As a young American student, educational opportunities are one of the most interesting ways to explore and learn when coming to Israel.

Ever since its independence in 1948, Israel has become a dynamic, modern country. In Israel, traditional beliefs come face to face with contemporary values, religion and secularism. It is a nation that has absorbed Jews from all over the world in North Africa, Eastern Europe, the South Pacific and Ethiopia. Yet, in spite of this diversity, it remains a place where Judaism serves as a common bond, a thread that runs through all of the people, tying them together and to one another.

With its intense political climate, its open desert spaces, and its religious communities, Israel is a study of how differences come together in a land the size of New Jersey.

A unique aspect of the overseas student programs in Israel is that they are so varied. Depending upon what a participant wants, each program has its own curriculum and focus. For example, geology major, whose goals are to examine the Negev an to dabble in archeology has just as much opportunity as a political science major who wants to get involved with the Israeli Knesset.

Because Israel is a nation based upon immigration and upon working together, the overseas student programs are geared towards granting participants access to resources which will enable them to reach their academic and spiritual goals. In addition, because of America's involvement in and influence on Israeli life, English is spoken widely by the population. Thus, while most university and kibbutz programs offer intensive Hebrew ulpans for incoming students, an English-speaking community mitigates the burden of having to immedately having to learn a new language while adapting to a new culture.

Despite its small size, the state of Israel is home to more than a dozen institutions of higher learning, ranging from the most religious Yeshivah is a small town such as Safed to the most secular art school in the cosmopolitan city of Tel Aviv.

According to an American overseas student at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, "The great thing about studying in Israel is that you have access to some of the best minds in the world because it has immigrants from all over the world."

Another student from The Netherlands agreed and added, "The professors really want to help students find what they are seeking. The whole emphasis here is to help Jews stay in Israel and contributing to Israeli society." Both students felt that Judaism was a central theme in the relationships they formed on campus, with the students and also with the professors. As one students put it, "Judaism is what brought us here and is what will keep us here in the end."

• Kibbutz Lotan
  
• Pardes
  
• Bar Ilan University
  
• A Still Small Voice
  
• Ascent
  
• University of Haifa
  
• Livnot U'Lehibanot
  
• Nishmat
  
• Boston University
  
• Ulpan Akiva
  
• Rothberg International School of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem