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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

by Samuel Steinberg

I recently attended a synagogue meeting concerning the “Israel Educational Fellowship.”  This committee is tasked with raising funds that are the synagogue’s share of the total package to the IEF.  The IEF consists of three parts; contributions by a child’s parent, matching contributions from the synagogue, and a matching contribution from the federation that matches parent and synagogue.  As an example: for every dollar that the parent gives, the synagogue puts in one dollar, and the Federation puts in two dollars for a total contribution of four dollars.  Minimum contribution per year is one hundred dollars per child per year.  Currently there are twenty-nine children from our synagogue that are still paying which equals to a minimum of $2,900.00.  Most parents contribute $200.00 per year, and since the synagogue matches, that is an annual contribution, or match of $5,800.00/yr. from the synagogue.  Additionally, there are twelve children that have “maxed out” their obligation and no new funds are needed for them.  I am not sure of the number of our children that have already funded and gone to Israel under this program, maybe eight.  If you add all these numbers of children that are going through this program, it’s an impressive 49 children. In the past years, we have done a fundraiser for the synagogues share of approximately $5,800.00, or just taken the money out of cash flow from the general fund.  

            This is such a wonderful program, exposing our children to Israel especially during these times when Israel needs us the most.  The idea of investing a small percent of the cost of the trip for a period of time makes the parents burden lighter.  Those 12 children that have “maxed out” their payments have a trip to Israel paid for in full.  What a wonderful situation for our youth to be in.

            In closing, the synagogue’s share is our responsibility.  When you are called in to help raise these funds either as a worker or a monetary contributor, please remember that you are funding not just a trip “out of town”, but the future of Israel and the Jewish people.