September 3, 2008 / 3 Elul 5768

Fifty-four young North American Jews between 20-26 are due to arrive in Israel tomorrow to volunteer for 10 months, through the UJC/Federation-supported OTZMA program.

OTZMA, Hebrew for "strength," is a UJC/Federation initiative, in cooperation with the Jewish Agency for Israel's Department for Jewish Zionist Education. OTZMA gives young Jews the opportunity to play integral roles in Israeli society. For their first three months, participants live, volunteer and study Hebrew in an absorption center in the southern Israeli city of Beer Sheva. Next they volunteer in Partnership 2000 communities and experience many of the programs funded by the UJC/Federation system. Finally, participants intern in nonprofit organizations or volunteer on kibbutzim. The work varies depending on the community involved and the time of year. Participants have worked in after-school programs, taught English, worked with the disabled, and the elderly.

More than 1,400 young adults from Jewish communities have participated on OTZMA since its inception in 1986.

Participants have held a range of internships while on OTZMA, from working at The Jerusalem Post to pursing projects at the Peres Center for Peace or at the Jewish Agency for Israel. Many OTZMA alumni pursue Jewish professional or lay positions.

At the end of this past year's program in June, many of the participants accepted staff positions at Birthright Israel, Jewish federations, and Jewish day schools. For example, Jennifer Keys of Baltimore is participating in the INSIGHT fellowship, the Shusterman Foundation's two-year program that explores non-profit Jewish communal work.

"As one of the oldest Jewish service learning programs in existence, OTZMA has had great success in developing committed Jews, Zionists, and future leaders of the North American Jewish community," says OTZMA Chair Liz Jaffe.

Elizabeth Snell of New York, who is typical of these young Jewish leaders, is among the latest group. "A little over a year ago I had the privilege of participating in Taglit-Birthright and visiting Israel for the first time. I know OTZMA will now afford me the opportunity to contribute to the larger Jewish community, to focus my energy on volunteering in Israeli communities and to gain an insider's understanding of the intricacies that make up Israelis society."

Participants on OTZMA 23 represent 27 Jewish federations including: Los Angeles; Metrowest, NJ; New York City; South Palm Beach; Minneapolis; Atlanta; Hartford; Dallas; Silicon Valley; Sacramento; Toronto; Phoenix; Miami; Delaware; New Orleans; Denver; Seattle; San Diego; Baltimore; Boston; Chicago; Milwaukee; Detroit; Cincinnati; Philadelphia; Monmouth County, NJ; and Middlesex, NJ.

For more information about OTZMA, please visit the website, call 1-877-GO-OTZMA (466-8962) or e-mail otzma@ujc.org.