Schechter eighth-graders pursue dream — and funds — for Israel trip

by Jill Huber
NJJN Bureau Chief/Monmouth

A strong work ethic and desire and a generous contribution from the Jewish Federation of Greater Monmouth County have pushed the eighth-grade class at Solomon Schechter Academy of Ocean and Monmouth Counties in Howell closer to an Israeli dream.

Of the nine eighth-graders, who have chosen Israel as the destination for their annual class trip, four are from Monmouth County and have received a travel stipend from the federation, according to principal Ricki Budelman. Ocean County residents received money from the Jewish Federation of Ocean County.

In addition, the students have raised approximately $4,000 on their own to help pay for the trip, which will cost $2,300 per child, Budelman said.

In previous years, the academy’s eighth-grade classes have traveled to Washington, DC; Boston; and Disney World, among other destinations; this year’s class, however, had something else in mind.

Last September, the group collectively wrote a letter to their parents and Budelman expressing their desire to visit Israel in April 2006. The students mentioned their love and commitment to Israel and their Jewish heritage as incentives, Budelman recalled.

“This is the most industrious group of kids I’ve ever seen,” she said. “When they told me what they wanted to do, I knew they would make it happen. I believed it then and I believe it now. But the cost of the trip is something we all take very seriously.”

Fund-raising efforts have become an ongoing element of life at the academy, Budelman said. For months, the eighth-graders have been raising money in a variety of ways. They sell bagel lunches throughout the entire school every Monday; operate a daily snack cart; bag groceries for tips at area supermarkets; sold Hanukka menoras and dreidels; and convinced fellow academy classmates to donate items for a used-clothing sale.

The kids are selling copies of a CD that was recorded by the mother of an eighth-grade student and subsequently donated to the class to help raise money for its travel fund.

The students also turned to the Internet. After conducting some Web research, they compiled a list of area business and organizations that might be receptive to their cause. Letters explaining their mission and asking for contributions were subsequently sent to a select group, and the students are hopeful that donations will be forthcoming, Budelman said. Other fund-raising projects are currently in the planning stage.

If all goes according to plan, the students will spend 12 days in Israel from April 23 to May 4. This time frame was chosen to enable the group to observe Yom Hazikaron, or Israeli Memorial Day, on May 2, when the students will participate in a ceremony at an army base in northern Israel. They will also travel to Tel Aviv to join in festivities for the country’s Independence Day on May 3.

Among its potential destinations, the group also plans to visit the Arad-Tamar region, the site of a “sister school” that has received various forms of tzedaka and school supplies from the Schechter eighth-grade class.

“This trip will be a life-changing experience for the kids,” Budelman said. “It will achieve our goal of raising and training involved, caring Jewish youngsters who are the future leaders of the Jewish community.”

The students are optimistic that they will reach their goal, and the stipend from the Monmouth federation was a “terrific boost” that has further galvanized them to pursue their own plans and start a new school tradition as well, Budelman said.

“[The trip] is truly a big deal in our school; we are the first eighth-grade class to ever travel out of the country and, most importantly, to Israel,” the students wrote in a thank-you letter to the Monmouth federation. “We are starting a new tradition in our school. Now, every year the children will put aside money in an account for an Israel trip in eighth grade. We really cannot thank you enough for helping us achieve our goal.”

Jill Huber can be reached at jhuber@njjewishnews.com.

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