Southern Connecticut Hebrew Academy Eighth Graders Head to Israel

The excitement is palpable; the emotions are running high!  For the first time in its 70-year history, Southern Connecticut Hebrew Academy (formerly New Haven Hebrew Day School) will be sending its eighth-grade class to Israel, where the students will take in the sights and scenes of the holy land for twelve days!

The students have worked diligently since last year in raising funds to help bring this dream to reality, and together with a grant from the Jewish Foundation and the beneficence of a few members of the community; the class will be making their way on El Al to Israel on Thursday, February 12 through Monday, February 24, 2014.  Principal Rabbi Enan Francis and Judaic studies instructor Rabbi Josef Hartmann have worked with the students to prepare them with an historical background of each of the sights they will be visiting according to the itinerary of the trip.

Israel is where the Tanach comes alive.  The students will be following in the footsteps of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as they traverse the land from North to South and East to West.  A detailed journal was prepared which highlights the significance of each of the places of interest which will be visited, and the students will be keeping their own journals to record this life-changing experience.

Mrs. Jennifer Forti, parent of an eighth-grade student, and an alumna of New Haven Hebrew Day School herself, can be credited with bringing this dream to fruition.  Jennifer has spearheaded this project for the past eighteen months, and she is responsible for all the arrangements, fundraising, and all the minute details which make this trip truly outstanding.

Our students are eagerly awaiting their departure date and can’t wait to land in Israel and begin their tour!

A community and school-wide send off will be held Tuesday, February 11 at 3:00 PM in the school auditorium.  Please join us as we wish the travelers will, give the traditional “Shilach-Mitzvah” charity to give out to the needy in Israel, and share the excitement with the eighth graders!