*This information refers specifically to the Career Israel program. Israel Experience hosts various internship programs year-round, which may have different start dates, lengths, requirements, structure, participant profiles, etc. These programs are run for Spanish, Russian and French-speaking interns. If you are interested in hosting an intern with these language skills, please note this when filling out the Internship Description form.*
Career Israel is a professional internship program that brings together Jewish young adults, ages 21–35, from around the world to gain hands-on experience in their chosen career fields. Alongside their internships, participants take part in meaningful educational programming designed to deepen their understanding of Israeli society and strengthen their personal connection to the country.
The program is operated by Israel Experience, a subsidiary of the Jewish Agency for Israel, and is accredited by Masa Israel Journey. The program runs for 5 to 6 months and offers a unique blend of professional development and cultural immersion.
Career Israel participants are typically young Jewish adults between the ages of 21 and 35, most of whom have completed their undergraduate degrees. The program is proudly international, welcoming participants from across the globe—including South America, the UK, Russia, Australia, France, and beyond.
We offer five program sessions throughout the year, starting in January, March, June, August, and October. (Please note: dates are subject to change.)
Every Israel Experience intern goes through a thorough screening process conducted by our Registration Team and a professional Internship Placement Coordinator to ensure they’re a good fit for the program. Once accepted, the participant works one-on-one with their coordinator to identify the most suitable internship options based on their background, interests, and career goals.
After the participant selects the field they want to pursue, the coordinator provides a curated list of relevant internship opportunities from our extensive database, including job descriptions and company profiles. The participant then ranks their top three choices, and the coordinator submits their CV to the preferred organization.
If the company is interested in moving forward, a Zoom interview is arranged between the intern and the organization. When both sides agree it’s a good match—the placement is confirmed.
Once the internship begins, the Placement Coordinator remains in close contact with both the intern and the company. During the internship, the coordinator will conduct an on-site visit to check in with both parties and ensure expectations are being met. In addition, both the intern and the company will complete a midterm evaluation to assess progress and identify ways to optimize the remainder of the internship experience.
All Israel Experience internships for tourists are unpaid. The only costs we ask host companies to cover are:
Daily transportation and lunch for the intern (which can be provided via TenBis (or similar meal cards), cash, or access to a stocked kitchen).
Optional: A monthly stipend which can only be provided by different gift-cards such as ‘Tav Zahav’ or ‘Buy me’.
Any additional support is welcome and greatly appreciated but not required.
We ensure that each intern is well-supported throughout the program. Our services include:
Furnished housing
Comprehensive medical insurance
24/7 staff support provided by trained madrichim
Educational seminars and cultural trips
Ulpan (Hebrew language instruction)
A dedicated Internship Placement Coordinator
We ask that our partner companies create a supportive, structured, and meaningful experience for interns. Expectations include:
Projects & Tasks: Assign the intern meaningful and relevant responsibilities based on their skills, language ability, and the goals discussed during the interview.
Mentorship: Assign a dedicated staff member to serve as the intern’s mentor and primary contact throughout the internship. This relationship is crucial to the intern’s success.
Weekly Check-Ins: Hold a regular weekly meeting (ideally in person, or otherwise by phone) to review progress, provide guidance, and address questions. These meetings should last at least 30 minutes.
Workspace: Provide a designated and agreed-upon work area for the intern.
Interns are required to work 30–32 hours per week. The specific days and times should be coordinated directly between the intern and the company based on mutual availability and company needs.
The interns have varying levels of Hebrew. Most have limited Hebrew, but there are some with higher levels and a few that are even fluent.
While we work with over 3,000 companies, we are always looking to place participants in outstanding new internships. That said, certain fields—particularly marketing and social media—receive a high number of requests, making placement more competitive.
To increase your chances of receiving an intern:
Clearly outline the responsibilities and projects
Highlight any unique opportunities such as team meetings, conferences, or special experiences only your company can provide
Showcase why your company is a great learning environment
Fresh perspectives: Interns bring creativity, enthusiasm, and new ideas to your organization.
Talent pipeline: Some companies go on to hire their interns as full-time staff.
Positive impact: You’re supporting young Jewish adults from around the world in gaining professional experience while living in Israel.
Mutual growth: Interns are motivated learners who want to contribute and grow—benefiting both their careers and your team.
Assign a mentor to guide the intern
Offer an orientation and overview of your company
Introduce the intern to colleagues and integrate them into the team
Discuss their interests and potential projects early on
Provide helpful resources: websites, brochures, reports, etc.
Clearly set expectations around workdays and hours
Take care of logistics: where possible, provide a desk, computer, phone, email access, and building entry
Nerya Ziv
Director of Career and Internship Center
neryaz@israelexperience.org
Join our network of outstanding host companies and start receiving interns! Simply fill out this form to get started.
