INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP SEMINAR IN ISRAEL (ILSI)

Leading and Learning in the Land of Israel

Information

BBYO STANDS WITH ISRAEL

With safety as our paramount concern, we have never and will never send our teens into an unsecure situation. We remain in continual contact with our Israeli trip operator and look forward to creating a space where Jewish teens can safely explore, connect, give back, and have fun together. Read more on our safety page →

OVERVIEW

Designed for BBYO members from across the globe looking for an enriching summer of growth, this elite leadership seminar is a chance for learning and development using Israel as a backdrop.

DESTINATION: Israel
TRAVEL DATES


Jun 26 - Jul 17, 2024  Available

current grades CURRENT GRADES: 10-12
COMMUNITY SERVICE: ~6 Hours
DURATION: 22 Days
PROGRAM FEES
LAND COST: $6,270

Want a guaranteed spot at BBYO IC in 2025? Register for this program before March 15!

Airfare cost to and from Israel is not included in the land cost. Flight information will become available in the spring. Need-based scholarships are available.

RootOne

This program is eligible for a $3,000 RootOne voucher. On ILSI, the voucher is only available for teens in grades 9–11. Find additional voucher details and requirements here.

WHAT'S INCLUDED
  • Accommodations (hotel, kibbutz & desert tent)
  • All meals
  • All programming
  • Private transportation
  • Security escort & monitoring
  • Medical insurance
  • Laundry service
  • Gratuity for program staff
EXPLORE MORE

DETAILS

Our elite leadership experience in Israel allows teens to see everything the Jewish homeland has to offer and take a deeper dive into understanding the multitude of cultures that make this country so diverse. Jewish teens from all corners of the world come together in a space that allows them to have high-level discussions about Israel’s complex existence as a democracy in the Middle East with engaging scholars from the fields of society, politics, business, and more.

Here's what makes ILSI shine as a leadership program:

  • Teens get to mold their own experience by choosing from track or tour options and taking a hand in planning programming for their peers
  • Opportunities to engage in insightful conversations with peers from around the globe, encouraging a better understanding of how the same issues affect us differently
  • The perfect culminating program for teens ready to make their BBYO leadership experience into a lifelong journey

WHAT MAKES IT ILSI? It’s no coincidence ILSI has been the culmination of BBYO’s leadership experience for generations. Here’s why!

Small-Group Learning | Although you’ll travel together as part of a larger community, ILSI is an intimate educational experience with one senior educator attached to each cluster of ~20 teens. We divide further into smaller mishpacha (family) groups for processing and discussion during programs.

Living Jewish Peoplehood | ILSI convenes Jewish teens from across North America and around the world. Meet other teens from countries like Bulgaria, Turkey, Serbia, Latvia, Croatia, and Israel. This diversity is a unique opportunity to live the value of Kol Yisrael Arevim Ze La Ze (we’re all responsible for one another).

Jewish Leadership Modeling | ILSI highlights the stories of leaders who made key impacts on the course of Jewish history, figures like King David, Bar Kochba, Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, Theodor Herzl, Hanna Senesh, David Ben Gurion, and Yitzhak Rabin. Their unique leadership approaches shed light on the past and inspire the future.

Connecting with Israeli Society | ILSI provides you opportunities to connect with the people of Israel. You’ll meet with teens from Maccabi Tzair (BBYO’s sister movement in Israel), active-duty IDF soldiers, and a cross-section of ethnic and religious leaders. Israel is a vibrant country; you’ll get a taste of its rich diversity.

The Joy of a Summer in Israel | Raft down the Jordan River, sleep under the stars in the desert, hike down a lush canyon on the Golan, enjoy the Tel Aviv beachfront, explore colorful open-air markets, and swim in natural springs. You’ll return home with lifelong memories from a summer adventure in Israel.

Information

In November 2023, BBYO launched a new summer registration system that requires families to create a brand-new account, as it is not connected to any of the systems you may have previously used. Please visit bbyo.my.site.com/s/login and click Register Now to start this process. Need help setting up your account? Visit this document for step-by-step instructions.

HIGHLIGHTS

Enrich your mind on topics ranging from Jewish philosophy to contemporary Zionist thought to geopolitical strategy


Put all your BBYO leadership skills to use in the Land of Israel, and grapple with the Jewish Homeland’s future


Travel with fellow Jewish teens from across the BBYO Global Network for a cross-cultural perspective


Spend a powerful Shabbat in the heart of Jerusalem and tap into the Jewish mystical tradition of Tsfat


Learn from a wide cross-section of dynamic thought leadersartists, and religious figures


Walk in the footsteps of 4,000 years of Jewish history as we travel throughout Israel


Participate in meaningful community service projects and explore models for co-existence


Soak up the innovative spirit of Tel Aviv and enjoy its lively beach culture


Explore Jerusalem, float in the Dead Sea, climb the heights of Masada, survey the region from the Golan, discover the Negev Desert, and more


Experience the beauty and power of the Kotel and Jerusalem’s walled Old City


PROGRAM REVIEWS

BBYO Menorah White

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