Summer 2027
The BlessNations Experience is a five-week experience where you discover the Bible right in the land where it all happened. Together with top speakers from around the world, we will dive deep into the Bible and the Judaism, expanding our intercultural understanding along the way. A key part of the Experience is practical service, where we serve Jewish people in Israel. We want to put what we have learned into practice and experience what it means to live out the Kingdom of God in a very practical way. After the Experience, you can optionally add on to three additional weeks of practical sevice in Israel. One week of practical service is already included in the five- week Experience. This means you can decide in advance whether you want to extend your time of service and if so for how long.
BlessNations Experience 2027
When
July 5 to August 8, 2027
→ 5-week Experience, including one week of practical service
August 9 to September 5, 2027
→ 1 to 3 additional weeks of practical service (optional)
Where
Throughout the nation of Israel.
Costs
Students Switzerland: approx. CHF 3250.00monthly
Students Europe: approx. € 3250.00 monthly
The training phase is based on six foundational values.
Historical studies
We learn about the history of Israel
Sightseeing
We explore the many adventurous sights of Israel.
Cultures
We dive into the Jewish and Israeli worlds.
Tracks
You choose your track: Hebrew or historical Israel
Community
We live, eat and celebrate together.
Servanthood
We serve the locals during the experience.
Five weeks
Training
During the first 5 weeks you will experience intensive training in Jerusalem with top speakers from all over the world. We focus on the studies of historical Israel and Judaism.
3 weeks
Practical service
For 1 – 3 weeks you will complete voluntary service with a team in Israel. We focus on war relief, helping and serving wherever help is needed. This gives you the opportunity to put into practise what you have learned during the frist 5 weeks. You are free to decide in advance how many weeks you want to participate in the assignment.
Tracks
Tracks take place two afternoons per week.
Hebrew
In the «Hebrew» track you will attend private group lessons twice a week. We are among ourselves and can thus benefit maximally.
Historical Israel
In this track you will learn more about the history of Israel. This will be geographically, archeologically and politically.
We recommend that you attend the Hebrew track if possible. Being able to connect with people in their own language opens doors that otherwise would stay closed. Being able to introduce yourself to locals in their language is such a great and beneficial experience for all. The language courses are voluntary and therefore involve separate costs. The guideline price is CHF 440.00 for Hebrew. This price is not yet final and may still be subject to change.
Weekly schedule
Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday
Mornings: ClassesAfternoons: Tracks, or free time
Saturday
Day off
Sunday
field trips in IsraelSightseeing
Our previous speakers
The list of speakers for the summer of 2027 is continuously updated.
Guido Baltes
As a lecturer in Judaism at the Philipp University of Marburg, Germany, Dr. Guido Baltes brings his experience of having lived in Israel for over six years to his teaching.
Jannick Baumann
Jannick Baumann shows a profound love for Israel and works internationally teaching about Israel.
Adi Furrer
Adi Furrer has been traveling throughout the Middle East for many years, with a special focus on Israel. He spends several months each year in Israel.
Geru Furrer
Geru Furrer is focused on supporting the youth and facilitates trips for young people to visit Israel.
Where we are staying
The felm center (finnish evangelical lutheran mission center) is located between the Arab and the ultra-orthodox Jewish quarter and only a few minutes walk from the old town. At this prime location we are in the middle of the melting pot of cultures and at the pulse of the city.
Salesian Monastery
The Salesian Monastery is located next to the felm and also serves as one of our accommodations.
More Info
All the little details
The requirement for the experience is a completed apprenticeship, a high school diploma or an education similar to a high school diploma. We are open to all ages. Whether single or married or family – we have enough space for everyone who wants to join us in this unique experience. We expect the majority of participants to be between 18 and 39 years old.
Married couples are welcome. The first person pays 100% of the costs, the second person receives a 10% discount. As a couple, you are entitled to a double room.
Around two months before the start of the Experience, there will be a joint meeting in Thun for all registered students. There we will be able to discuss more detailed information and get to know each other. Once you have registered, you will receive an invitation to this meeting from us.
- The school fee includes: food, accommodation in multi-bed rooms, mandatory field trips in connection with the experience, school material, speakers, all tracks except language lessons.
- Married couples receive a discount: 10% for the second person.
- The school fee does not include: travel to and from the school and any visa costs (more info in “how do I get to Israel”), surcharge for single rooms, language lessons (private teacher), local transportation costs (e.g. to and from language classes, Krav Maga etc), optional offers and their costs (e.g. museums etc), insurance (health insurance, cancellation insurance), personal expenses.
- We recommend budgeting USD 300.00 per month for personal expenses.
- The school fee must be paid one month before the start of school. We will send you an invoice.
You book your flight to Israel yourself. If you need help – our travel partner Mideast Tours Ltd will be happy to help.
To travel to Israel, citizens of Switzerland, Germany and Austria require a passport that is valid for 6 months after your return journey. Citizens of other countries should check with their embassy. As a tourist you can stay in Israel for 90 days. From July 2024, stricter entry requirements will apply for Israel. All travelers must have an ETA-IL permit before starting their journey. You can find all further information, including how to apply, here.
We will assign the rooms around one month before the start of the training and inform you accordingly. Two to four people are accommodated per room. Married couples are entitled to a double room.
The rooms are available from the beginning of the programm and are already furnished. For logistical reasons, it is not possible to move in before the start of the training.
- The program will take place as has been defined.
- The final timetable including all speakers will also be published just before the beginning of the program.
- The lessons are either in German or English (alternating).
- Participation in the experience is mandatory and requires that you be present at all times. Absences are only allowed in justified individual cases (e.g. final exams). We therefore advise you not to receive any or only a few visitors. Free time is always on Saturday and/or. There are no holidays are planned.
We will put the teams together during the first few weeks of the experience. We organize the various possible practical services as a team. You are part of the process and get an insight into the organizations we partner with.
After successfully completing the experience, you will receive a certificate for intercultural work.
Impressions
Class of 2022
