Otzma is a joint project of the North American Jewish Federations, represented by the United Jewish Communities, and the Jewish Agency’s Department for Jewish Zionist Education. Otzma is a MASA  long term Israel program. The program aims to promote and strengthen ties between North American and UK Jewry and Israel, through enabling participants to contribute a significant amount of time to volunteer work in Israel, with experiential and educational opportunities for a deeper understanding of Israel, the exploration of personal Jewish identity. Otzma also trains participants to serve as their communities' as young leaders of the future, through the development of leadership skills within its program.

The Otzma program has three major components:

Absorption Center/Ulpan: Three months as a group at an absorption center.  During this period, participants learn basic Hebrew, while volunteering in various frameworks within the community or at the absorption center itself. At the same time, they adapt to life in Israel.
Community Volunteering: Three months in small groups of 3-5 in the Israeli partner region to their community/city of origin in North America or the UK. Here, Otzma participants engage in educational, social and community work at schools and community centers.
Internship: Otzma participants spend two and a half months working in organizations engaged in creating social change around Israel, in one of the following areas: environmental conservation; human and civil rights; awareness-raising on social issues; community service.

In addition, Otzma participants attend a seminar in Judaism, enjoy educational tours of Israel, and spend time with their adoptive Israeli families.

Participant  Requirements: North American / UK college graduates, aged 20-26;  responsible, independent young people and highly motivated to volunteer.

Length of Program: 10 months, from mid-August through early June.