As educational theorist John Dewey wrote in My Pedagogic Creed more than 120 years ago, education can simply be thought of as “a process of living” and that education should “represent present life – life as real and vital to the [learner] as that which [they] carry on in the home, in the neighborhood, or on the play-ground.” In a more modern take, noted scholar Barry Chazan writes in his Philosophy of Informal Jewish Education that, in addition, Jewish education “happens through [an] individual’s actively experiencing a diversity of Jewish moments and values that are regarded as worthwhile.” But what about Israel – a cornerstone of some many in the Indianapolis community’s connection to their Judaism? How can local Jews, living thousands of miles away, present Israel as “life” and actively experience Israel in a way that brings meaning? 

One avenue is providing Jewish teens with a hands-on experience learning about Israel through its culture, its history, and its people at a critical moment in their life – the transition from 8th grade to 9th grade and all the accompanying changes – is the core goal of JFGI’s new partnership with IsraelNow. With this framework, the IsraelNow program also seeks a loftier and more personalized goal – an opportunity for participants to envision their personal involvement or connection as part of their Jewish community and to return home inspired to further their Jewish involvement.

“Our primary goal is to help lay the foundation for a lifelong relationship with Israel and the Jewish people,” said Richard Moline, Assistant VP for Israel Education at the Jewish United Fund (JUF) in Chicago. “The overarching goal is ‘Ahavat Yisrael,’ which literally translates as a ‘love for Israel.‘ As we know, love is a very complicated emotion, and our focus is on education, not advocacy. Our research clearly shows that as a result of their exposure to multiple narratives and fun, interactive experiences, participants return from IsraelNow with a stronger connection to the Jewish people and the State of Israel. These connections last well beyond their high school years.”

Drawing on 20+ years of Israel-travel experience for 8th graders, the IsraelNow program is an extension of JUF Chicago’s former Ta’am Yisrael (“A Taste of Israel”) that has seen success and impact for a generation of teens. As part of the effort to spin-off IsraelNow nationally, Indianapolis is the first community partner to join in IsraelNow’s effort and looks forward to providing this opportunity for 8th graders in the coming years. In a recent post-trip survey of participants, within a month of the trip, 95 percent of parents saw a stronger sense of Jewish self-identification amongst their teen and 90 percent of participants reported an increased likelihood of participating in Jewish activities in high school. 

In seeking to connect the Israel experience to the individual participant’s focuses and passions, the full IsraelNow program includes pre-trip educational seminars with the local cohort of participants and additional connection opportunities post-trip with peers as well as organizations that offer local Jewish engagement and education opportunities. Additionally, the trip is staffed by local teen-serving professionals and participants have the opportunity to participate in a Track Day during which they can explore Israel through personal passions including “Arts and Culture,” “Active Israel,” and “Innovation” amongst others.

With this mission to lay a foundation for lifelong relationships with Israel, the Jewish people, and one’s own Jewish experience, JFGI is excited to rollout IsraelNow. This program fills a stated need for cross-communal educational programming amongst youth as well as supports partners in connecting with middle school and high-school aged learners, especially those who may not be currently connected with an institution or agency.

“The IsraelNow program is the best of all worlds” says JFGI Director of Youth Philanthropy & Connection David Heilbron. “Not only does it provide an engaging and meaningful opportunity to develop a personal relationship with Israel – something that can serve as a cornerstone and gateway for Jewish identity development going forward – but that program also supports teens where they are at right now and provides impactful outlets for the Jewish community to serve and support them in the near and medium-term. The measure of success for the IsraelNow program will not only be the program itself but the ecosystem of high school-aged opportunities that it seeks to foster.”

To learn more about upcoming IsraelNow trips or other opportunities, please visit www.israelnowtrip.org/indianapolis or contact David Heilbron at dheilbron@jfgi.org / (317) 715-6974.