Jewish Agency for Israel Announces One Million Dollar Grant
Originally featured in HaGesher, American Hebrew Academy's Monthly Newsletter

In a major policy shift by the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) this month, it was announced that LAPID, The Coalition for High-School Age Programs, of which the American Hebrew Academy is a founding member together with the Alexander Muss High School in Israel, will receive a grant of one million dollars to support American teenagers travel to Israel on organized high school programs. The announcement was made at a meeting with Natan Sharansky, Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel. While JAFI has long supported college-age programs through Birthright and post graduate study in Israel through MASA, teen travel to and education programs in Israel such as the Academy's ten week course in Israel for juniors have never received the financial support of JAFI or the Israeli government.

What is seen as part of a new strategic plan adopted by the Jewish Agency for Israel to promote Jewish education in the Diaspora, as well as multiple opportunities for Jewish youth to connect with the land of Israel and her people from high school through college and beyond, LAPID has taken a bold first step in securing funding to help reduce the costs per high school student traveling to Israel each year.

First conceived by Gideon Shavit, CEO at Alexander Muss High School in Israel and President of LAPID, the Academy was asked early on to join in helping to establish LAPID and to assist in its efforts to lobby the Israeli government for financial support. The news of the first funding grant comes after two years of dedicated work by Mr. Shavit who sought to place high school Israel education programs on equal footing with college and post graduate programs.

While guidelines for the program and the allocation of funds have not yet been formulated, it is hoped that the program will eventually provide grants of $1,000 per student traveling to Israel thereby reducing the cost of tuition for every child.

At present about 14,000 American teenagers travel to Israel each year on some form of education program. Programs such as the Academy's which provide for extensive study and travel have proven to be the most impactful on youth. Through the support of LAPID, the Jewish Agency hopes, that within a few years, the number of teenagers studying in Israel will grow to 20,000.

For our current juniors who will soon be travelling to Israel with the Academy, it is uncertain at this time if the funding announced will be applicable to the current class of students, but the Academy is doing everything in its power to make this possible and will advise parents as soon as more information becomes available.

"We are overjoyed by this news. It is clearly a result of the Academy's growing partnership with the Jewish Agency for Israel and the leadership of Gideon Shavit. Each year we provide our junior class with the opportunity for a life changing experience at the Alexander Muss High School in Israel and it remains a cornerstone of an Academy education that every student looks forward to with great anticipation. This transformative adventure gives students a greater understanding and appreciation for their heritage and an unwavering commitment to the continuity of the Jewish people. This announcement could not come at a better time as we finalize plans to send the Academy's largest junior class to Israel since the program began in 2001," stated Glenn Drew, Academy Executive Director.

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