Federation established its Israel Experience program in the 1990s as an outreach effort to local young adults to help solidify their Jewish identities through a personal and meaningful connection with Israel. Israel Experience is committed to sending every Jewish person aged 15-19 on an educational trip to Israel. 

Ebony Robin
404-870-1615
erobin@jfga.org

Need-Based Scholarships - The Israel Experience program offers two types of financial assistance, incentive and need-based, to local young adults between the ages of 15 and 19 who will be participating on an approved Israel Experience program.

Gift of Israel - The Gift of Israel Program is an Israel savings program that was set up by Temple Emanu-El. The individual saving accounts of the Gift of Israel Program are directly administered by the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. Please note that the Gift of Israel is no longer open for new enrollment.

Passport to Israel - Federation provides participating Metro Atlanta synagogues with Passport to Israel certificates for their Bar and Bat Mitzvah young adults. The certificate is valued at $350 and may be redeemed towards an approved Israel Experience program once the recipient is between the ages of 15 and 19.

March of the Living - The March of the Living is an international, educational program that brings Jewish teens from all over the world to Poland on Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Memorial Day, to march from Auschwitz to Birkenau, the largest concentration camp complex built during World War II, and then to Israel to observe Yom HaZikaron, Israel Memorial Day, and Yom Ha'Atzmaut, Israel Independence Day. For more information, please contact: March of the Living Atlanta at 404 303 8480 or BBYO Atlanta at 678 812 4000.

Birthright Israel – A unique partnership between the people of Israel through their government, local Jewish communities (North American Jewish Federations through the United Jewish Communities, Keren Hayesod and The Jewish Agency for Israel), and leading Jewish philanthropists. birthright israel provides a gift of first time, peer group, educational trips to Israel for Jewish young adults ages 18 to 26. For more information, visit www.birthrightisrael.com. birthright israel alumni now have a local contact at Federation. Jessica Segal is the Birthright Israel Coordinator and can be reached at 404-870-1614.

Elite Academy - A three-year scholarship program co-funded by the State of Israel and Federation-affiliate the Jewish Agency for Israel. Students complete grades 10, 11 and 12 in one of the program’s affiliated boarding schools, Yeshivot or kibbutz regional high schools throughout Israel.

Program Selection Assistance - For assistance in finding an approved Israel Experience program that suits your needs, contact Ofri Tamir at 678-812-3973.