gap year in israel
Mada
SPRING SEMESTER IN JERUSALEM & TEL AVIV | 2 MONTHS

MADA

Love action? Passionate about medicine? Excited by the opportunity to save lives? Take a crash course in emergency medical care and become a certified first responder through MADA.

It’s a beautiful day to save lives

Become a certified first responder for MADA (Magen David Adom), the national ambulance service providing emergency medical care in Israel.
Participants will participate in an intensive ten-day, 60 hour training program culminating with both written and practical skills exams. The course will provide students with a wide range of first-aid skills ranging from bandaging wounds to CPR to mass casualty incidents.
Following successful completion of the course, participants will volunteer on ambulances alongside Israeli EMTs and paramedics. Volunteering for eight hours per shift and a minimum of four shifts a week, students will be assigned to morning and night shifts. Upon completion of a five week volunteer period, an option is available to extend the volunteering period for additional time based on the needs of the MADA station and the success of the participant.
A minimum level of Hebrew is required as well as mastery of a specific vocabulary list necessary for volunteering on the ambulance. In addition, physical and emotional fitness must be demonstrated. Certain vaccinations may also be required (including MMR and Hepatitis B.) Participants must be at least 18 years old at the start of the Mada course.
Final acceptance is determined solely by the MADA Overseas program.
*Due to the irregular Mada volunteer schedule, with some shifts from 11:00 pm to 7:00 am and other shifts from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm, academic courses for credit are not offered to those choosing this add-on track and participants should expect to miss some program activities.

More Special Interest Tracks

Gap year in israel - aardvarkisrael

Entrepreneurship

Spring semester — TLV — 5 months
Curious about what makes the start-up nation tick? Excited to learn – first hand – how entrepreneurs take ideas and turn them into companies? Want an insiders look at successful global companies like Intel, Mobileye, and others?
Gap year in israel - aardvarkisrael

Extreme

Spring semester — JLM — 5 months
(Relevant for 2023-2024 only)
Adrenaline junkie? Love pushing your limits? Looking for a thrilling way to explore Israel and yourself? Extreme could be the leadership and personal development program for you!
Mada

MADA

SPRING SEMESTER – TLV & JLM – 2 MONTHS
Love action? Passionate about medicine? Excited by the opportunity to save lives? Take a crash course in emergency medical care and become a certified first responder through MADA.
Gap year in israel - aardvarkisrael

Marva

Fall semester — 8 Weeks
If you’ve ever wondered… How would it feel to wear the uniform of the Israel Defense Forces? What do Israelis go through when they enlist? Could I really do it? Then Marva might be for you.
Gap year in israel - aardvarkisrael

Sea Sports

FALL SEMESTER — TLV — 5 MONTHS
Surf. Sun. Sports. Say No More. Love to be active? Crazy about the beach? Join the bustling beach athletics culture in Israel and get your blood pumping with the Sea Sports Track.
Gap year in israel - aardvarkisrael

Selah

FALL & SPRING – JLM & TLV
You’re an adult. That means that your relationship with Judaism, your future as a member of the Jewish people, and the legacy you want to pass on is now defined by you and only you.