Youth to Israel Enters its Fourth Decade

The Robert I. Lappin Youth to Israel Adventure (Y2I) kicked off its 40th anniversary with the first pre-trip meeting of Y2I 2010 on Sunday, February 7.

More than 250 teens and their parents heard Sonia Schreiber Weitz, a Holocaust survivor, poet and educator. In addition to relating her personal account of survival, Weitz shared her passion for Israel, stating that she wished she were one of the fortunate teens going to Israel with Y2I 2010.

Families also heard from Liz Donnenfeld, executive director of the Jewish Federation of the North Shore, which allocates $44,000 to Y2I.

She explained that Federation funds the program with funds from Federation’s Annual Campaign, which has been partially funding Y2I since its inception in 1971.
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n addition to the $100,000 the Lappin Foundation donated to Y2I 2010, other major donors include: the Goldhirsh Family Foundation, Oranim Educational Initiatives (Y2I tour provider in Israel), Arthur Epstein, Richard and Dotty Tatelman, Alan and Myer Dana, Diana and Marc Cooper, Richard and Judy Lappin, Shep and Judy Remis, Howard and Sharon Rich, and John Rimer.

Ninety-seven Jewish teens from 19 cities and towns will participate in this summer’s adventure from July 5-19, 2010. The community can follow their daily explorations online at http://www.jewishadventures.com/Y2I.
Y2I continues to be a most successful fully subsidized, community teen Israel experience in the country.

The Lappin Foundation, whose mission is helping to keep our children Jewish, raises more than $525,000 annually to fully fund Y2I and other free programs for children, teens and younger. The Foundation’s Annual Campaign will run through August. To make a donation to the Foundation or to learn more about Y2I or any of the Foundation’s award-winning programs, contact Deborah Coltin, executive director, at 978-740-4428, email (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), or visit the Foundation’s website at http://www.rilcf.org.