Next Trip - 2025
Traveling to Israel is a BIG DEAL, and we want every teen at Temple Emanu-El to have the opportunity to do so. Israel is one of those “you have to see it to believe it” experiences. Israel is also one of those “you will never be the same” experiences. Today, that dream is now a reality. Through the generous and visionary support of TE congregant, Edwin Schiffer, any teen participating in Confirmation Academy is eligible to join a highly subsidized, 10-day trip to Israel with their TE rabbis.
Nowhere else in the city of Atlanta is a congregation giving their teens thousands of dollars to travel to Israel.
Who is this for? Teens who participate in Confirmation Academy in the 9th AND 10th-grade are eligible to go on this trip. There will be some additional pre-requisites, the details for which will be released in the coming weeks; however, at a minimum, we expect active participation in Confirmation Academy during 9th and 10th-grade, occasional attendance at Friday night services, and participation with TE’s High School youth group, TEFTY.
When is this happening? Beginning in Summer 2023 and continuing bi-annually.
Why are we doing this? This is good for Temple Emanu-El and for the global Jewish community. We know that traveling to Israel leads directly to a stronger Jewish identity; teens who are involved in their synagogue after becoming b’nei mitzvah will remain connected for the rest of their lives; experiencing Israel gives our teens a broader perspective of what being a part of “the Jewish people” means. When we center Israel in our synagogue, we lay the foundation for a Jewish community who stands proudly for Israel: the land, the state, and the people.
Schiffer Teen Israel Trip 2023 Testimonials
Thank you so much for making this trip possible. This trip holds some of the most amazing and one-of-a-kind memories. I had the time of my life and enjoyed every second of it. I have made such incredible connections to the people on the trip and the land of Israel. All of which would not have been possible without you guys. Thank you for allowing us to have this once in a lifetime experience.
Thank you so much for sponsoring this trip to Israel! It was my first time in Israel, and I learned so much. I learned about the conflict, the people, and the culture. And of course, I had so much fun! It was a really good bonding experience for our whole group, and I hope I can visit Israel again in the future. Thank you so much for the experience of going to Israel with a bunch of my friends. 🙂
Thank you so much for your generous donations towards our Israel trip. This experience was magical, and I will remember it for the rest of my life. I am so grateful you provided us with these opportunities to connect with our Jewish homeland and our Jewish peers.
Thank you so much for making the Israel trip possible. I had always wanted to go to Israel, and with your extremely kind generosity, my dream came true. Despite only being there for 11 days, I truly felt connected to the state and the people there. Everything about the trip was amazing, from the activities to the sites to the people. After only a few days into the trip, I truly felt that Israel was my home. Thank you for giving me that opportunity.
Words cannot describe how thankful I am for being able to travel to my homeland, thanks to the both of you. I had a lot of hesitation going on this trip for many reasons, but I had to put on my big girl pants. I’m slowly feeling the impact of Israel as I start to replay memories and experiences in my head. Overall, this trip made me more adventurous, thoughtful, responsible and even more of a Jew. I’m forever grateful for this trip that you so kindly and willingly sponsored. Thank you so much for letting one of the best trips I have been on in my life come true.
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I want to sincerely thank your generosity in supporting the Israel trip this year and in years to come. The only way to describe the journey would be "life changing." On one level, it built a now permanent bond between me and all the other teens on the trip, people I will see when going to synagogue for years to come. On a deeper level, the ability to experience Israel in a fresh, young, active light was invaluable. The hikes, cave tunnels, and mountain walks we could only do with a group of people my age showed me a whole new side of Israeli natural beauty. The conversations we had with a diverse group of representatives from Israeli and Palestinian demographics that we don't normally see including from the Druze, Ethiopians, Jewish Arabs, and Israeli Muslims showed a huge range of diverse perspectives. And on the deepest level, this trip made me feel more connected to my Jewish roots, religion, and heritage than I've ever had. Truly, this trip is one of the best things the synagogue and Jewish community has ever done for me. |
Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to take this trip. I connected with Judaism in a different way than ever before, and I will remember it forever. Some highlights include; the hikes, the Kotel, bonding with friends, the views, the rich culture, and so much more. Surrounding myself in what Israel has to offer was amazing.
I feel it is very important to write you a letter of thanks. My experience on the first Schiffer Teen Israel trip was unbelievable. I had so many fun experiences on the trip, and I have made so many lasting relationships with my confirmation class. I feel connected to Israel now more than ever because of my trip to the Western Wall on Friday night. It was super impactful for me. My highlight of the trip was the silent disco. Our group danced in front of complete strangers on the streets of Jerusalem. Thank you for your generous donation so that we could go on this memorable experience.
Thank you so much for sending me on this amazing life changing trip to Israel. Thanks to your generosity, I was able to learn about the history of Israel, what it means to be Jewish, participate in amazing activities, and create deep bonds with my friends and my rabbi. Possibly my biggest takeaway is that this trip has made me want to return to Israel in the future.
Thank you so much for giving me and the entire confirmation class the opportunity to go to Israel. The trip was a blast, and I was able to make new friends and create deeper bonds with old friends. My favorite part about going to Israel was all the hands on adventures we were able to do from archeological digs to water hikes. There was always something new and exciting for the group to experience together. I feel like this trip really changed my life and my view of Israel. Again, thank you for making it all possible.
I am so beyond thankful I was able to go on this life changing trip to Israel. From the amazing new experiences to all the new things I learned it was a once in a lifetime trip. I am so grateful for all that I learned about the homeland, and for all the people that got to talk to us and tell us what life is like from their personal perspective. I had the time of my life exploring Israel and doing all the things you can do there that isn't anywhere else. This trip impacted my life in such a big way and I will forever cherish the many memories that I made, so thank you again for allowing me to go on this trip!
Thank you so much for the opportunity to go on this trip, I genuinely loved every minute of it. Having the opportunity to explore Israel for the first time with a group of people that have bonded so much is an experience I will never forget. I will forever feel grateful for your generosity for the youth of Temple Emanuel.
Thank you so much for giving me this amazing opportunity, it was truly life changing. Due to your generosity, I am now considering doing a semester of college abroad in Israel.
Thank you so much for making the Israel trip possible this year. Due to your generosity, our whole confirmation group was able to go to Israel for an experience of a lifetime. It is all because of you. The Israel trip is something I will never forget. I had so much fun bonding with my class and experiencing Israel and the culture around me. The trip made a big impact on my life that I will always cherish. The memories I made on this trip will forever be with me. Thank you so much. I will forever be grateful.
Thank you so much for giving me an experience of a lifetime to go to Israel and explore its natural beauties and wonders. Without such a contribution I wouldn't have had the honors to be a part of such a meaningful trip. I have been blessed to have such wonderful people make such a generous donation for myself and other kids of temple to be a part of this trip in the upcoming years. Thank you!!!
Thank you so so much for this amazing opportunity to visit the homeland of us Jews. Without your generosity none of this would have been possible. The memories I created in Israel will last me a lifetime and I can’t thank you enough for everything you have done for us. It was an honor to meet you at the dinner event we had at the hotel. Again, thank you for making this once in a lifetime trip possible.
