A Powerful Partnership

MACHON MAAYAN is a project of the Seymour J. Abrams Orthodox Union Israel Center in Jerusalem, renowned for its cutting edge educational programs. The OU, a not-for-profit educational, outreach and social service organization serving the North American Jewish community and is the central address and national spokesman for 1,000 synagogues. Its youth and student activities include the national youth organization NCSY, educational programs for developmentally disabled young adults, leadership training for college students, and apprenticeship programs to train young people for roles in government and communal service.

MACHON MAAYAN is a new division of the Machon Hadati, the religious section of the well-known Machon Lemadrichei Chutz La'aretz (Institute for the Training of Youth Leaders for the Diaspora), which was established in 1946 by the Youth Department of the World Zionist Organization. Since it inception, over 11,000 graduates have returned to thirty-six countries to serve in youth movements or take active leadership roles in their Jewish communities. Many are also living in Israel filling key positions in community life. Today the Machon is opening its doors to North American students.

MACHON MAAYAN is a participating institution in the Israel Option of Touro College, a Jewish sponsored independent institution of higher and professional education headquartered in New York City. The College, established primarily to enrich the Jewish heritage and serve the larger American community, now has over 21,000 students enrolled in its various schools and divisions. Studies in Touro College are characterized by an atmosphere of warmth, in which student camaraderie and individualized attention are nurtured. Touro College is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and is chartered by the Board of Regents of the State of New York.

MACHON MAAYAN students admitted and registered with Touro College earn college credits for their studies in Israel.

MACHON MAAYAN is recognized by MASA, the official Israel Government/Jewish Agency supervising authority, known as "The Gateway to Long-Term Israel Programs" for the high standards of our program's educators, management and security. The authority was recently set up to encourage young adults to spend one-year in Israel with the mission of strengthening the Jewish identity of the participants, their involvement in Jewish community life and in Israeli society. Moreover, MASA has set as its goal the development of a new generation of Jewish leadership.