This year’s group includes teachers from nearly every single Jewish school in the Foundation service area including  the North Suburban JCC and Temple Beth Shalom in Peabody, Temple Emanu-El and the JCC of the North Shore in Marblehead, Hebrew College Prozdor in Newton and Marblehead, Temple Ahavat Achim in Gloucester, Congregation Ahavas Achim in Newburyport, Temple B’nai Abraham in Beverly and Congregation Shirat Hayam in Swampscott. It is the third group of teachers sent by the Lappin Foundation since the program’s inception in August, 2006. This year, the Lappin Foundation awarded the first set of national matching grants to send 100 Jewish educators from six communities on similar trips. One of those groups, Springfield, Mass. will be traveling with the North Shore group.

At one of the first preparatory meetings, the teachers studied the torah portion, Lech L’cha, from Genesis, where Abraham leaves his home and goes to the Jewish homeland promised by God.

Deborah Coltin, executive director of the Lappin Foundation and trip leader said, “We hope that they will make that pilgrimage and think about what it means to them, what they are leaving behind and what they will gain and see. They are on a mission to fall in love with Israel and to share it and impart Israel to their students and families.”

Jason Stark of Salem, is youth director as well as sixth and seventh grade teacher at Congregation Shirat Hayam Center for Jewish education. He described the trip as important in reaching preteens.

“I really do want to experience what I am teaching in Hebrew school. It gives it an authenticity and a chance to exponentially increase enthusiasm. Kids have meters for that,” said Stark, who has never travelled outside of the United States. “I want to do anything I can do to help the material lodge and if they see me enthused, they are more likely to stick with it and explore Judaism as they grow older.”

The trip is also the capstone of yearlong return to Judaism that Stark began when his grandmother, Margaret Stark died last year. “I am very excited to improve myself as a Jewish educator,” Stark added.

“The Lappin Foundation’s mission is helping to keep our children Jewish and one  way to accomplish that is to build Jewish pride and a connection to Israel and  a love for our Jewish family. We want all our Jewish educators to have the opportunity to visit Israel and discover their love and passion for Israel so they can bring it back to their students, who will hpefully visit Israel themselves as teens,” said Coltin.

For more information on T2I, contact Deborah Coltin, at 978-740-4428 or email dcoltin@rilcf.org.
Back to Top