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Congregation Beth Judea sends 20 8th Graders on Ta'am Yisrael Trip

Congregation Beth Judea (Il. Rt. 83 at Hilltop Road, Long Grove, Illinois) recently welcomed back 20 students who traveled to Israel as part of the Center For Jewish Education (CFJE) Ta'am Yisrael program. This program provides 8th graders the opportunity to experience a "taste" of Israel with other Chicagoland 8th graders. Ta'am Yisrael is an annual program funded, in part, by the Jewish United Fund and various donors specifically to offer Jewish 8th graders the opportunity to further their Jewish education by going on a trip to Israel where they are able to experience the sights, tzedakah (charity), social service, meeting Israeli teens, and understanding the value of Jews helping Jews.

This trip included 214 8th graders representing 33 Chicagoland synagogues plus 50 chaperones. This is the largest trip CFJE has sent to Israel for this program. Congregation Beth Judea's students were absolutely amazed at what they were able to experience on this trip. Each student's experience was unique. The Students spent time in and around Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the Dead Sea. Some of the sightseeing opportunities included attending a Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball game, listening to Dan Shapiro the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Massada, riding camels, swimming in the Dead Sea, visiting Yad Vashem and more. In addition to sightseeing the trip included experiences at a local community service program called "Save a Child's Heart" and the Schneider Children's Hospital. The children also visited the Western Wall, which for some, was the highlight of their trip.

Information on the upcoming 2016 trip or questions can be directed to Anna Besser at abesser@bethjudea.org or 847-634-0777.

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