Schools

Local Jewish Organization, Schools Recognized for Israel Exchange Program

JCC, the Brandeis School and HAFTR honored by the UJA Federation of New York.

This release was sent to Patch by the JCC of the Greater Five Towns. It has been edited by Patch.

The , along with the and the , were recently recognized by the UJA Federation of New York for promoting strong bonds with Israel among school children and their families.

The organization and schools participate in the Long Island-Jerusalem Project, a cultural and educational exchange program that develops relationships and fosters a mutual understanding in the two Jewish communities. It taught the students and their families that despite cultural barriers, Jews around the world share the same values and goals, according to the JCC.

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“The major accomplishment of the Long Island-Jerusalem Project was connecting international Jewish communities through school, JCC and family-centered programs,” said Rina Shkolnik, executive director of the JCC of the Greater Five Towns. “To that end we created a most successful partnership and established a feeling of unity and oneness among the participants from both countries.”

Jewish Community Centers from Long Island and French Hill, Jerusalem, met in 2002 and agreed to the exchange program, which involved sharing school curriculum and hosting visits between the two partner communities. The UJA Federation of New York and the Jewish Agency for Israel funded the program.

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Families, students and teachers got the chance to meet and interact with one another to gain a better understanding of important global issues that face Jewish people today, the JCC said. The project also helped create numerous international friendships.

Other local organizations participating with the JCC of the Greater Five Towns and Suffolk Y JCC in the Long Island-Jerusalem Project were French Hill Matnas in Jerusalem, the Brandeis School, Dix Hills Jewish Center, HAFTR, Sid Jacobson Jewish Community Center, and Temple Beth Sholom of Roslyn. Israeli partners included Tali School, Yad Hamoreh, Pardes School, and Frankel School in Jerusalem.


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