The Israel Government Fellows Program (IGF) is a Menachem Begin Heritage Center initiative in affiliation with MASA. The program is endorsed by the Office of the Prime Minister in Israel and offers outstanding and highly motivated young Jewish leaders an experience at the heart of the Israeli government. Alongside internships in government offices and policy and diplomacy organizations, the program provides educational seminars, Hebrew language instruction and tours around the country. It is the only existing program of its kind for non-Israelis and is available for young Jews aged 22-30 with at least a first degree.

The program’s duration is ten months and is based in Jerusalem. As well as working closely with a government official in a Ministry or other government branch, participants will attend weekly seminars as well as joint activities with Israeli counterparts. They will travel throughout the country, and will meet with Israeli officials, policy makers, journalists, and a wide range of public figures.

New Track: Policy & Diplomacy Fellowship

IGF is a program of MASA, and, as such, has an overriding mission to help young Jewish people from around the world to forge a lifelong connection with the State of Israel. Uniquely, IGF does this through a combination of work experience exposing them to the workings of Israeli government, and a series of educational seminars on different aspects of Israeli politics and society

The program encourages professionalism and self-development, while also enabling participants to make a real contribution to the governance of the State of Israel

This program provides participants with invaluable work experience and leadership training, which will be transferrable to future employment and will be impressive additions to any resume. It is a unique opportunity for aspiring Jewish leaders to acquire new skills while contributing to Israeli politics and society, to learn about Israeli history and culture, and to strengthen their connection to the Jewish state.

All applicants to the program must have a first degree, but that is the minimum requirement. IGF participants will be working with leading figures inside the most influential governmental departments, including the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance, and the program is therefore seeking exceptional candidates. The application process will require that applicants demonstrate excellent research and analysis abilities as well as a clear commitment to the well-being of Israel and the Jewish people.

In our experience, most Fellows embodied some/many of the following traits:leadership skills, working well under pressure, working well in a team, good analytical, research and writing skills, strong affinity with Israel and/or the Jewish People.

An Israel Government Fellow is expected to take the program seriously - committing themselves to their work experience mentor for the duration of their internship, and attending every seminar and activity that make up the educational component of the program. They are expected to treat their fellow participants with respect and to show a high level of personal responsibility. Fellows are expected to appreciate the unique opportunity they are being offered and to do all they can to make the most of the experience.

Program Alumi will join a global network of IGF past participants, and will help to fulfill the main vision set out by the IGF program, namely - strengthening the connection between the State of Israel and the communities in the Diaspora, as well as enhancing initiative and leadership in various fields in the Jewish world. 

Fellows will all receive a special certificate confirming completion of the program. They can also request a letter of recommendation.

IGF is the only program that offers the opportunity to intern in the Israeli government or policy and diplomacy organizations – as opposed to the private, or non-profit, sectors. In addition, IGF provides an educational program of seminars and lectures from high-profile political figures.
IGF is not for everyone, but it will suit those seeking an intensive year working for the Israeli government or policy and diplomacy organizations.

During the first month Fellows attend a daily seminar at the Begin Center. During that month there will be one trip outside of Jerusalem for three days. 
 
After these orientation weeks, Fellows will work Sunday-Wednesday at their government offices or policy and diplomacy organizations. Thursday will be a seminar day where Fellows will have the opportunity to meet and listen to leading decision makers and opinion-formers in Israeli society.

Most weekends (Fri-Sat) are free. Fellows will have several long weekends scheduled throughout the year (three days), and will enjoy vacations on Jewish and national holidays. Each month one weekend will be set aside for special programs and tiyulim (trips around Israel).

Fellows will be able to be absent for a few additional days of their choosing for personal reasons.

Many of our Fellows go on to do MA degrees after the program - in law, governance, public policy, international relations, etc, and would say that the program made them better prepared for their studies. 

Download the application form from the website, or contact the Program staff, by email (dianem@begincenter.org.il) or phone: +972 2 5652027 /1, from US: (212) 444-9680, for an application form.

Applicants must be between 22-30 years old and have a Bachelor’s Degree plus a minimum of two years work experience OR a Master's Degree. (A part-time job or other internship can also be considered as work experience for these purposes.) Applicants must have fluent English and be eligible according to MASA’s guidelines.

The registration officially closes May 2012.
The application form can be downloaded from the website.

Application is on a rolling basis - candidates will receive answers about acceptance within two weeks of sending a complete application.

WE ARE NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2012-13 SESSION!

The work experience provided on the program will be of benefit for all the Fellows, regardless of their future career plans. In addition to the specific skills developed at each placement, skills in areas such as leadership and teamwork, are transferable to all professions and in everyday life.

Once accepted into the program and placed at a particular internship, Fellows may be required to undergo a security check but there should be no need for full background investigations.

Apart from that, one of the registration documents required from all accepted Fellows is proof of a lack of criminal record from their local police department.

