Summer Spirit

by Nina Woldin

According to a Jewish Week article detailing the benefits of Jewish teen travel to Israel, “Israel [teen] trip alumni report higher levels of Jewish commitment, Jewish belonging and ritual observance years later than do others with similar Jewish upbringings.” (USCJ.org)

One of the most rewarding parts of my job at Chai Mitzvah is managing the Summer Teen Travel Stipends. Teens who complete the Chai Mitzvah program during the school year are eligible for a grant towards any peer trip to Israel of three weeks or more the summer following their participation in CMP (Chai Mitzvah Program). The grant is not needs-based and can be combined with other scholarships.

The Chai Mitzvah teen program engages students in relevant text-based conversation and tikkun olam projects, and the Summer Teen Travel Stipend often inspires students to continue their Jewish study post-b’nai mitzvah. Educators are glad to have this incentive, and teens who were motivated by the stipend have said that had they known how much they would enjoy it, they would have signed up for Chai Mitzvah anyway!

Every year close to 100 teens earn the Chai Mitzvah Summer Teen Travel Stipend. As they get ready to leave on this summer’s trips, I’m proud to share the words of one of our students, Aya E., who will be traveling on a summer trip with B’nei Akiva: 

“… thanks in part to CMP, I am very excited and feel so fortunate to be able to travel to Israel this summer
with the values gained in the Chai Mitzvah Program.
I am certain that I will carry those messages with me throughout the year, and throughout life.”