Connecting with my Jewish Heritage in Israel
By Josh Azia
(Read Josh’s article in West Hartford LIFE magazine.)
“Israel was a mysterious place that I had visited once when I was young, but didn’t remember much. That’s why I was intrigued by the idea of spending the summer in such a revered and fabled land. An Israel Experience Scholarship from JCF supported my second visit to the country, sparking a profound connection to my heritage and hope for the future of Judaism…”
Josh Azia received JCF’s Israel Experience Scholarship, which is supported by generous donors who established endowed funds at JCF.
Israel Experience Scholarships
We call it an immersive Israel travel experience. Teens call it a “life-changing experience.” The Foundation’s Israel Experience scholarships provide financial assistance for immersive programs in Israel to help teens explore their Jewish identity.
“There’s no way I could have gone to Israel without the Foundation’s scholarship,” says West Hartford teen Ryan Howe.
The Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford offers scholarships worth up to $6,000 per student for programs in Israel lasting from 4 weeks to one semester. To learn more about the Israel Experience Program, read the Frequently Asked Questions.
Application
To apply, please fill out the Israel Experience scholarship application.
Applications for the upcoming year must be submitted no later than January 31.
Eligibility
All applicants must meet the following criteria:
– Jewish high school students currently in grades 9, 10 and 11
– Residents of Greater Hartford
Students who have not previously traveled to Israel and demonstrate a financial need receive first priority for scholarships. Rising seniors will have priority over all applicants in this group. If additional scholarships remain available, students who have previously traveled to Israel and/or do not demonstrate financial need will be considered.