For the last 28 years, the Union for Reform Judaism has offered a rising 11th grade program trip to Israel with a specific bus allocated to the GUCI community.  Connection to and travel to Israel are core mission issues for GUCI and the URJ and the URJ’s Yallah Israel Program (formerly NFTY in Israel) has proven a transformative experience creating a lasting connection to our Homeland.  Yallah Israel provided 50 URJ camp teens with an incredible 2024 summer and currently has almost 75 teens already enrolled for summer 2025, even though we know the war and post October 7th has created a new reality for us all.  We are still hoping for as many URJ teens as possible to attend Yallah Israel/Europe this summer. And, given feedback we’ve received, we are happy to share new opportunities for our rising 11th and 12th graders.

To that end, starting with summer 2025, we are offering both Avodah and Yallah Israel to our rising 11th graders, and offering the paid Machon counselor-in-training program option to rising 12th graders.  This change will ensure that all rising 11th graders have meaningful Jewish engagement opportunities through the camp.   

Prior to introducing the rising 11th grade Israel opportunity, Avodah was offered as a rising 11th grade program immediately following second year Anaf.  Our Machon counselor-in-training program (“Machon”) was offered to rising 12th graders. We know from historical success that both programs work well at these ages.  There are benefits to offering these two programs at younger ages. Currently, rising 11th graders not interested in an Israel experience have no option to attend camp that summer.  Teens who choose not to go to Israel and who want Jewish engagement that summer are left without the ability to return to their “home away from home.”  For some campers, this marks the end of their GUCI experience.  It is important that we offer as many opportunities for engagement at GUCI and the URJ as possible for all ages.

It is essential to reiterate that Israel education, connection to Israel, and travel to Israel remain central pillars of the URJ and GUCI programs.  We are not eliminating the possibility of rising 11^th graders participating in a trip to Israel with other GUCI teens.  Rising 11^th graders will now have the option to go to Israel or to apply for the Avodah program.  Following Israel or Avodah, we hope that participants will return to GUCI as a staff member.  Participating in Avodah or Israel is not a prerequisite to being hired as a staff member at GUCI.

We recognize that this is a significant change to our program and staff offerings for rising 11^th and 12^th graders and are available to assist rising 11^th and 12^th graders as they navigate this shift. See here for answers to questions we believe will arise.

We thank you for all your support to date and we encourage you to contact us directly if you have any questions not answered in the FAQs or have a specific set of circumstances we should consider together.  Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions.

Be well,
Jeremy + The GUCI Team