On June 13, 2025, Israel initiated a preemptive strike on Iran. Over the following two weeks, the country experienced missile attacks, sirens, and uncertainty. Yet as Israelis were making their homes in shelters all over the country, a remarkable event occurred: thousands of young Jews from around the world, participating in Masa Israel Journey in Israel, chose to stay rather than flee, and many found new ways to contribute.
Masa, a collaboration between the Israeli government and The Jewish Agency, brings approximately 10,000 young Jewish adults to Israel annually. Participants aged 18 to 35 come from over 60 countries to study, intern, and volunteer. During wartime, Masa does not shut down; instead, it adapts, launching new programs, lifting age limits, and expanding support systems, leading to stories of deep personal commitment.
Consider Sharon, a 40-year-old psychiatric nurse from Austin, Texas. Originally from Israel, she felt powerless watching her homeland face war repeatedly. "I knew I had to be here," she said. When Israel's Ministry of Health didn’t respond to her offer to volunteer, she sought out Masa. The age limit for volunteers was raised to 50, and she was accepted.
"I arrived at Ben Gurion the night before the war started, just hours prior," she recalled. "I'm relieved I made it into the country instead of worrying from afar about my family. Being here with them, running to the bomb shelter together, felt right."
Sharon joined the Magen David Adom (MDA) ambulance volunteer team, working alongside Israeli medics and drivers. "Typically, two of us Masa volunteers are on each ambulance. We respond to emergencies, treat patients, and transport them to hospitals. Visiting people in their homes during their difficult times is profoundly meaningful."
Another volunteer, Seya Chaulkar, 21, traveled from a small Jewish community near Mumbai to Israel. This was her fourth visit, but her first experience with a siren. Her initial program ended because of the war. She had the option to leave, but chose not to; instead, she found Masa. "Working in an ambulance offers a different perspective," Seya shared. "It allows me to see Israel from the inside, beyond the tourist view."
Like Sharon, Seya joined the MDA volunteer program. She found herself in a Tel Aviv apartment with other Jewish participants from around the world. "I was like, I'm from India. Someone else was from Australia. Another was from Canada, another from the US. I was like, wow, we all use different currencies! But here we all are the same. We are Jewish. We are one."
Despite waking up to sirens and rushing to shelters, Seya never considered leaving. "If I support Israel in good times, I also need to be with Israel during tough times," she said. Her family and friends in India were worried, and the Indian government had even organized a rescue flight. She refused to board. "I’m safe. I’m with my people. I’m happy."
Both Sharon and Seya said that the support they received from Masa was crucial in helping them stay focused and calm. Sharon mentioned that Masa provided guidance and mental health support, even if she didn’t end up using it. Seya, who joined the program after the peak of the attacks, said Masa helped her with everything she needed to relocate and join the group.
The war disrupted logistics across Israel. Some participants couldn’t start their programs on time due to staff shortages or a lack of access to bomb shelters. Sharon remembered, "We couldn’t start our Mada course right away. So instead, we cooked schnitzel sandwiches for soldiers. It was my mother’s idea. We didn’t have proper kitchens, so we used portable stoves and ran schnitzels down as they were ready. We also wrote notes of encouragement and love to the soldiers."
Life during wartime also brought unexpected moments of joy. "In the bomb shelters, people brought speakers and played music at full volume. Everyone was dancing and having a good time," Seya laughed. "It’s so contradicting. Bombs outside, dancing inside. But people are united."
Masa didn’t just protect participants during the war. It continued its educational and cultural activities, shifting some programs online and organizing safe travel to Eilat and the Dead Sea. There were also emotionally powerful field trips. Seya joined a tour of the Gaza Envelope area. "It was my third time there, but through Masa, I got to know more stories, meet more people, and visit new places. It showed how strong Israel really is."
Not all Masa stories involve war zones and ambulance sirens. But those who chose to stay during Operation Am KeLavi demonstrated a powerful kind of solidarity. "There’s nowhere else I’d rather be," Sharon said. "I just wish I could have gotten my nursing license approved, to contribute in a more meaningful way."
As the fighting slowed and a ceasefire began, some who had left returned to finish their programs. Others, like Sharon, had to go home eventually. Still, they carried Israel with them.
"This country is so beautiful," Seya said. "I want to make aliyah. I want to join the IDF. There is no other country like Israel." Meir Holtz, CEO of Masa, eloquently summarized it: "Seya and Sharon embody a new generation of young Jews who choose to support Israel, even during its toughest times. Their resilience gives us hope, shaping the future of the Jewish community."
And for those who were in Israel that summer, through the sirens, the schnitzels, and the shared courage in the shelters, it was more than just a program. It was family.
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This article was written in collaboration with Masa Israel Journey.