● Bar-Ilan University is hoping to attract British students to its gap year programme.
The Israel XP scheme was launched two years ago at the Ramat Gan-based university and has so far welcomed students mainly from North America.
The programme offers a mix of academic challenges — with participants spending their mornings in Jewish studies seminars and their afternoons taking general courses on the campus — as well as tours of Israel and an internship scheme offering places in the public and private sector.
But the university hopes the attraction of living in Israel will appeal to young Brits concerned about student fees and the struggle for university places.
Rabbi Tully Bryks, programme director, said: “Study at a prestigious Israeli university can be a great investment for the future. This is particularly true for students who were not accepted into their top choice university at the first attempt.”
Meir Balofsky, Israel XP director of informal education, is due to visit Britain on November 1 and 2 on a promotional speaking tour of London schools.www.israelxp.com
● FZY is offering Freshers a new year-long campus programme aimed at smoothing the transition from school to university life.
FreshZY is centred around four areas — friendship, leadership, internships and Israel tour — and will provide social events and seminars on campus, culminating with an eight-day Israel tour next summer.
Sasha Gold, FZY southern fieldworker, said: “We have gone out of our way to build this dynamic programme and made sure that it is affordable for first-year students.
“We wanted to offer the students things they want — career networking opportunities and work experience, a holiday to Israel and a chance to have an instant network of friends across different campuses and year groups.”
The subsidised programme costs £499. To apply email drom@fzy.org.uk.
● Newcastle JSoc held its annual succah crawl last week with more than 30 students being welcomed to the homes of local community members.
The event began at the home of John and Dorothy Sadlik, who provided pre-dinner drinks, falafel, pitta and salads, before the group moved to Victor and Helena Gallants’ succah for soup.
The lasagne main course was served at the home of Sam and Gillian Pearlman, with students concluding their crawl in Rabbi Aaron Lipsey’s succah with dessert and drinks.
JSoc President Tamma Carel said: “The Newcastle community is extremely welcoming to students, and we are very grateful for the hospitality shown once again on this year’s succah crawl.”
The JSoc also held a bagel lunch last Sunday.