A record $15 million has been allocated for Jewish day school students to attend Jewish National Fund-USA’s (JNF-USA) Alexander Muss High School in Israel (Muss). With long-term programs in Israel proving to be one of the most effective ways to engage and connect Jewish teens to their community and ancestral soil, the organization is investing in U.S. Jewry’s future leaders through Muss’ award-winning semester abroad experience in Israel.
Through the visionary initiative, Jewish National Fund-USA will match contributions from each participating Jewish day school dollar for dollar up to $5 million. Matched funds will be dispersed one year after a school has met a minimum $1 million contribution towards sending students to Muss.
For 50 years, Muss has provided quality Zionist education for Jewish teens through semesters, “mini-mesters,” and summer abroad programs. The school’s curriculum expertly blends a rigorous academic schedule with experiential learning opportunities that immerse students in Israel’s history, using the land as a living and breathing classroom.
“Muss has an unprecedented track record of providing teens with a meaningful experience that fosters a lifelong connection with the land and people of Israel as well as their continued development as critical and creative thinkers,” said Muss Head of School, Dr. Mark Shinar. “As we continue to instill within tomorrow’s leaders Zionist values and leadership skills, we look to include as many students, parents, and educators on this journey as possible. We are excited to form new partnerships with schools across the country who are committed to sending even more teens to Israel on this remarkable adventure of a lifetime.”
Head of Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School (CESJDS) in Rockville Rabbi Mitchel Malkus added: “CESJDS and Muss have been partners in educating our high school graduates for over 20 years. We share a commitment to fostering a love of Israel in our students while educating them to have a rich knowledge of the history, culture, and people of Israel from ancient times to the present day.”
Rabbi Malkus continued: “We were grateful when Jewish National Fund-USA offered us an opportunity to increase funding for our Irene and Daniel Simpkins Senior Capstone Israel Trip through a generous matching scholarship program. Our partnership with Jewish National Fund-USA in this program and through Muss means more students will be able to travel to Israel for a three-month educational journey of a lifetime.”
Current partners in the endowment program include the Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy (Philadelphia, PA), the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School (Rockville, MD), and the Milken Community School (Los Angeles, CA).
For more information or to apply, contact Greg Litcofsky, AMHSI Executive Director, Recruitment and Partnerships at glitcofsky@jnf.org or call 212.879.9305 x250.