Israel Education and Action Committee

Mission Statement

Temple Sinai recognizes our responsibility as a synagogue community to the State of Israel, as a Jewish and democratic state, within the broader context of our responsibility to k’lal Yisrael, Jews world-wide.  We bear that responsibility to the State of Israel through action, words and learning.  The Israel Education & Action Committee is charged with carrying out our congregational responsibilities to the State of Israel.

You can also read about the “Passport to Israel” program below.

Core Mission

The Israel Education and Action Committee will:

  • provide opportunities for Temple Sinai members to take action regarding the State of Israel and her welfare;
  • provide opportunities for Temple Sinai members to advocate in the Boston community on issues of concern regarding the State of Israel;
  • oversee and facilitate learning opportunities that broaden our understanding of the State of Israel’s history, politics, and culture;
  • work to support the institutions and synagogues of Progressive Judaism in Israel;
  • convene the congregation, with the rabbi, in times of crisis, celebration and commemoration regarding the State of Israel;
  • promote opportunities for travel to the State of Israel; and,
  • work to ensure tolerance and respect for the multiplicity of opinions within our congregation regarding the State of Israel.

Read about Temple Sinai’s congregational trip to Israel that took place in December 2009.

Guiding Principles

We recognize that within our congregation there exists a wide variety of opinions and experiences regarding the State of Israel.  (We acknowledge, for example, that it is possible to support the mission and purpose of the State of Israel without supporting the policies of any particular government of the State of Israel.)  We are dedicated to creating a “safe” and respectful atmosphere for Temple Sinai members to pursue advocacy on behalf of Israel, even while we recognize the possibility for divergent views and disagreements.  

In our learning opportunities about Israel, we will strive to present reasonably objective perspectives when possible, and/or identify a bias or otherwise provide balance.  

Israel Education & Action Committee

Chair:  Ken Freedman 

PASSPORT TO ISRAEL

 The Passport to Israel program is a unique matching funds savings plan to help parents send their children on a life-changing teen Israel experience. Passport is designed so that the community, Temple Sinai and CJP, helps families make a trip to Israel during the high school years a reality.
 
Give your child the passport he or she needs to become a proud part of our Jewish future. Enroll now in the Myra and Robert Kraft Passport to Israel Program and join us in planning for your child’s future.  

Enrollment is open to families of children in third or seventh grade.

The Passport funds can be applied to a variety  of programs. Below is a list of  a few that may appeal to Temple Sinai students.

Summer Programs

Alexander Muss Institute for Israel Education
The Alexander Muss High School in Israel is a summer program, approximately seven-weeks long, geared to academically oriented students looking for a more intensive experience. For more information, visit www.amiie.com .
 
Nesiya (Kehillah Experience)
A program combining outdoor adventure, workshops in the visual, performing and literary arts, community service projects, cultural activities and creative Jewish study in Israel with Israelis. For more information, visit www.nesiya.org or call 212-951-7128.

Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) — Israel Trail Teen Adventure
A month-long program with small same-sex groups that focuses on outdoor skills and leadership while backpacking through Israel. For more information, visit www.derechhateva.org   or call 212-537-6280.
 
Travel4Teens (ORANIM)
Teens choose from Israel-only programs and Israel programs with European extensions. For more information, visit www.travel4teens.com or call 1-888-281-1265.

Bronfman Youth Fellowship in Israel
Every year, twenty-six outstanding North American teenagers are selected for The Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel. The Fellows come from all over the United States and Canada, from the widest possible range of Jewish backgrounds, and are selected based on merit, and not financial need. In their five weeks together, the Fellows encounter the land and people of Israel, study Judaism and major issues in contemporary Jewish life, and learn about themselves and each other. The summer is the beginning of a long-term association for the Fellows, which continues through our extraordinarily active alumni network. High School Juniors from the United States and Canada who will be sixteen by the time the fellowship begins (June 1st) are eligible for the Fellowship. Fellowships cover round-trip transportation between New York and Israel, educational programming, and room, board and travel while in Israel. Room and board at orientation and the fall Follow-Up Seminar in New York City are also included.  For more information, visit http://www.bronfman.org .

Havaya
The Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Boston offers Jewish teenagers from the Greater Boston area an opportunity to participate in an outstanding educational experience. Havayah has been acclaimed as a program that both impacts and strengthens participants’ Jewish identity, providing them a rare opportunity to discover common links with Jewish communities in Israel and Ukraine while developing important leadership skills.  For more information, visit http://www.bje.org/?teens.havayah .

Young@Science , the International Summer Science Institute: A month-long program at the Weizmann Institute to study and explore problems in all of the sciences, including laboratory and field work in addition to touring Israel. Seventy-five students from Europe, Asia, America and Israel participate. For more information, contact the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science at 212-895-7906 or visit www.weizmann.ac.il .

Scitech: Housed at the Technion in Haifa, Scitech is an international science and technology live-in research camp.  For more information, visit www.technion.ac.il/~scitech/ or contact 516-466-9500.

Youth Movement Trips
 
Involvement in youth movements is not a prerequisite to participate in their Israel trips. Many groups offer “national” buses with kids from around the country, creating a fresh social environment for everyone and some offer “regional” buses for students who already know each other through their affiliation with the group.
 
