Hundreds of gap-year students gather in Jerusalem to explore futures in Israel

(JNS)-Here Next Year, in partnership with Nefesh B'Nefesh, hosted its fifth annual Israel Fair on Saturday night in the center of Jerusalem.

The fair is designed to help young potential new immigrants (olim) who are currently in their gap year learn about their options for service in the Israel Defense Forces, Israel National Service (Sherut Leumi), ulpan and higher education in Israel.

"We were so pleased to welcome nearly 500 people who attended this event and to have helped these students explore their futures in Israel," said Yael Engelhart, director of Here Next Year. "With advisers from across the country, and specialty food vendors like Crave, Urbun and Muffin Boutique, these students both enjoyed themselves and learned a lot about the options open to them if they choose to stay in Israel."

The goal of the fair is to give these students an opportunity to best learn about their options in order to choose different career paths in Israel.

At the Dec. 23 fair were organizational representatives, as well as those from universities and colleges from throughout Israel. There were also recent olim in attendance to share their own personal experiences and act as peer resources for the gap year students.

"It is an incredibly special night at the Here Next Year Israel Fair," said Marc Rosenberg, director of Pre-Aliyah at Nefesh B'Nefesh. "To be with nearly 500 young people, together exploring future options in Israel, is just an amazing sight to behold. We are proud to partner with Here Next Year on this event, and see more and more young people interested in aliyah."