Give the Gift of Israel
The Gift of Israel (GOI) is an incentive savings program in which families, congregations, and the Jewish Federation of Rhode Island each contribute funds toward an educational program in Israel.
Families participating in the Gift of Israel program contribute a minimum of $150 per student annually to an account at Signature Bank in New York. That contribution is increased with a $50 contribution from participating synagogues. The family and synagogue contribution is matched with a $200 contribution from the Jewish Federation of Rhode Island. Families who do not belong to one of the participating synagogues contribute an additional $50 each year ($200 total). Students enrolled in the program from grade 3 through grade 10 will accumulate $3,200 to put towards an educational Israel experience.
There are two enrollment plans:
- Standard Savings Plan: For students in grades 3–8
- Catch-up Savings Plan: An option for students in grades 4–6
longer contributed; however, families may continue to make deposits into their child's personal account. Families in the Catch-up Savings Plan “make up” the family and synagogue contributions from grade three; JFRI matches accordingly (see charts at right). After the first year, students continue in Standard Savings Plan through completion of 10th grade. At this time, community funds (synagogue or JFRI) are no child’s personal account. Only students who are enrolled in an approved Jewish program qualify for the annual matching funds.
Participating Synagogues
- Congregation Agudas Achim, Attleboro
- Congregation B'nai Israel, Woonsocket
- Congregation Mishkon Tfiloh, Providence
- Congregation Ohawe Shalom, Pawtucket
- Temple Am David, Warwick
- Temple Beth-El, Providence
- Temple Emanu-El, Providence
- Temple Habonim, Barrington
- Temple Sinai, Cranston
- Temple Torat Yisrael, Cranston
- Touro Synagogue, Newport
All Gift of Israel documents are available for download from the sidebar to the right. For more information, contact Beth Brier, Director of Israel Desk, at 401 331.0956 x223 or via e-mail at: bbrier@bjeri.org.
Coordinated by the Bureau of Jewish Education of Rhode Island in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Rhode Island and partner synagogues. Generously funded by the Endowment Fund of the Jewish Federation of Rhode Island.