UJIA launches new sixth form scheme

UJIA HAS launched a new programme for sixth formers to gain a more in-depth knowledge of Israel.

A select group of 15 to 20 school students will be chosen to take part on the year-long Israel Fast Track course which begins next month.

It will feature a series of Sunday afternoon sessions, two residential weekends in the UK and an intensive seminar in Israel over half-term in 2017.

Robin Moss, the UJIA’s head of Israel engagement, said, “The idea is to take young people who are fired up and engaged with Israel but have questions as well.

“We will look at some of the challenges facing Israeli society — and what they mean for its future and for British Jewry’s connection with Israel.”

Each session will offer a detailed look at a particular topic such as Israel in British political life or the peace process. On the Israel seminar, students will have the opportunity to meet politicians and other opinionformers.

The new programme will help pre- pare students for the verbal combat zone that may await some of them on their university campus. “This is the UJIA taking the bull by the horns,” he said.

But he stressed that “it’s an educational not an advocacy programme. We want them to come to their own conclusions.” The intention was not to create an “echo chamber” for an authorised view of Israel but to “encourage young people to think for themselves”.

The selected students will represent a “genuinely cross-communal” group, he said. “We have set ourselves the target of having religiously and politically diverse young people.”

The cost of the programme is £250 plus flights to Israel but bursaries will be available, as well as money to cover the costs of regional participants travelling to the Sunday sessions.

Applications to take part must be submitted by the end of this month.

We will look at some of the challenges facing Israel