NEW YORK (Press Release) – Heroic efforts navigating the global pandemic made it possible for nearly 4,000 American teens to travel this summer to Israel on multi-week trips designed and heavily subsidized by the new RootOne, run by The Jewish Education Project. The Jewish Agency for Israel, along with youth serving organizations (YSOs) and Jewish residential camps, made the trips possible under unprecedented circumstances. As teens return home, they are brought into a pipeline of Jewish community opportunities that will continue to tap into their interests, strengthen relationships, and add meaning to their lives.
Twenty-one San Diego County teens who participated in the program included Natalie Almog, Marc Berger, Emily Boodman, Zev Cohen, Abby Covalin, Benjamin Efress, Gershon Ellis, Naftali Ellis, Abi Erle, Samuel Fleyshman, Elan Hashem, Sean Hashem, Michael Kaplan, Philip Markus, Lydia Ponomarenko, Talia Richland, Mia Roselinsky, Liam Rosenberg, Paige Vigiletti, Leah Weisz, and Oren Ya’ara.
“I love Israel. To know and learn about how thousands of years ago my ancestors were in this land has truly been special,” said Manny A., a RootOne trip participant from Colorado. “This trip has given me the opportunity to hear from multiple perspectives on modern day problems and form my own perception of Israel.”
Teen struggles with mental health during the pandemic have been well documented. This has coincided with rising antisemitism, especially on college campuses, making RootOne organizers and funders determined to launch the trips this summer. More than 20 teen organizations and summer camps along with the Jewish Agency for Israel worked together to navigate pandemic-related policies so that teens could experience Israel with their peers and expertly trained educators and guides.
“I was fortunate to visit with some of these teens in Israel; they fully immersed themselves in their surroundings and so clearly appreciated the chance to learn, ask questions, and also have fun,” says Simon Amiel, Executive Director of RootOne at The Jewish Education Project. “It was wonderful to see, but the Israel trip is only one aspect of our efforts to develop a generation of Jews who will be proud to stand up for their beliefs in their high schools and on college campuses. RootOne differentiates itself by requiring robust pre and post education and engagement.”
The iCenter for Israel Education serves as RootOne’s primary educational advisor, training educators and leaders who both lead trips and engage with teens before and after the trips. As teens return home, they are met with myriad opportunities coordinated by RootOne and their youth organizations to continue their Jewish learning and deepen their relationship with Israel and Israelis. As teens head off to college and young adulthood, RootOne will create a pipeline to national organizations such as Hillel and others that will continue to engage them in meaningful Jewish experiences and community. And organizations such as Birthright Israel and Masa will increase their likelihood for future Israel experiences.
I’m glad that I got the voucher because it allowed me to take a trip of a lifetime and meet many new people,” says Julia, a BBYO trip participant from Kentucky. “I would love to continue learning about Israel and really want to come back and visit sometime soon!”
RootOne already is looking ahead to next summer, starting to foster the meaningful peer relationships between Israeli and American teens that are so impactful. Additionally, with the help of Israeli organization ENTER Peoplehood, 1,500 RootOne teens will be matched with 1,500 Israeli high school students to meet a total of five times virtually. Next summer, 20 percent of the Israelis who participate in the program will be integrated into the RootOne buses with the teens they are matched with. This is part of RootOne’s strategy of strengthening the connection that American teens have to the land, state, and people of Israel.
“Amid reports about teens shying away from Israel, we see the opposite to be true when teens have the opportunity to engage in meaningful ways with Israel,” adds Amiel. “The teen years are so formative; they need to experience Israel themselves and have space to ask any tough questions they want. It’s all part of a robust learning and personal growth experience.”
Launched in September 2020 by The Jewish Education Project, with initial seed funding from The Marcus Foundation, RootOne significantly lowers the cost of teen travel to Israel and provides meaningful pre-and post-trip learning experiences so teens connect with Jewish peers and form their own Jewish communities. RootOne trips are run by more than 20 teen organizations and summer camps.
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Preceding provided by RootOne, Jewish Education Project