Funding is available for Israel travel

Grants and scholarships for travel in Israel are available to members of the greater Rhode Island community. The generosity of several local families allows many high school, college and graduate students, other young adults, and some educators, who are residents of greater Rhode Island to spend time in Israel in a recognized study or travel program, to volunteer or to participate in professional internships. The Rhode Island Jewish community supports an Israel experience as an integral part of a student’s education and growing Jewish identity. The funds are available for residents through age 26, with the exception of educators in Alliance-affiliated schools.

The Leonard I. Salmanson Fund of the Jewish Federation Foundation provides both non-need-based grants and some need-based funds available without full financial disclosure. The Graubart/Irving Scholarship Fund, the Lillian and Sidney Ross Fund and The Marochnack Zionist Memorial Fund all provide need-based grants, with full financial disclosure. The latter fund provides special consideration to immigrants from the former Soviet Union. A few other funds also support travel to Israel.

The Alperin-Hirsch Family funds the Joel H. Zaiman Fund. The award is granted to one participant per year, who must demonstrate academic achievement and commitment to community service. 

Limited funds are available for educators in affiliated Jewish schools to attend conferences, workshops, courses and travel in Israel that will improve their teaching skills and background knowledge. Programs considered for grant funds must be relevant to the participant’s present and future goals in education and evidence a high level of quality.

Teens, twenty-somethings, and Jewish educators who would like to explore opportunities to visit or study in Israel may contact the Israel Desk to discuss which programs might be most appropriate. Those interested in applying for any of these grants and scholarships may obtain applications from the Israel Desk at the Jewish Alliance, 401-421-4111 or IsraelDesk@jewishallianceri.org.  

The submission deadline for summer, fall and year-long programs is March 15. Deadlines for winter programs are at the end of October and at the end of November for spring programs.

Parents who would like to enroll their children in a savings program that would supplement these grants and scholarships should do so during grades 3 to 6. A yearly contribution of $150 may be matched by $250 from the community, a 266% return on the investment. Over the course of eight years, this contribution of $1,200 by parents is matched by up to $2,000 by the community. Parents may withdraw their annual contributions in full at any time. For more information about this program, The Gift of Israel, please also contact the Israel Desk.

LARRY KATZ (lkatz@jewishallianceri.org) is the director of Jewish life and learning at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.