Education
At Alexander Muss High School in Israel (Muss), students are not just participating in a transformative study abroad experience—they are shaping how that experience is seen, shared, and understood.
For generations, students have come to Muss through semester, mini-mester, and summer programs to explore their identity and connection to the land and people of Israel. Now, through a student-run Instagram account launched in January 2026, they are documenting life on campus in real time, offering an unfiltered, peer-to-peer window into a program defined by independence, leadership, and discovery.
Julia Marzouk, a 15-year-old sophomore and student from the Spring 2026 semester, is one of ten dedicated leaders behind the growing account and one of its most active contributors.
“A lot of people hear about Muss through Instagram,” she says. “But the official Muss account is geared toward parents—it’s not very student-oriented. I want to show potential students how much fun you’ll have and how many friends you’ll make.”
Run by students and for students, the account captures the real, day-to-day Muss experience, reflecting the voices, humor, and perspective of the teens living it. A scroll through the page reveals quick-cut videos of inside jokes, trends adapted to campus life, and candid snapshots of friendships forming in real time.
“I love creating content and sharing it with people,” Julia adds.
Since its launch, the page has gained traction quickly, accumulating nearly 500 followers and generating more than 150,000 views in a single month. One video—a compilation of funny moments from class—has drawn over 100,000 views at the time of this article’s publication.
One of the top-performing reels on the unofficial Muss Instagram page, featuring a compilation of funny moments from class
The page serves not only as a creative outlet, but also as a source of connection, something made even more meaningful during moments of uncertainty. During the war with Iran, posts captured glimpses of daily life—a birthday celebration, a Purim Havdalah ceremony held in a campus shelter—offering reassurance that even amid serious circumstances, Muss students felt safe, supported, and united.
Julia is part of a family deeply connected to Muss and Jewish National Fund-USA. Both her brother and mother are Muss alumni, and her mother now serves on the Muss Board of Directors. In many ways, the Instagram page represents an evolution of that legacy: a new generation honoring the same enduring values of connection, education, and identity while expressing them through the tools and language of today.
Looking ahead, Julia hopes the account will continue into future semesters, giving students a platform to share their own experiences and perspectives.
“I really hope it grows with each new group and helps promote Muss,” she says.
As Muss continues to inspire students across generations, students like Julia are not just participating—they are leading, creating, and redefining how the experience is shared. Each post adds another layer to the Muss story, told directly through the eyes of the students living it.
Follow the unofficial Muss Instagram page!
Learn more about Muss at amhsi.org, or refer a student at amhsi.org/refer
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