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Masa program graduates exemplify the synergy between Judaism, Israel, and impactful engagement. Throughout the war, many chose to remain in Israel, joining vital initiatives – from medicine and journalism to social activism – proving that meaningful experiences lead to lasting commitment.
Emily Schrader, a California native, has emerged as a prominent voice in global Israeli advocacy. As a journalist and news anchor, she stands at the forefront of multiple causes: championing women's rights in Iran, delivering pointed criticism of the Iranian regime, and defending Israel's right to exist and self-defense while confronting antisemitism on the international stage.
Through her roles at Ynet and ILTV News, Emily delivers impactful messaging that resonates with hundreds of thousands of social media followers. Her approach combines intellectual rigor with fearless conviction, particularly when facing Israel's staunchest critics.
Her journey to Israel began ten years ago following her participation in a Masa program, during which she pursued a master's degree at Tel Aviv University. "After the program, I tried returning to Los Angeles but only lasted six months," she reflected. "Living there became impossible. I was surrounded by people who couldn't grasp what truly matters."
Emily represents one of 18 distinguished Masa alumni, carefully selected from 200,000 graduates, whose impactful work exemplifies the organization's mission. Their stories aim to inspire the next generation of global Jewish youth to maintain and strengthen Jewish community bonds worldwide.
Masa Israel Journey, founded by the Jewish Agency and the Israeli government, is the largest immersive, long-term educational experience for young adults ages 16-50. Each year, approximately 12,000 Jewish young adults from 60 countries participate in programs designed to facilitate meaningful integration into Israeli society.
Many program graduates have chosen to make Israel their permanent home, contributing significantly to various sectors of Israeli society. Take Gideon Keyson from the Netherlands, who began with a programming internship through Masa-Career. His journey led him through service in the Israeli Navy and ultimately to co-founding what would become Riverside – a major platform for webinars and podcast recording. The company now employs 250 people and serves hundreds of thousands of clients, including Hillary Clinton's podcast among numerous prominent Israeli and international productions. "Building a company in Israel and contributing to its economy fills me with pride," he shared.
"The deep connection to Israel and their Jewish identity that fellows develop during their Masa program stays with them. Many of them attest to being profoundly impacted by their experience in Israel, 1 in 5 are even choosing careers in the Jewish world" Meir Holtz, CEO of Masa, said. "This is a moment to bring hope to the Jewish people everywhere, demonstrating that the next generation of young leaders in Jewish communities is ready to carry the mission forward and keep the Jewish people strong. The next generation is not waiting for tomorrow; they are already repairing the world today. We are proud of each and every one of our 200,000 alumni, all of whom are making an impact in their own unique way."
Understanding what truly matters
Samson Arveladze, an orthopedic specialist, and Dmitry Lerman, a urology resident, both Moscow natives, exemplify the success of the Masa Doctors program, which helps international medical professionals qualify to practice in Israel. They created the country's largest network for doctors who have made Aliyah, focusing on Russian speakers. "We recognized a critical information gap and worked to bridge it," Dmitry explained. "The Russia-Ukraine war brought thousands of medical professionals to Israel, all seeking guidance through our platform. We've become the country's premier resource for doctors, especially Russian-speaking ones."
Their community provides comprehensive support through meetings and information sharing, covering everything from job searching and residency placements to living arrangements and departmental insights. "We offer complete guidance, including job postings and emotional support," Samson noted. "The community has become self-sustaining, with members actively sharing experiences and supporting one another." Masa Doctors program graduates now serve throughout Israel's public health system, from hospitals to health maintenance organizations and military service. Samson himself exemplifies this commitment, having served as a combat battalion physician and continuing to serve in the reserves.
Alicia Schneider, originally from Canada, found her path to Israel through MITF (Masa Israel Teaching Fellows), teaching English for a year. When the war broke out, she pivoted from content writing to more urgent community work: "The war changed everything – my regular job suddenly felt insignificant. What began as cooking for soldiers evolved into something much bigger," she shared.
That initiative blossomed into Citizen's Kitchen, where Alicia now serves in leadership. "We've built a vibrant Olim community," she explained. "Beyond cooking for soldiers, we provide English therapy groups and host Shabbat dinners. Our volunteer base extends globally – it's remarkable to see people flying in from as far as Australia just to help prepare meals."
Sharona Shnayder, Nigerian-born, channeled her environmental passion through a Masa internship at a waste transformation startup. Her initiative, Tuesday-for-Trash, born during COVID-19 lockdowns, has mobilized thousands globally to collect 87,000 pounds of waste. Sharona is active in the President's Climate Crisis Forum and has been selected to receive the National Geographic Young Explorers grant as one of 15 young people aged 18-25 from 13 countries chosen for their "groundbreaking and impactful environmental solutions achieved through leadership and courage." She continues her impact through an upcoming children's book about environmental consciousness.
"Collecting waste opens eyes to our environmental impact," Sharona observed. "This simple action catalyzes broader behavioral change."
The list's diversity spans business innovators, social activists, political voices, journalists, and medical professionals. Yet they share a common thread: crediting their Masa experience as fundamental to their success. "Masa's influence permeates everything I do today," Alicia reflected. "Their community-centered approach showed me what truly matters."
In partnership with the Masa organization.
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