Staff + Supervision

Staff + Supervision

YALLAH! Israel has operated outstanding summer and semester programs in Israel for over 65 years.

Throughout, Yallah! Israel has earned a well-deserved reputation for aspiring to provide the highest standard of health, safety and security in all its youth travel programs. Over six decades, we have always placed the welfare of young people entrusted to our care above all other considerations and are highly responsive to ever-changing needs and conditions.

Staff Supervision

We recognize that exploring outside of one’s comfort zone can spark a range of emotions and reactions. That’s why we train our staff to approach every situation with acceptance, support, and understanding, honoring the diverse backgrounds and life experiences each participant brings. Everything we do during the summer is rooted in ensuring that participants feel safe, comfortable, and ready to grow—while setting them up for success and guiding them toward responsibility and accountability. 

Many of our Madrichim and Rosh Kvutzot (bus leaders) are alumni of Reform Synagogues, NFTY, as well as our URJ Camps. All of our summer staff go through training with us in addition to already having leadership experience and a background working with youth.

Additionally, Yallah! Israel hires tour guides who are all licensed tour guides and educators with us in previous summers. Yallah! Israel guide-educators know how to bring alive the history of Israel and how to effectively communicate with North American teens. Many Yallah! Israel guide-educators are themselves products of the Reform Movement.

Summer Staff Overview

Staff-to-participant ratio is approximately 1:10. There are always at least 3 staff members with each bus.

  1. Bus Leader (Age 23+)
  2. Two or more Counselors (Age 20+)

All staff members participate in a thorough staff training orientation covering issues of education, health, safety, security, community building and adolescent issues.

Edah (Unit) Care Specialist – Each group travels on their own bus in an edah with up to 2 other groups. A Unit Care Specialist travels with the edah to oversee comprehensive MESSH needs – mental, emotional, social, and spiritual health – of all teens and staff. The Unit Care Specialist also serves as a key liaison between staff, participants, parents of participants, and the Community Care Supervisor as a professional in the field.  

Senior Leadership – Yallah! Israel staff are supervised by senior URJ Youth professional staff in Israel and North America.