Are you ready for an intense 9 months which will impact the rest of your life? This full school-year program is the cornerstone of our Institute. Baptists for Israel Institute offers student interns the unique opportunity to live in Israel on a kibbutz where they will work as volunteers and study for a year of their higher education. You will have the option of doing undergraduate work or earning a Master of Arts degree in Israel Studies.
Click here for undergraduate requirements.
Click here for Master of Arts in Israel Studies requirements.
Courses
Students won't need to interrupt their college studies. Students will be able to earn up to 32 hours of college credit (depending on their program of study). Classes offered will include Modern Hebrew, Sharing in Israel's Culture, Cross-cultural Communication, Ancient Jewish History, Modern History of Israel, Archaeology, and Geography of Israel.
Click here for a detailed description of each course.
As part of their studies, student-interns will have 42 days of travel throughout the country of Israel. Studying the Bible on location is a major thrust of the academic offerings of BII.
Volunteering
Another important aspect of BII is service. For many years, the country of Israel has been host to thousands of thousands of volunteers who came looking for adventure and wanting to help
the people of Israel. Though the volunteer movement has decreased drastically, student-interns with BII still have the opportunity to not simply enjoy Israel but to tangibly support Israel.
Interns will work alongside Israelis on an agricultural, communal settlement called a kibbutz. Whether in the banana fields, the chicken houses, the medical supplies factory, or groundskeeping, interns will give their time and energy to help "our" kibbutz prosper. In turn, students are rewarded by becoming part of the community and developing close friendships with our Israeli hosts.
The Team
Our third focus (and possibly the most vital) is that of TEAMWORK. You will be joining your team at orientation before you leave the States. For three weeks, you will begin learning the basics of Hebrew grammar, studying Cross-Cultural Communications and hearing various hints and helps from the staff.
After orientation, you and your team will fly together to the land of Israel. Here in Israel, you will live, work, travel and serve with your teammates day in and day out! At various times throughout the week, you will be attending Bible Study, worship services, and prayer meeting with your team members. Your classes are 5 evenings a week, and don't forget your 42 days of field trips with your team members.
Friendships
There are times you will be doing things on your own, such as visiting your friends on the kibbutz; through the year, you will meet many awesome and fun people on the kibbutz. Your opportunities to visit will be limited only by your own reservation and desire to make relationships. The kibbutz people are hospitable and open; there will be many opportunities to meet people and get to know those in the community. As you become more at home in Israel, you will understand more and more about the way of life on the kibbutz and become comfortable interacting in the culture around you.
Of any place in the world, the natural place to study the Bible is Israel! Why not consider joining BII for a semester this coming school year? If you are ready for the commitment, join us for the opportunity of a lifetime!
Click here for dates and cost.
NOTICE: This program is not available for the 2011-12 school year. Click
here for more information regarding next school year.
