, England, France, Bulgaria, Chili, Costa Rica
and Israel. Local and national program scholarships available.

THE GUIDE 2015/2016
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