HiBuR is an innovative and immersive year-long exchange program offered exclusively to 10th and 11th grade students in the Boston MetroWest area. Through HiBuR, students form meaningful, long-lasting connections with Israeli peers, strengthen their Jewish identity, and establish their own personal relationship with the land and people of Israel. The program centers around two 10-day exchange visits—hosting Israeli teens in Boston in October and traveling to Haifa in February—supported by a series of local prep seminars running from September through May.

Who Can Participate?
Applications for the 2027–2028 program will open in the spring of 2027 for teens who will be sophomores or juniors in the ’27–’28 school year, live in the MetroWest area, and self-identify as Jewish. While participants from outside MetroWest are welcome, please note that participating would require a greater driving commitment for local seminars.

Cultural Exchange
At HiBuR, we strive to provide a true cultural exchange experience that goes far beyond typical tourist programs or trips confined to an American “bubble.” Our students spend a week in Haifa staying with the Israeli students they hosted in the fall, fully integrating into their daily lives. They interact with host families, share meals, celebrate Shabbat together, and even attend a day of school with their hosts. Beyond this home-based experience, as our American cohort explores Israel, they are always accompanied by several Israeli students who offer their own local perspectives.
Spending a total of 20 days together—an extended and meaningful period—fosters deep, lasting relationships both locally and across borders. Many HiBuR participants return to Israel for a semester abroad or summer program, and participation in HiBuR does not affect future eligibility for Birthright. The program as a whole is conducted in English, and knowledge of Hebrew is not required. All Haifa students who participate in the program are very comfortable communicating in English, both verbally and in writing.

Program Itinerary Highlights

• Boston & NYC Exchange (Fall): The fall mifgash kicks off with a weekend excursion to New York City to explore Central Park, Liberty and Ellis Islands, the 9/11 Memorial, Times Square, and the historic Eldridge Street Museum. Back in Boston and MetroWest, teens take guided tours of the Massachusetts State House (meeting with local leaders), ride the Boston Duck Tour, visit Faneuil Hall, Walden Pond, and the Plimoth Patuxet Museum. Throughout the trip, teens participate in community service build events, attend school alongside their host partners, share family potlucks, and celebrate Simchat Torah and Shabbat together.
• Israel Exchange (Winter): In Israel, teens immerse themselves in Haifa and Northern Israel by attending classes at the Hugim School, viewing the Baha’i Gardens, exploring Akko’s Old City, Rosh Hanikra, Zippori, Mount Bental in the Golan Heights, and sharing a Druze village lunch. In Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, participants wander through Old Jaffa and the Flea Market, visit the Museum of Tolerance, reflect at the Western Wall and Yad Vashem, and explore the Museum of Music. The journey also takes them into the desert to ascend Masada, dine at Kibbutz Ein Gedi, and float in the Dead Sea.

 
The Partnership: A Pluralistic Approach
Teens who participate in HiBuR come from a wide range of Jewish backgrounds—Reform, Conservative, Traditional, Secular, and everything in between. Throughout the program, participants take part in services and activities in each other’s temples, homes, and communities, allowing them to remain committed to their own beliefs while exploring those of others around them. Food served during the program is kosher-style by default, though stricter adherence can be met if required, and students who keep kosher will be placed in kosher host homes. While the program itinerary includes travel on Shabbat, alternative non-travel options are provided upon request. The HiBuR program is offered through J-LOFT, which is operated collaboratively by a group of Reform, Conservative, and Independent congregations from the Boston MetroWest area, and supported by CJP’s Boston-Haifa Committee.

Safety and Security
Thanks to the Hugim School, our partners in Haifa, HiBuR is one of the safest ways for teens to travel to Israel. As guests of Hugim, we travel as a de-facto Israeli school group and receive the same high security measures provided to Israeli public schools, including our own security and medical detail, as well as daily check-ins with the Ministry of Defense situation room for updates and alerts. Additionally, our itinerary focuses strictly on well-vetted, secure regions of Israel. The HiBuR staff, together with our partners, continuously monitor conditions on the ground. Adjustments to the Israel itinerary will be made as needed, and if traveling to Israel is deemed unsafe, the exchange (mifgash) will be rescheduled to a later date.

Dietary Accommodations & Allergy Care
Throughout the years, HiBuR has successfully accommodated participants with mild to severe food allergies, sensitivities, and ideological dietary restrictions. Our staff is EpiPen trained, and both our staff and host families go above and beyond to care for each teen and ensure all dietary needs are fully met.