01
Education
Formal and informal Jewish learning built around real questions — plus career-building and personal growth.
The Ohrsom Gap YearA year in Jerusalem
A year in Jerusalem
that changes everything.
Learning, travel, independence and Jewish growth — with your own apartment in Jerusalem and international friends by your side.
Officially recognised
A Masa Israel Journey gap year program.
Ohrsom Gap Year is listed on Masa Israel Journey — a joint initiative of the Government of Israel and The Jewish Agency for Israel. Delivered in partnership with Morasha Olami, based full-time in Jerusalem.
- Alumni
- 182+
- Duration
- 8–10 months
- Location
- Jerusalem
- Ages
- 18–20
- Language
- English
- Accommodation
- Rented apartment
View us on Masa Israel 81 verified reviews · 1,300+ program page views
In partnership with
Watch
The 2-minute overview.
The filmIndia. Himalayas.
India. Himalayas.
Nothing prepares you.
Filmed on the road by one of our students' videographers. The India leg — one part of the year.
Three pillars
Built around what actually matters.
02
Experience
Internships, MDA and community work that stretch you — balanced with ski trips north, scuba in Eilat and unforgettable Shabbatot.
03
Travel
Poland for a week of introspection. India for the Himalayas. Europe for skydiving, the Northern Lights, and cities you'll never forget.
The journeyWhere the year
Where the year
takes you.
- 1
Jerusalem — your base
Your own apartment, a cohort of international friends, and the world's greatest city as your daily backdrop.
- 2
Poland — a week of introspection
Sites of the Shoah, walked slowly. Experiential learning that reframes what it means to be Jewish today.
- 3
India — the Himalayas
Hike, breathe, disconnect, come back changed. One of the most unforgettable weeks of the year.
- 4
Europe — the Northern Lights & skydive
Cities you'll never forget, adrenaline that resets you, sights that don't feel real.
- 5
Ski the North & scuba Eilat
Because a transformational year should also be a wildly fun one. The full stretch of Israel — north to south.
- 6
MDA volunteering & internships
Real responsibility on ambulances and in Israeli workplaces. Character-forging, résumé-building, life-shaping.
Some highlights includeThe best year of your life,
The best year of your life,
packed into one.
Kibbutz life
MDA volunteering
Poland
Northern Lights
Ski trips
Scuba, Eilat
Skydiving
Himalayas, India
The year in full
Independent. International. Unforgettable.
The Ohrsom Gap Year Program revolutionises the gap year experience — a holistic, year‑long journey placing emphasis on three key areas: Education, Experience and Travel.
Through education, students gain both formal and informal fundamental Jewish values and concepts, as well as career building and personal growth. Participants are challenged through internships and MDA experiences — but also rewarded through ski trips to the north of Israel and scuba diving in Eilat.
The program includes travel to India for a Himalayas hike, a powerful week in Poland, and a Europe leg with skydiving, the Northern Lights and cities you'll never forget.
Ohrsom puts emphasis on self‑growth and independence: your own apartment in Jerusalem as your base throughout the year. You'll spend the year with students from around the world — come make life‑long friends and have a gap year like no other.
“Ohrsom facilitates an environment where students are encouraged to question and delve, to create a connection based on understanding rather than blind acceptance.”
Riv Parij — Gap Year student
FAQ
Everything you're wondering.
Not here? WhatsApp us — we reply fast.
Who is Gap Year for?+
Post-matric students (male and female cohorts) — anyone ready to spend the year growing, travelling, learning and building lifelong friendships. No prior background required.
When does the year run?+
August–May, roughly aligning with the academic year. Exact dates are shared with each intake.
Where do participants live?+
In your own apartment in Jerusalem — that's your base for the whole year. International cohort under one roof.
Is it kosher and Shabbos-observant?+
Yes. Fully kosher, fully Shomer Shabbos environment throughout the program.
What about cost?+
The program is highly subsidised. Chat to us on WhatsApp for the current fee sheet and available scholarships.
Is it safe?+
Safety is our top priority. Trips are led by experienced staff, and we work with trusted partners for MDA, travel and security.
Ready to go?
Chat to us on WhatsApp — no forms, no pressure. Just a real conversation about whether Ohrsom Gap Year is right for you.