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We’re here to help you on your journey to Israel. The Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester has a variety of Israel need-based scholarship and one-time grant funds established by our generous donors to enable teens and college students to travel to Israel.  

 

Travel to Israel and you’ll learn about the past, find your place in the present and start shaping the future – Israel’s, Jewish Rochester’s and your own. 

 

With a range of options, you can find a trip that you’ll talk about forever. Past participants have used the funding for a range of programs, such as: the Federation’s Journey for Identity, Camp Seneca Lake in Israel, youth group travel, high school study abroad, gap year and Masa summer internships. 

Federation Opportunities:

 

Need-based scholarships are available, so don’t let the cost of a program stop you from applying!

 

Your Federation provides need-based scholarship assistance to ease the cost of a quality Israel experience for teens and college students.

 

All application information is confidential and reviewed by the scholarship committee blindly-the committee does not know the names of the applicants. Applications will be evaluated in the late fall and in the late spring.

Apply: Need- based scholarships

One-time Grants for Travel to Israel: 

 

Gift of Israel (for teens and college students)

 

Students between the ages of 14-25 are eligible for a one-time Gift of Israel grant of $540 from The Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester.

 

The Freddy Fund 360 Grant (for teens)

 

Teens between the ages of 15-19 (or in grades 9-12) are eligible for a one-time Freddy Fund 360 Grant of $360.

*All grants are provided at our discretion. Please see the list above for eligibility requirements.

Apply: Israel Grants

Note: Teens applying for a need-based scholarship do not have to submit an additional application for Israel Grants. If you are otherwise eligible to receive a scholarship, you will also receive a grant.

Additional Opportunities:

 

RootOne Vouchers for summer 2021

 

RootOne is seeded by a generous grant from the Marcus Foundation and powered by the Jewish Education Project.

 

Students entering the 10th-12th grade, or entering their first year of college, can register for an Israel program with BBYO, USY, Ramah Israel, NFTY in Israel, or NCSY/JSU Summer and receive a $3,000* voucher.

 

No separate application is required, simply register for your summer program and will be given a voucher while supplies last. Vouchers are distributed at a first come, first servered basis regardless of financial need.

 

Other programs may become eligible, including the JCC. 

 

For more information click here.

 

*with the exception of NCSY Summer where students receive a $1,000 voucher. JSU Summer still receives a $3,000 voucher. 

 

TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR AN ISRAEL GRANT OR SCHOLARSHIP:

The trip must be organized for students (travel, study or internships). Family travel, independent travel and Birthright trips are not eligible.

The trip must include at least one week in Israel

The recipient must currently live in the Greater Rochester Area

  • The Freddy Fund

    The Freddy Fund was established by the Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation in memory of Fred Silverstein (z’’l), a founding Trustee of the Farash Foundation. Fred’s passion was to provide teens with the opportunity to visit Israel.

    The Freddy Fund, which provides both needs based scholarships and grants for teen travel, is one of the funds distributed by the Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester for Israel travel.

If you have any questions regarding Israel grants or scholarships, please contact Elana Pogal.