The Jewish Innovation
IAP seeks to create a new generation of Israel advocates by providing special opportunities to learn with leaders in the Jewish community starting on a local level and leading to national and international figureheads. IAP is a project of Shomrei Torah Synagogue in West Hills, CA.
IAP is unique in that it utilizes the already established link to the synagogue to educate teens within each community. IAP began at Shomrei Torah Synagogue in West Hills with the leadership of the Director of Informal Education and the Associate Rabbi. Within one year, many synagogues across North America, some as far as Syracuse, Philadelphia and Toronto, have requested information on how to build programs such as IAP in their communities for their aspiring young leaders.
The Impact
Each year, thousands of Jewish teens travel to Israel on educational summer programs through various movements and denominations. Upon their return, there is a lack of continuing education and Israel continuity. IAP captures the excitement and energy of the returning Jewish teen and directs them on a path of further education and advocacy training. The inaugural group of IAP began with 8 teens who had just experienced five intensive weeks in Israel on United Synagogue Youth’s Pilgrimage trip. This experience was crucial to the success of the IAP as they already had a personal connection to the land, people, food and culture. IAP begins the Israel advocating process on a high school level preparing the teens before they reach the college campus. IAP required its participants to create their own internships that allow them to bring the US/Israel relationship to life. Our inaugural year has already created internships with local Congressmen, Shaare Tzedek Hospital, Jewish National Fund, Jerusalem Online University and more.
