Young Judaea
Year Course

Join the original gap year in Israel
and take the journey of a lifetime.

What is Year Course?

Young Judaea Year Course is the largest gap year program in Israel. Participants live in Israel for nine months, earning up to 30 college credits. Together with academic studies, participants strengthen their independence, maturity, and positive value systems, building the skills to thrive and succeed - socially, academically, and as members of their communities.

Get ready to discover an Israel you haven’t seen, connect with your peers and your history, and learn the language, culture, and complexities of Israel.

The Year Course Experience

Your Gap Year in Israel

With tons of ways to customize the program,
no two Year Course participants will have the same experience!

During the Tel Aviv Semester, choose an internship, MDA volunteering, IDF experience, or coding bootcamp to anchor your time living in Israel's cultural capital while you explore the country and society.

During the Jerusalem semester, you'll dive into Jewish and Israeli heritage, culture and history while earning college credits and exploring the sights that make Jerusalem one of the most interesting cities in the world.

Customize your year with special add-ons and experiences that take you deeper into Israel, with opportunities to travel the world on one of our epic global trips.

Click below to learn more about the different pieces of the incredible Year Course experience.

What's New on Year Course

Year Course Parents Say...

It was the experience and adventure of a lifetime. My daughter grew in ways I did not even realize that she would and that she needed.  She made American, British, and Israeli friendships that will last a lifetime.  It was a year where it was much better to be in Israel than on campus.

Corrine Mateyak

Atlanta, Georgia

One of the best decisions we've ever made.  A life changing experience where our daughter made life-long friends, reinforced a deep connection to Israel and its people, learned about the history and some of the political landscape from real life experience and created greater self-awareness.

Matthew Diamond

Toronto, Canada

This was a transformative year for my son. Year Course provided the framework for him to mature and become a responsible young adult. While Israel has always been a part of his make-up, his love for the country was strengthened. He formed lifelong friendships which he cherishes.

Barbara Braffman

New York, New York

Year Course provided my daughter with an amazing experience that really enriched her life and strengthened her love for Israel and the Israeli people.

Mindy Nagorsky-Israel

Westchester, New York

There is no other experience like this one. We felt confident that for our daughter, this was going to be a year of growth, maturity, responsibility, and independence.  

Nim Meishar

San Antonio, Texas

It was the best decision we ever made! Life changing for our daughter in the best possible way. She matured and found a purpose and a sense of belonging to a part of something bigger than herself.

Shelley Ehrlich

Indianapolis, Indiana

Get in Touch
with Year Course

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.