Multi-Million Dollar Grant Enables NCSY to Bring Thousands of Teens to Israel

TJJ participants from summer 2019. Photo: Josh Weinberg

Thanks to an extraordinarily generous multi-million dollar grant from The Marcus Foundation, thousands of teens will be able to visit Israel this upcoming summer with NCSY.

This past September, NCSY excitedly announced its inclusion in RootOne, a brand new initiative that looks to transform a generation of young Jews though immersive Israel experiences. Seeded by a $20 million gift from The Marcus Foundation and powered by The Jewish Education Project (TJEP), RootOne provides major subsidies for trip participants while also investing in trip curricula and experiences, aiming to strengthen participants’ Jewish identities and connections to Israel before they begin college. Marcus Foundation founder Bernard (Bernie) Marcus sees the survival of the Jewish people and Israel as paramount, focusing much of his philanthropic work on ensuring the younger generation is knowledgeable and passionate about Israel.

“Of the more than fifteen youth-serving organizations participating in year one of the RootOne initiative, NCSY is the largest trip provider, bringing over 1,600 teens annually to Israel.”

RootOne Vouchers will lower the cost of NCSY’s JSU and The Anne Samson Jerusalem Journey (TJJ) summer Israel experiences by $3,000 for public school teens, while day school teens can receive vouchers of $1,000 toward NCSY summer Israel programs.

“The Israel experience for a teen is transformational,” said Rabbi Micah Greenland, International Director of NCSY. “Teens who come back from an NCSY Israel experience are more mature in their Jewish outlook and more empowered to make decisions for their lives Jewishly. That is why NCSY has invested so much for so long in these experiences, particularly TJJ, which has been a focal point of our efforts for nearly two decades.”

“Teens who come back from an NCSY Israel experience are more mature in their Jewish outlook and more empowered to make decisions for their lives Jewishly.”
—Rabbi Micah Greenland, International Director, NCSY

Of the more than fifteen youth-serving organizations participating in year one of the RootOne initiative, NCSY is the largest trip provider, bringing over 1,600 teens annually to Israel. In recognition of its leadership in strengthening Jewish teens’ connection with Judaism and the Land of Israel, NCSY has received the largest allocation of vouchers for its programs.

“We are greatly appreciative to both TJEP and the The Marcus Foundation for their vision, and to all of NCSY’s donors to our Israel experiences over the past twenty years,” continued Rabbi Greenland. “Their foresight has helped thousands of teens and has positioned NCSY as the leader in this educational realm.”

Vouchers are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Interested families can learn more at summer.ncsy.org.

Participants on a TJJ trip in 2018. Photo: Josh Weinberg