10 Days is Not Enough
As a major organizer of Taglit-Birthright Israel trips to Israel and with decades of experience in bringing young adults to Israel, Sachlav – the organization behind Real Life Israel – has witnessed first hand the impact of short trips to Israel on thousands of individuals from across the globe.

Despite their individual diversity, nearly all participants express the identical sentiment towards the end of a whirlwind tour of the Jewish State, namely:

 "I wish I could experience what life is really like in Israel."

We view this as a natural outcome of those who are moved by any of the many incredible facets of Israel whether it be the history, people, land, diversity, religion, food, culture, language, archaeology, seas, cities, farms or natural wonders—all of which make Israel unique, intriguing and exciting.

As an organization committed to strengthening the connections between Jewish People and Israel, we felt compelled to provide a framework that would answer this need in the most true-to-life manner possible—and the result is Real Life Israel.
 
Real Life Israel is Unique
We strive to live up to the name "real life" by providing participants a well-rounded framework that addresses the establishment of a successful professional life as well as a fulfilling personal life. By doing so, each participant can envision living in their own lifestyle in Israel -- and actually live it for the duration of the program, if not longer.

This is achieved first and foremost by building a community among the program participants which will serve as a basis for a fantastic 5 months. In addition, our team -- program director, madrich as well as others from the RLI and Sachlav staffs -- will work closely with each participant to learn about his/her personal and professional aspirations for their time in Israel.  This information will help us craft a practical plan to help each individual achieve his/her goals. 

Real Life Israel vs. Other Programs
We are, of course, aware that many other worthy Israel programs for college graduates exist—some of which bring hundreds upon hundreds of participants each year.

However, such programs—in addition to possbily lacking our special personal touch—are usually unbalanced in their orientation, placing too much emphasis on volunteer work or interning. As such, they may not provide the well rounded, "real life" experience that our program provides and our participants seek.  For example, those on a volunteer program often live in distressed communities in which there is need for outside support for even the most basic services. Although making a useful contribution, participants have difficulty envisioning their own life in Israel precisely because they live and work in areas in which they themselves would likely never settle.

Conversely, internship or career-focused programs are often filled with people looking to get ahead professionally "back home" by interning "abroad." Yet one of the major reasons people enjoy living in Israel so much is that commitment to work—albeit important—does not override life's other pleasures, such as hanging out with friends, being with family or enjoying special occasions and all that Israel has to offer. And while there is no doubt that Real Life Israel is of great personal and professional benefit to participants wherever they may end up living, we certainly do not share the opinion that one's time in Israel should be viewed solely as a personal "stepping stone" towards a corporate future elsewhere.

Israel presents so many alternatives that only a properly balanced program, such as Real Life Israel, will allow participants to take full advantage of the time spent in Israel.  

Join us. Apply today.