Since its establishment in 1956, Young Judaea’s Year Course in Israel has provided more than 5,000 Diaspora Jews with a challenging & dynamic year of life-impacting experiences.   

While the program structure has changed over the years, the goals of Year Course stay the same, exposing young Jews to different Israeli lifestyles, learning Hebrew, strengthening personal and Jewish identity and instilling a love of Israel and Aliyah.
 
The Year Course program, designed for recent high school graduates, is a 9-month program based on the academic year.  The program offers participants a wide variety of experiential, volunteer and academic opportunities. 

Year Course consists of three trimesters: two periods of volunteer and living experiences which take place in different Israeli community settings throughout the country and an intensive period of formal academic studies and field trips based in Jerusalem. The academic program is operated in conjunction with the University of Judaism in California.
 
Over the course of the year there are two major tiyulim (hikes), one in the North and one in the South, as well as field trips, special seminars, cultural and social activities.   In addition, holidays, many evenings, and most weekends are free.  During these periods, participants are encouraged to explore the country on their own and to visit friends and relatives.
 
Year Course is staffed by highly qualified educators, counselors & tour guides who are dedicated to a quality program of formal and informal education within a supportive, university-level environment.

Every year, a group of Israeli high school graduates from the Tsofim, join Year Course for national service as part of "Gerin Atid"