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Nelech students at the Kotel hours after arriving in Israel. (Photo credit: Asher Stein)<\/p>\n Nelech students at the Kotel hours after arriving in Israel. (Photo credit: Asher Stein)<\/p>\n
For Jewish day school students, Israel is a part of everyday life. Whether that be in class, extracurriculars or just normal conversation, Israeli life and culture come up often.<\/p>\n
But for 25 10th graders in Modern Orthodox schools across North America, Israel is now the place they are calling home for the next semester.<\/p>\n
A new Israeli immersion program called Nelech welcomed its inaugural cohort to the Jewish homeland a little more than two weeks ago. A handful of those students hail from Kohelet Yeshiva in Merion Station, and they are thrilled for the opportunity to study and live in Israel.<\/p>\n
Samuel Raanan Jacobson, Hadar SimonHazani and Moriah Sinensky are all from Bala Cynwyd and are all taking part in Nelech.<\/p>\n
Jacobson said that he heard about the program while eating Shabbat lunch. He and his parents liked the idea from the start.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe sponsor was talking about it with my family, and my parents said, \u2018Wow, that\u2019s a really good idea, we should look into that,\u2019\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
SimonHazani heard about the program from a middle school teacher, who passed along the information to him.<\/p>\n
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Samuel Raanan Jacobson with President Isaac Herzog. (Courtesy of Yoni Strashun)<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought it was a really cool opportunity, and I applied,\u201d SimonHazani said.<\/p>\n
The students traveled to Israel on Jan. 19 and 20 and will be there until June 10. For five months, they will live in Israel and soak up all that comes with it. Sinensky said that there were, of course, nerves that came with planning to be apart from her family for so long, but that the transition has been aided by her peers and the programming.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was some hesitation in my family and my sister is really sad that I\u2019m here, but I think it helps that I have a lot of family in Israel. And also, they\u2019re always keeping us occupied. We obviously have downtime, but we don\u2019t need to have downtime. It\u2019s always optional,\u201d she said. \u201cSo I don\u2019t think it\u2019s something that I\u2019m going to think about a lot. And also, I can talk to my parents whenever I want.\u201d<\/p>\n
SimonHazani echoed this sentiment.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re never really feeling lonely because you\u2019re always with a bunch of people and it\u2019s just a good time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The program consists of general academics, Torah study and experiences like field trips. The male students are placed in an all-boys school called Yeshivat Neveh Shmuel, while the female students are placed in an all-girls school called Ulpanat Neveh Channah. Both schools are located in the Gush Etzion area. Nelech is a joint project by the Modern Orthodox organization Ohr Torah Stone and the Tzemach David Foundation.<\/p>\n
Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander, the president and Rosh HaYeshiva of Ohr Torah Stone, said in a press release that introducing American students to Israeli life right now is as essential as ever.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt a time when Israel is challenged both on the ground and in the public arena, the most meaningful way to become informed is through direct experience. A semester immersed in Israeli life helps students return home better prepared to engage knowledgeably and responsibly. It also reflects a growing recognition among Diaspora youth that Israel can offer a vibrant future,\u201d Brander said.<\/p>\n
While learning about Israel is essential to a Jewish education, there is only so much that can be gained from studying all the way across the Atlantic. David Magerman, the founder and president of the Tzemach David Foundation and a Philadelphia-area philanthropist, said that that\u2019s exactly why this program was created.<\/p>\n
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Hadar SimonHazani with President Isaac Herzog. (Courtesy of Yoni Strashun)<\/p>\n
\u201cNelech reflects our belief that meaningful connection to Israel is built through real participation, not observation,\u201d he said. \u201cBy integrating North American students into Israeli schools in 10th grade, we are helping them experience Israel as it truly is \u2014 learning how to navigate daily life, take buses, build friendships, and understand the country from the inside. This kind of immersion shapes confident Jewish leaders and opens the door for young people to see Israel not only as a place they visit, but as a place where they can ultimately build their future.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the instruction has been demanding, lasting from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. with breaks for meals, a lot of the most valuable experiences have come outside of the classroom. Jacobson said he appreciates that when the group isn\u2019t learning, they are given a certain level of autonomy.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I like about this program is that the counselors and the head of the program are pretty lenient on us,\u201d he said. \u201cIf you\u2019re going to hang out with Israelis, he lets you go off campus with them. I like the independence \u2014 we\u2019ve been able to go off campus a lot and go to restaurants together, play basketball \u2026 I\u2019ve gotten to go throughout the town and I\u2019ve just been meeting these new Israelis and seeing how they live their lives as opposed to how we live in America. It\u2019s a cool experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
The students have gotten to know their Israeli counterparts, as well as some figures that are well known across the world. Not long after arriving, they met Israeli President Isaac Herzog.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a surreal experience,\u201d Jacobson said.<\/p>\n
While traveling across the world for almost half a year isn\u2019t easy for any teen, these three are glad they did it. For SimonHazani, he knew immediately that it was something he couldn\u2019t say no to.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I got accepted, I was like, \u2018I can\u2019t give this opportunity up,\u2019\u201d he said.<\/p>\n