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Executive Director's Message

The Gift of Israel is a cooperative venture among families, Temple Beth Sholom and the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey. Its purpose is to provide funds that will be used towards an educational experience in Israel for participating students.

The Federation and TBS together will provide up to $150 per year for each student (Federation: $100; TBS: $50), to match the families’ annual contributions of at least $150 per child. A child is eligible for enrollment in the Gift of Israel program in grades Aleph through Dalet (grades 3-6). In order to qualify:

• 1 students must be enrolled in our religious school or in a Hebrew day school
• 2 students must remain enrolled in Jewish education through tenth grade
• 3 their family must remain members in good standing of TBS

The last year for matching synagogue and Federation funds is ninth grade, regardless of when the child enrolled. So if your child participates from the third grade, your family has the potential to save $1050 of its own funds, and receive $1050 in matching community funds. Participation in this program affords your family the opportunity to save the needed funds by the time the trip is taken, either with the student’s Confirmation Class or through almost any other approved Israel program.

Enrolling in the program is a simple process. Pick up your application at the Department of Jewish Education in the Jewish Federation Building or at the TBS Office. Current enrollees must send their annual contribution of $150.00 per student to Signature Bank, 565 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10017, Attention: Gift of Israel. Details and enrollment forms are available from the TBS office. Call 856-751-6663 for further information.. New TBS applicants should contact Jackie Sutnick, Jewish Federation, 856-751-9500, ext. 235 or Jerry Ackerman at 856-751-6663, by December 31, 2006.

Details and enrollment forms are available from the TBS Religious School Office. Call 751-1824 for further information.

If you choose not to enroll, you are passing up $150 per year in matching funds for your child. If you opt to enroll, you have the potential to have enough money saved up by the time your child is eligible for the TBS Confirmation Trip to Israel. Can you think of a more worthy Hanukkah gift?

Eric Jacobs,  Executive Director