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| Fanny and I |
Three years ago, when I arrived in Budapest to join husband during his medical studies here, I had no idea that this period of my life would prove to be such a meaningful and rich experience.
As Coordinator of the Jewish Agency’s Education Department activities in Hungary, I work with youth movements and student organizations, Jewish schools and Hebrew 'Ulpanim'; my main role is that of marketing and operating the MASA program in Hungary. Young people and students interested in MASA come to my office. Together, from a selection of 140 programs, we choose the one that suits them, contact the appropriate institution and submit a scholarship request. Each candidate becomes a personal project.
There are several types of MASA candidates from Hungary: high school graduates who have not yet decided on an academic course of study, students with a bachelor’s degree who want to take a break for a year or a semester before continuing their studies, and master's degree recipients who have completed their studies and want to broaden their knowledge in their field of expertise. All of them feel that a period of study in Israel will enrich them and be an asset on their CVs. On the other hand, many no less attractive study opportunities are open to them, free of charge, at various European universities.
Thus, marketing MASA in Hungary has to be creative and suited to the young population. Many of them feel that a semester or year in Israel would delay their academic progress and cause them to fall behind fellow students in their age group. One of the challenges of marketing MASA is that of changing these young people's way of thinking, and helping them realize that a period of study in Israel can be exceedingly worthwhile for them both personally and academically.
Marketing activities are adapted to the various MASA candidate subgroups: project presentations are conducted at local Jewish schools, and aimed at the youth movements and student organizations; MASA is marketed to Birthright Israel graduates; and at the end of the exam period a big student party is organized, complete with a DJ, Israeli food and, of course, a MASA information booth. 300 young people participated in the last such party, and 240 of them expressed an interest in MASA!
My encounter with Fanny Feher
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| Fanny Feher |
A year ago, after we held an information evening about MASA for candidates and their parents, I was visited in my office by Fanny Feher, whose parents had taken part in the meeting; Fanny asked for information about studying in Israel. After looking through the catalog she chose an academic semester program at Haifa University. Fanny submitted a request for a MASA scholarship, which was rejected at first but, after an appeal, was approved.
Fanny relates that on arriving at the university she received the warmest possible welcome. The staff of the university office charged with handling students from abroad were dedicated and accommodating and saw to it that all her needs were taken care of, above and beyond her expectations. Fanny noted the high level of the Hebrew classes that she took, and that she also greatly enjoyed the academic courses that she had enrolled in.
On returning to Hungary she returned to her studies at the local university, where she will be completing her Master's degree this year in international relations. She will be the first student to write a thesis on Israeli-Hungarian relations.
Fanny talks about the time she spent in Israel with great enthusiasm. She has asked to be involved in all of this year’s MASA marketing activities so that she can give a personal perspective on her experience with the program. She wants to continue her studies in Israel and recently opened an aliya file! Fanny exemplifies the type of young Hungarian Jew who goes to Israel for a semester and returns later on – someone for whom Israel becomes an inseparable part of their life and plans for the future.
I have seen how MASA can make a significant difference in the lives of young Jews in Hungary. Many young people are expressing an interest in Israel and a desire to become actively involved as leaders of the Jewish community. MASA can give them the tools they need.