“Israel made me feel accepted once and for all,” wrote Rachael Albert of Marblehead when she reflected on the impact Lappin Foundation’s 2022 Youth to Israel Adventure (Y2I) had on her. For Sarah Gelbert of Newton, 2022 Y2I was an “eye-opening experience,” giving her a new perspective on the Jewish religion and culture. The 12-day Y2I trip to Israel impacted each of the 81 teens in 2022 Y2I in different ways.

Thanks to generous support from CJP, the Morton and Lillian Waldfogel Charitable Foundation, and hundreds of donors to Lappin Foundation’s annual campaign, the Y2I trip to Israel is fully subsidized, making the teen Israel experience affordable for any Jewish teen who qualifies.

Philanthropist Robert Israel Lappin (z’l) established Y2I in 1970 as a vehicle for connecting young people to Israel and building their Jewish pride. Since then, more than 3,000 Jewish teens have experienced Israel on Y2I, formerly LGI—Let’s Go Israel.

The 2023 Y2I cohort of 83 teens will experience the wonder of Israel on their 12-day Israel adventure, which will depart on July 2. One of the many benefits of traveling to Israel on a community teen trip is how easy it is for teens to build on the new friendships they made in the program. 2023 Y2I teens are from 29 communities and 34 different high schools. No other program in Greater Boston brings Jewish teens together like Y2I.

During the day, teens will be busy visiting Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Masada, the Dead Sea, and northern Israel. Evenings are filled with fun activities, ranging from interactive Israel education facilitated by Stand With Us to learning about the history of Israel through folk dancing. Whether teens are dancing in a seaside park in Tel Aviv or on a boat cruise on the Sea of Galilee, they are making lasting memories connecting to Israel and to each other.

2023 Y2I teens have been meeting monthly since January, engaging in getting-to-know-you activities, community building, and Israel education. By the time they go on the trip, teens have already made new friends. The Y2I experience continues after the trip with advocacy skills training, Holocaust education, and ongoing Israel education.

2024 Y2I is open to Jewish teens who are sophomores or juniors in high school as of September 2023 and who live in CJP’s catchment area. Teens from interfaith families are warmly welcomed to Y2I, as are teens who have a CJP Passport to Israel account. For more information about the 2024 Y2I Adventure, contact Sharon Wyner at 978-565-4450 or email swyner@lappinfoundation.org.

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