Editor’s Note: The following feature article by Daniel Cymes, a NextGen Richmond community member, reflects on his current Masa Israel Journey experience. A future article by Crystal Jackson will share her Masa experience teaching middle school students. The JCFR supports Masa through annual allocations to the Jewish Agency, one of the funders of Masa. 

By Daniel Cymes 

After participating in Taglit at the end of 2022, I was confident that I would return to Israel sooner rather than later. Three years later, that opportunity presented itself. 

Upon finishing Taglit, I was inundated with emails showcasing opportunities to return to Israel for an extended period of time through Masa Israel Journey. Masa is an organization connected to the Jewish Agency for Israel and the Government of Israel, and serves as a bridge between global Jewish communities and life in Israel.  

Their focus is on empowering young Jews to build a stronger, more connected Jewish future—both personally and globally—through a wide range of programs, from volunteering and gap years to career and teaching fellowships. I immediately took interest, and the journey from bright-eyed Birthright participant to Oleh Chadash began. 

After sifting through my options, I decided to participate in the five-month Masa Career program. 

Currently, I am living in the heart of Tel Aviv and interning at an Israeli tech start-up called Deepdub.ai. There are nearly 80 other participants in my program. In addition to working at our respective internships at different companies, we complete a seven-week ulpan (Hebrew classes), and Masa organizes a wide range of activities and trips. 

 So far, we have traveled to Eilat, Ein Gedi, and the Dead Sea, along with various other day trips in the greater Tel Aviv area. I also had the opportunity to reconnect with a fellow Richmonder, Crystal Jackson, at a transformative Adaptive Leadership conference in Jerusalem. 

Although I am only two months into my five-month program, I have already connected with so many amazing people from all over the globe and gotten a great taste of what it’s like to be a productive member of Israeli society. 

In fact, out of all my roommates, I am the only American. I was hoping to become proficient in Hebrew by the conclusion of the program, but at this rate I’ll be fluent in French instead. 

Shortly after my arrival, I got connected to a running club, establishing a great support network as I train for the Tel Aviv Marathon in February. From playing shesh-besh (backgammon) at streetside cafés and running along the Tayelet, to eating a fresh falafel pita and meandering through Shuk Carmel on a Friday morning, my love for Israel—what it represents and what it stands for—grows every day.

I am continually blown away by the resilience and innovation of this nation. My time here thus far has cemented my belief that all Jews need to spend time in Israel, whether it’s simply to visit or to make aliyah. It is integral to understanding what it means to be Jewish. 

The Jewish Community Federation of Richmond played a huge role in making this all possible. 

First, they provided me with a $4,500 grant, which covered almost half of my tuition for the program. Second, and just as important, I received overwhelming support and encouragement from the broader Jewish community in Richmond. 

I had a few meetings with Avi Remetz, a former MASA participant himself, who offered valuable insights about the program, shared his experiences, and reaffirmed my decision. It’s safe to say that when I face the inevitable question, “Where are you from?” while meeting new people, I’m proud to represent RVA. My hope is that more and more young Jewish individuals in the Richmond community seek out opportunities to participate on a MASA program. I’m certain it will be a life-changing experience.