Ma’ayanot seniors attended a panel discussion presented by four of the school’s alumnae entitled, “Sherut Leumi, Aliyah, Israeli Universities…Should More Americans be Considering These Options?” The alumnae—Shifra Arnheim (Class of 2012), and Esti Baum, Adina Cohen, and Shira Sohn (all Class of 2014)—discussed their experiences, including why they felt a need to spend a year (or years) volunteering for the State of Israel, attending college in Israel, and the challenges and rewards of making Aliyah at a young age.

Shifra Arnheim, who will be starting her third and final year of college at Ariel University with a degree in social work, completed two years of Sherut Leumi, volunteering with children with special needs in Efrat. “I decided to make Aliyah after realizing there was nowhere else I’d rather be than in Israel with ‘my people,’” she told the students. “Along the way, I’ve gathered lots of experiences and incredible adventures that never end.”

Esti Baum studied at Midreshet Harova for a year and a half. She returned to the U.S. to study at Stern College for a semester but she quickly decided to transfer to IDC Herzaliya to study Communications. “In the media, Israel looks dangerous,” Esti told the students. “But that’s what drew me closer. I saw everyone joining together [after last year’s terrorist attacks] and I needed to be a part of it.” She plans to live among other American students in Givat Shmuel, which she called the “Washington Heights of Israel.”