<p><a href="http://www.masaisrael.org.il/masa/english/%5B/url%5D">http://www.masaisrael.org.il/masa/english/</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.kibbutzulpan.org/files/Scholarshipapplication_English.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.kibbutzulpan.org/files/Scholarshipapplication_English.pdf</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.jafi.org/JewishAgency/English/delegations/Israel+Program+Center/Our+programs/Ulpan+Kibbutz.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.jafi.org/JewishAgency/English/delegations/Israel+Program+Center/Our+programs/Ulpan+Kibbutz.htm</a></p>
<p>also, google up the words "Birthright Taglit Tour" to see if eligible, and if so, understand that you don't have to come home after those l0 days but can stay on for other programs such as the Kibbutz/Ulpan. Piggyback, in other words. (oops, no pigs)</p>
<p>Most Israelis, on kibbutz and off, the VAST majority, are not ultra-orthodox. </p>
<p>In Israel, remember, if somebody wears a kipa (yarlmuke, scullcap) that doesn't mean "religious" as it does here. It's a national identity. Re: "religious" (I'd say "observant" instead, or Shomer Shabbat) but: most kibbutzim are NOT religious as you envision, in fact most kibbutz residents, as well as 5-month volunteers, are notoriously "secular." It will say right on the list of kibbutzim, by name: if religious, it'll say so; if not, it'll be silent on that item. If religious, they often have wording like this: you are personally not required to keep strict observance but to respect the norms of the kibbutz community." </p>
<p>The program participants might be religious or not, but those that arre religious go towards the religious kibbutzim. Some are just adventurers from all over the world. And some are not Jewish! Since you asked, I'm guessing you'd feel a better fit with those that do not say "religious." </p>
<p>For a volunteer experience without the Ulpan but fascinating, with a bird sanctuary and cutting-edge environmental desert ecology research, gooogle up the Reform "green" kibbutz, "Kibbutz Lotan" in the southern part of the country. They're in the more liberal branch so they're deeply Jewish but with progressive global values. You see why I don't want to give away the word "religious" to the orthodox; the Reform Kibbutz is a very spiritual place, but not orthodox :) </p>
<p>There are other kibbutzim where they are l00 % work and no ulpan (language) and they might even be free, I don't know, but we wanted the language piece, so will pay the $2800 for the 5-months. Language there is half the time, the other half is work. Some organize it by half days, others alternate M-W-F, Su-T-Th. In Israel, of course, the workweek pulls to a close around l p.m. Friday in preparation for sabbath, but then Sunday morning begins a full working day. </p>
<pre><code> SOme kibbutzim have 3 and 4 generations living there and they are the mainstay, set the tone for the whole place. The 5-month program people come and go in that time-frame so they are the "guests" of the kibbutz, expected to behave well as guests would. Some integrate well between the hosts and the school, others keep a bit of distnace, since it's hard to keep bonding with new people every 5 months. If they mention "kibbutz host families" or "host Shabbat dinners" that indicates closer relationships, of course. The ulpan training is unparallelled around the world.
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<p>Other forms of volunteerism can be found by googling up Magen David Adom (Israel's Red Star of David, recently admitted at long last into the International Red Cross) where people from ages 8-65 can sign up for l0 week stints as volunteers on the back of ambulances, which train for simple assistance (not to the level of paramedic) to the ambulance drivers, who speak English, French, etc. and they declare the second language for their ambulance so can call out orders in English. A person can re-enlist after l0 weeks, as long as they are enjoying the learning gained. There's also volunteerism there for helping at the fire stations.
I've heard about an effort to rebuild, paint, etc. the many apartments in Northern Israel bombed last summer by the Katyusha rockets. If you want that link, PM me and I'll find it for you.
I don't want to scare you, either. I've gotten used to these ideas over time. It's just a bit different than the usual teen tour, not that there's ANYTHING wrong with that, either.
Finally, Google up: "Young Judea" run by Hadassah for post-h.s. students. It goes in thirds: one-third study, one-third service (e.g. MagenDavid Adom), one-third travel in 3 month chunks. THey start each year in Sept or thereabouts.
Finally finally, google up "Dorot" which has a program for post-college graduates, a gap year between college and career. That one's competitive, though, for a grant that's due around Jan. of each year.
The others have more frequent entry-dates (kibbutz ulpanim start all through the year; magen david adom several times yearly).
You're welcome.</p>