IGF looks to secure the most diverse possible group of Fellows in terms of background and nationality.

This is your opportunity to share with us why IGF appeals to you and why you would like it to be part of your journey. Share your story.

IGF places great importance on the references provided by previous employers, professors, academic supervisors, community leaders or shlichim (Israeli community representatives). We provide guidelines, which may be found at the end of the application form, for prospective referees, which outlines what we require from them in a letter of recommendation. Applicants are advised to carefully decide on the referees who can best describe how they will be suitable for the program, with reference to the qualities and skills that are required.

An internship, as envisaged by the IGF program, is a placement where the reward is in the experience gained and the skills developed. Volunteering is a central aspect of the Fellowship.

Fellows on the program are placed in positions of genuine responsibility working with senior figures in the Israeli government establishment and policy and diplomacy organizations.

Every Fellow will be given a list of the possible options for internship and, after a one-on-one discussion with the program Director, they will choose five placements from the list. Their CVs (resumes) and relevant details will be sent to the offices of these five potential placements and the final decision will be made according to the requirements of those offices in conjunction with the judgment of the program Director.

The working language of the program is English - all seminars and meetings are conducted in English. Internships are likewise for English-speakers, with the only language that could be used in place of it being Hebrew. Nontheless, any additional languages could well be beneficial in certain placements.

·         Ministry of Justice; Money Laundering and Terror-Financing Prohibition Authority

·         Ministry of Justice; Dept. of Special International Affairs (dealing with attempts to use int’l law indict Israeli officials in int’l courts and using the legal system to challenge that)

·         Ministry of Industry, Trade & Labor; Legal Dept (dealing with international agreements that Israel is signed on to or considering signing on to)

The educational program is a combination of a month long opening seminar, weekly seminar days, and tours around the country – all providing the educational component of the program.

The education program provides Fellows with a framework of knowledge that will help them to understand the workings of the Israeli state, introducing them to the key issues and challenges that have faced Israeli governments past and present. It also offers them professional training which will support their experience as interns.

The IGF program aims to develop the leadership skills of its participants. A core belief of the program is that good decision-making is based on the widest possible knowledge, and that leaders must have an understanding of the different perspectives that exist on particular issues and the different solutions presented. The education program exposes Fellows to all sides of the various debates in Israeli politics and society – left and right, religious and secular, Jewish and Arab.

Over the course of the ten-month program, there are several tiyulim, or trips, around the country each lasting 3-4 days. These will enable Fellows to experience Israel in all its diversity, and to get to know the country better. There will also be day trips in Jerusalem, where Fellows will live and work.

Ulpan is intensive Hebrew language instruction. English is the working language of the program but it is hugely beneficial for Fellows to develop basic conversational Hebrew, both to support their internship experience in Hebrew-speaking environments, and to assist their general development as Jewish leaders.

Fellows will attend daily Ulpan sessions throughout the first few weeks afterwhich preiodic follow-ups will take place. IGF uses a tried-and-tested ulpan course which specializes in spoken Hebrew, with significant personal attention from teachers.

The IGF program is proud of its record of exposing its participants to the very highest quality speakers. The program chooses political and public figures from across the political spectrum, expressing the full range of opinions that feature in the vibrant Israeli democracy. Special emphasis is placed on the speaker's field of expertise, therefore, many of the lectures will be held with leading scholars.  

The educational program will include a series of lectures, as well as participation in a wide range of conferences, tours and meetings around the country.

The cost of the program is $15,000. However, most Fellows are eligible for a grant from MASA (the precise amount is according to country of origin and other criteria - see website for further information: www.masaisrael.org).
The standard universal grant from MASA is $4,500.
Further assistance on the basis of financial need is also available from MASA. 
All Fellows also receive an automatic $2,000 grant from the Begin Center.

The cost includes housing but Fellows are permitted to arrange their own accommodation and pay $11,000 instead.

Funding may also be offered by other Jewish/Zionist institutions such as UJC-Federations in the US or the UJIA in the UK. Applicants are advised to explore whether their local and national community organizations have grants available.
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Fellows are permitted to arrange their own accommodation.  However, we advise you to take up the offer of pre-arranged housing at the Student Village of the Hebrew University.

In previous years, we have found that Fellows have struggled to find cheap, quality housing in Jerusalem.  The extra $4,000 we are adding to the cost of the program in order to include accommodation, is likely to be considerably less than you would end up paying in rent over ten months should you find your own apartment in Jerusalem.

It is not recommended that participants miss parts of the program but it is understandable for important family events. Fellows have a certain amount of days that they are allowed to be absent from the program. They are free to use these days to take time off for family events or visits, or as they choose.

A team of professional staff from the Begin Center led by the Director of the program, Paul Gross.

Miri Fraenkel
E-mail: igf@begincenter.org.il
Phone number: +972-2-5652027; From US: 212-444-9680