NFTY (Reform)
The NFTY Adventure program is a unique and challenging four-and-a-half week summer experience created especially for teens who seek a meaningful and exciting journey to Israel filled with amazing memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.
NFTY L’Dor V’Dor Exodus program includes one week in Prague and Poland and four weeks in Israel.  With the Czech Republic and Poland as an introduction, teens arrive in Israel with an intimate understanding of the importance of Eretz Yisrael – the Land of Israel — in our time, ready to enjoy four wonderful weeks discovering a personal connection to our people and our history.
For more information, visit www.nftyisrael.org/summer/ or call 212-452-6517.
 
Young Judaea
For over 50 years, Young Judaea has been offering summer programs in Israel for teens in grades 9-12.  Giving teens the opportunity to experience Israel with their peers and explore their Jewish identity is our specialty.  Start your journey in Spain, Italy or Morocco, or fly straight to Israel.  Sign up for Israel MD, our new medical track or learn Hebrew on our Ulpan program.  We have a new volunteer and social action program called Tikun Olam.  Volunteer for various causes including conserving the environment, marking trails for nature education, assisting children with disabilities, volunteering among recent immigrants, and more.  Earn college credits and community service hours on all of our programs.  For more information, visit:  www.youngjudaea.org or call 1-800-725-0612.  On the trip, you saw only the Young Judaea program for kids who grew up in the Young Judaea movement.  Most kids who choose a Young Judaea trip are not part of the movement, so it is a bit more open for kids who are part of any previous Jewish involvement.
 
Camp in Israel
 
A new trend is developing where Jewish teens can attend a Jewish/Israeli style summer camp in Israel.  In general, these options are more appropriate for students looking for a shorter term experience and who might be a bit younger than post-10th grade.
 
Camp Kimama
Camp Kimama is a summer camp with a full range of activities, whose population comes from all over the world.  Camp Kimama is a community where campers, students, and families learn more about themselves, their heritage, their culture and each other’s communities. Camp Kimama is committed to providing a caring and supportive environment, in which children can grow, explore, build self-confidence and gain independence; all while having fun and making new friends.  For more information, visit www.campkimama.org . 
 
Long Term (High School Programs and Gap Year Programs) 
 
Alexander Muss Institute for Israel Education
The Alexander Muss High School in Israel (High School) is similar to the summer program from Muss, but the time frame is a bit longer.  In addition, if you participate in Muss during the academic school year, you are also able to maintain your school work from you home school.  For information on the Alexander Muss High School in Israel programs, visit www.amhsi.com .
 
SIACH (Gap Year): The Alexander Muss Institute for Israel Education has developed a new gap year program that combines the value of using Israel as a classroom with pluralist Jewish learning.  For information on SIACH, the AMIIE gap year program, visit http://www.siach.org . 
 
Union for Reform Judaism
EIE (High School), The Eisendrath International Exchange High School in Israel is a four-month accredited high school nestled in the Judean Mountains. Students live, learn and grow together as a community, exploring four thousand years of Jewish history, learning Hebrew, and getting to know Israel as their second home. EIE also offers a 45-day summer program for students who are not able to spend a full school semester in Israel.  For more information, visit http://www.nftyisrael.org/eie/index.html or call 212-452-6517.
 
Carmel (Gap Year) - is a college-level study program in Israel for progressive Jewish youth from around the world. Carmel offers an intense program of formal and informal learning opportunities, and graduates of the program are uniquely prepared to serve as leaders in the progressive Jewish community and to continue their college studies successfully.  Participants complete academic coursework and intensive Hebrew instruction at the University of Haifa, and study in a Beit Midrash at the Progressive Movement’s Lokey International Academy of Jewish Studies at the Leo Baeck Education Center.  Participants live as a progressive Jewish community within Israeli society, travel the country and volunteer in tikkun olam projects.  For more information, visit http://www.carmelisrael.org/index.cfm or call 212-452-6572.  This is now called Tamarim and information can be found here: http://www.yearinisrael.org/index.cfm ?.
 
Young Judea Year Course
Young Judaea’s Year Course in Israel is a 9-month program for recent high school graduates who spend an unforgettable year living, volunteering, and studying in Israel. New from Year Course are Specialty Tracks including: Design, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Culinary Arts, Athletics, and Medicine. Also newly introduced is Year Course Olami: travel the world at different points throughout your year in Israel to such countries as: Uganda, Morocco, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, India, South Africa and more! Check out Year Course at http://www.yearcourse.org .
 
Kivunim
Kivumin is new program for students in their first year out of high school. The program is based in Israel but the itinerary includes travel and service throughout the world. For more information, visit www.kivunim.org .
 
Hebrew University:
Freshman Program – academically accredited courses at Rothberg International School in a specially designed framework for first-year students that include an Ulpan option. For more information, visit http://overseas.huji.ac.il/undergraduate.php .

Mechina Program - A preparatory program for students who plan to continue their undergraduate studies in Israel. For more information, visit http://overseas.huji.ac.il/undergraduate.php .
 
Kibbutz Ulpan
This program features five months of Ulpan study and 24 hours of work per week on a kibbutz.  For more information, contact the Israel Aliyah Center in Boston at bostonaliyah@jazo.org.il