Israel Desk
The Israel Desk of the Bureau of Jewish Education of Rhode Island oversees a diverse group of programs, all designed to achieve one goal: to assure that an Israel experience becomes an integral part of each student's Jewish education. In addition to wisdom, fun and memories, studies have shown that Jewish identity and leadership potential is enhanced through the vehicle of Israel travel.
The Bureau's Israel Desk works to match people to programs. It disseminates information and brochures on Israel Study/Travel programs for students and educators; on kibbutz, ulpan, and volunteer opportunities; on retiree and internship programs; on Bar/Bat Mitzvah options; on adult education and aliyah possibilities; and more. In a phrase, the BJE/RI Israel Desk operates "in loco shaliach." It is the Rhode Island center for all information about Israel and Israel experience programs.
The Israel Desk conducts interviews for such international Israel programs as World Union of Jewish Students (WUJS), Sherut La'am, Stagerim, Otzma and the Kibbutz programs. In addition, the BJE/RI facilitates several scholarship and grant funds available to greater Rhode Island students who plan to study in Israel. To find an Israel program that’s right for you, contact Beth Brier,
Israel Desk Coordinator at BJE/RI. Phone: 401.331.0956 x223 Email: bbrier@bjeri.org.Celebrate Israel@60!
The Israel Desk is coordinating with
area agencies, schools and synagogues to deliver a variety of programs
and events in celebration of Israel's 60th year of independence. In the
meantime, download our newsletter for families or for educators for
lots of great ideas for celebrating Israel@60!
Click here: family edition
Click here: educators editionPartnership 2000 Young Emissary Program
The Israel Desk also coordinates greater Rhode Island Israeli Young Emissary Program (YEP). Each year, two Israeli teens live and work in our community to build living bridges between greater Rhode Island and our Parternship 2000 Israel community--Afula/Gilboa. Initiated in Rhode Island in 2001, YEP is in its seventh year in our community. The 2007/2008 Young Emissaries are Anna Esilovich and Hadas Naky (pictured at right). Anna and Hadas are busy working in eleven area Jewish schools and agencies to make Israel come alive for hundreds of members of our community. The Emissaries are also available for special programs, school visits, etc. If you'd like to make arrangements to have Anna and Hadas visit your organization, please contact Beth Brier, Israel Desk Coordinator, at 401.331.0956 x223 or via email at bbrier@bjeri.org.
Grants and Scholarships
High School Programs Summer Programs
Eligibility: Rhode Island residents; high school age; students attending a recognized study/travel program are eligible for grants and financial aid. Applications, a personal interview and references are required for all students. In addition, all students must participate in an orientation session, (two evenings, for a total of seven hours) and a re-entry session.
The amount of the grant is determined by the number of hours a student is currently attending a high school of Judaic studies or synagogue confirmation program. This incentive grant model has been implemented in order to encourage students to continue their Jewish education.
Academic Year Programs
Eligibility: Rhode Island residents: 10th, 11th, and 12th graders with high academic standing; approval from public or private school to allow students to complete the quarter, semester or year worked in Israel. Students are eligible for funds using the incentive grants model as noted above.
Grants are also determined by the length and academic intensity of the program. Transcripts from secular school, interviews, orientation, re-entry and community service are required.
College and Post-Graduate Programs
Eligibility: Rhode Island residents; College age, college students and post-graduates may apply for a Keren grant for a year-long semester, summer program or one of shorter duration. Programs must have a strong educational component.
Personal interviews, applications and references are required. Community service is also required.
Israel Desk Grants and Scholarships
Leonard I. Salmanson Fund of the Jewish Federation Rhode Island (JFRI). All Rhode Island students are eligible for this fund. Scholarships are based on the incentive grant model and are not need-based. However, need-based financial aid is also available from this fund.
The Graubart Irving Scholarship of JFRI. This fund offers one significant scholarship to a high school student each year. This scholarship is need-based,and the application form requires full financial disclosure from the family, including tax returns.
The Marochnack Zionist Memorial Scholarship of JFRI. This fund offers financial aid to students who are recent immigrants from the former Soviet Union.
The Lillian and Sidney Ross Fund of BJE/RI. This fund offers at least one significant scholarship to one high school student each year. This scholarship is need-based, and the application form requires full financial disclosure from the family, including tax returns.
The Joel H. Zaiman Award (funded by the Alperin-Hirsch Family). This cash award is given to the high school student who is the high scorer on the Bureau’s Israel Test of general Hebrew and Judaic knowledge who demonstrates a strong commitment to Jewish life.
For more information on Israel grants and scholarships, contact Beth Brier, Israel Desk Coordinator at BJE/RI. Phone: 401.331.0956 x223 Email: bbrier@bjeri.org.
Birthright Israel
Birthright Israel offers free ten-day trips to Israel for Jewish young adults ages 18 to 26. Birthright Israel is a unique partnership between the people of Israel through their government, local Jewish Hayesod, the Jewish Agency for Israel, and leading Jewish philanthropists. Birthright Israel provides a gift of first-time, peer group, educational trips to Israel.
Birthright Israel's founders created this initial five year project to send 100,000 young adult Jews from all over the world to Israel as a gift in order to: diminish the growing division between Israel and Jewish communities around the world; to strengthen the sense of solidarity between Israeli youth and Jewish communities around the world; to increase the number of return visits to Israel; and to promote the role of Israel as a powerful resource in Jewish learning.
For more information on Birthright Israel, contact Beth Brier, Israel Desk Coordinator at BJE/RI. Phone: 401.331.0956 x223 Email: bbrier@bjeri.org
Click here to visit the Birthright Israel website.