Hello! I am so excited to participate in the Dream Israel Teen Initiative, which raises funds for important projects in Israel as well as helps me pay for my first ever trip to Israel. This fundraising project is supporting the Sderot Indoor Recreation Center, a recreation center which doubles as a bomb shelter for children living on Israel’s border with the Gaza Strip. Rocket attacks have become the norm there, and residents must be within 15 seconds of a bomb shelter at all times. The Jewish National Fund has put together a place for children to play and be protected by 300 tons of steel, complete with a rock climbing wall, soccer field, computer labs, dance studio, and more. This project has helped bring back a sense of normalcy to children living near the Israel-Gaza border, allowing them to enjoy hobbies and daily life while remaining fully protected.

In addition to helping children in Israel, I will receive a grant from JNF towards my own travel to Israel if I meet my fundraising goal of $5000. I am looking to spend my Spring 2025 semester at Alexander Muss High School in Israel, where I will learn Hebrew, take both Israel and General Studies courses, and explore my own connection to the land and people of Israel. This would be my first ever trip to Israel and is an amazing opportunity, so any help is deeply appreciated. I hope you will consider supporting this important cause as well as my efforts to reach my fundraising goal. Thanks for reading! :-)