Kesher Hadash

Kesher Hadash: Semester in Israel Program

Are you interested in honest and sophisticated Israel engagement?

A select group of students from The Davidson School, as well as those outside JTS, have an opportunity to live and study in Israel while gaining expertise in Israel Education. This innovative and intensive program is fully funded for eligible students by The Davidson School and the Jim Joseph Foundation.

In addition to the fully funded program, The Davidson School also provides:

  • Round-trip airfare
  • $1,500 living stipend
  • $3,000 housing stipend

 Through this concentration program, you will engage in:

Academic Courses. Explore cutting-edge approaches to teaching about Israel, study alongside Israeli citizens, and deepen your knowledge of Israel's culture, history, and politics. Academic courses include:

  • The State of Israel: Origins, Early History—Provides students with the tools by which to understand Israeli society: its ideological origins, its pre-state history, and the major voices and schisms today.
  • Contemporary Israel in Contemporary Jewish Education—An exploration of the philosophical and educational significance of Israel for Jews today, providing an expansive introduction to varied questions around Israel education. 
  • Curriculum and Program Implementation—Includes visits to Israeli schools and studying of Israeli curriculum.
  • Diversity in Israeli Society at the David Yellin Academic College of Education—An intra-cultural workshop in which American Jewish, Israeli Jewish, and Palestinian-Israeli students discuss questions of identity, religion, and nationality.

Experiential Program.Through diverse experiences, students explore every facet of Israeli society, engaging in challenging discussion with Israelis on shabbatonim and participating in trips that address pivotal topics in contemporary Israeli life. Programs include:

  • Gush Etzion: Voices of the Settler Movement

  • Bethlehem: An Encounter Experience

  • Kibbutz Lotan: An Israeli Reform Community and Ecological Education Site

  • Kibbutz Hannaton: A Self-Renewing Israeli Conservative Community

  • Yad Vashem Through Different Eyes: The Place of the Shoah in Israeli Identity

  • Har Herzl: A Case Study for Educational Narratives

  • The Conservative Yeshiva: A Seminar on Jewish Pluralism

  • The Alma Institute: The Secular Jewish Cultural Renaissance

  • Mea Shearim: An Exploration of Haredi Society in Israel

Hebrew Immersion. Experience a radical new approach to Hebrew language instruction and take part in social activism.

Living in Israel. Enjoy daily life in beautiful South Jerusalem, and spend Shabbatot at the remarkable new pluralistic community of Kibbutz Hanaton.

Spaces are limited so apply now. The priority deadline is March 1, the secondary deadline is May 1. Students will be notified of a decision shortly therafter and will need to let Davidson Admissions know of their enrollment to Kesher Hadash by June 30. A rolling admissions process is offered subsequent to the above deadlines.

Download the application for current Davidson School MA applicants.
Download the application for non-JTS students.

Read a press release about the program.

Experiential Education Program


Information to come.