Rodeph Sholom School and Congregation Rodeph Sholom (CRS) had the honor of welcoming the Director-General of Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Anti-Semitism, Avi Cohen Skali, along with nine of his distinguished colleagues this week. They began by hearing from 7th graders Lila F. and Brielle B. about how their experience at Rodeph Sholom has impacted their identities as Jews and their connection with the State of Israel.
The Director-General is visiting the U.S. on a listening tour to better understand how the Israeli government can support North American Jewish Day Schools as part of a $40M initiative. Rodeph Sholom School was pleased to be chosen as one of three representative schools due to our unique partnership with CRS and our reach into the NYC Jewish world.
Paul Bernstein, the CEO of Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools, accompanied the Israeli delegation, along with David Bryfman, the CEO of The Jewish Education Project, and Sarah Eisenman P’29 ’32, Rodeph Sholom School Board Member, and Chief Community & Jewish Life Officer, Jewish Federations of North America.
The delegation connected with our 8th Grade Israel trip via Zoom, talking with Senior Rabbi Ben Spratt, Director of Jewish Life and Learning Ira Glasser, and 8th Grade students Isabella F. and Shai K. who shared some highlights from their itinerary, how their experiences are connected to their classroom learning, and what the trip has meant to them so far.
This is the second time this year that Rodeph Sholom School has been honored by hosting dignitaries associated with Israel, as Asaf Zamir, Consul General of Israel in New York, and Tom Nides, U.S. Ambassador to Israel, visited in September.