Summer in Israel Youth Contest
Sponsored by Shaaray Tefila's Jill & Charles Nechemias Israel Fund

For 3 years, our Summer in Israel Contest asked teens to answer the question "Why Should Israel Matter to American Jewish Teens?" 

Contest winners traveled to Israel on a fee-paid North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY) summer program for five weeks.

Dr. Charles Nechemias, z"l, a former president of our congregation, and his wife Jill, z"l, were very committed to supporting the State of Israel and Shaaray Tefila. Before his passing in 2007, Dr. Nechemias established an Israel Fund for the Temple. Shaaray Tefila members and friends are welcome to add their own contributions to the Nechemias Israel Fund.

See below for a list of winners and links to their winning entries:

Larry Sulner, 2012 Winner, presented an essay that included a brief historical background of how modern Israel was created and an analysis of Israel's current geo-political problems.

Dara Pohl Feldman, 2011 Winner, wrote a science fiction short story "Return Home." Read it here.

Bernie Birnbaum, 2011 runner-up, created and performed in a rap video "Israeli State of Mind." See it here.

Sarah Waltcher, 2010 Winner, created a DVD "Why Should Israel Matter to American Jewish Teens?" See it here.