The Magic of Muss: A Parent’s Perspective on the Gift of a Semester in Israel

Written by Gabrielle Hazan, Parent of Spring 2026 Muss Alumnus

When I look back on my son’s semester at Jewish National Fund-USA's Muss High School Israel (Muss), I realize what a gift the experience was—not just academically, but personally. I sent my son to Israel for the spring semester of his junior year, Spring 2026. I encouraged him to go without a friend, and although he did know some kids, I think it made him much more resilient going alone. He arrived not knowing exactly what the experience would hold, and he left with friendships I truly believe will last a lifetime. More importantly, he came home with a deeper connection to Israel and a level of independence and maturity that is difficult to develop in a traditional classroom.

There is something particularly magical about giving a teenager the opportunity to become more independent while they are still living at home. Muss allows students to practice being more grown-up—making decisions, navigating relationships, living with others in a group setting, managing their days, solving problems, and learning to take responsibility for themselves—while still having the structure and support of a school community. That is very different from sending your teen on a "teen tour". Muss gives them the opportunity to develop those skills at a formative age, when they can bring that growth back home and continue building on it.

Adam and Muss students participating in Jewish National Fund-USA's "Be Inscribed" program at the Nova Festival memorial. Photo courtesy of Gabrielle Hazan.

There is another kind of education that happens when you live alongside a group of your peers. Students learn how to create healthy boundaries, navigate differences, resolve conflicts, and relate to one another in ways that simply don't happen when you go to school and return home every afternoon. They learn how to be part of a community and how to build a community. They discover who they are when their parents aren't right there to step in—and they learn that independence doesn't mean doing everything alone; it means learning how to rely on yourself and on the community around you.

Muss students celebrating the last Shabbat together. Photo courtesy of Gabrielle Hazan.

The semester my son attended was also a time of tremendous uncertainty as a student and as a parent. The Iran war broke out. I will always be grateful for the way Muss cared for and protected its students. The communication was stellar. Even during the war, the program remained committed to keeping the students together and supporting them through an extraordinarily difficult period. I am proud to say that no student from our semester left the program. To me, that speaks volumes about the strength of the community, the trust the students had in the faculty and administration, and the commitment of the people who make Muss what it is.

The teachers, faculty, and administrators have a remarkable ability to welcome an entirely new group of teenagers every semester; this is no small task. They understand that these are young people stepping outside their comfort zones, often for the first time, and they meet them with warmth and love.

For any parent considering Muss, I would say this: give your child the opportunity to experience Israel for themselves; not on a family vacation but as a high school student living in Israel like an Israeli. Let them build friendships, become more independent, learn to live in a community, and develop their own relationship with the land and the people of Israel. It is truly a gift you will give to your child.

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About Muss High School Israel

Since 1972, Muss High School Israel (Muss) has been the premier study abroad program for North American teens dedicated to rigorous academics, college prep, and lifelong Zionist engagement. Through its fully accredited curriculum, experiential Israel education, leadership development, and immersive cultural experiences, Muss helps students grow into confident, resilient, and independent young leaders. Full semesters, two-month mini-mesters, and summer sessions are built on the philosophy that witnessing Israel firsthand and experiencing its history are vital to both the enduring story of the Jewish people and continued Zionist philanthropic engagement, as evidenced by its past success with over 35,000 alumni. Muss offers generous financial aid through regional grants and Jewish National Fund-USA's $25 million Dream Israel: Teen Travel Initiative, empowering students to choose the program that fits their interests and schedules. Learn more at muss.org.