Thousands of Masa Israel Journey fellows, alumni and community members joined together on Monday at Ra'anana Park Amphitheater in Israel to celebrate the start of Masa Israel Journey's 2019-20 programming year.
The Oct. 28 event marks Israel's largest-ever single gathering of Diaspora Jews volunteering and working in Israel. More than 2,500 attendees enjoyed a performance by international pop star and 2018 Eurovision Song Contest winner Netta Barzilai and a keynote address by Masa's Acting CEO Ofer Gutman.
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Attendees participated in community-building workshops consisting of games, an art wall and a volunteer event: Sixty-seven bicycles were assembled and donated to Potchim Atid, a Jewish Agency initiative that supports children and their families living in Israel's social and demographic periphery.
"We are proud to open the new year with thousands of new fellows who are excited to experience Israel firsthand and deepen their connection with the country and its people. Together, our growing global community displays an unparalleled commitment to support and strengthen Israel," said Gutman.
Masa also announced the full-fledged launch of its MasaTech program. A first-of-its-kind, innovative initiative, MasaTech will bring more than 200 full-time high-tech professionals to Israel for unmatched work opportunities at the highest echelons of Israel's high-tech sector.
"MasaTech will completely transform the way Israel's robust high-tech industry conducts business, recruits talent and engages with the global workforce," said Gutman.
At the event, attended by people from 41 different countries, participants posed with Barzilai for a photograph.
Reprinted with permission from JNS.org
