The Gift of Israel
Gift of Israel (GOI) is an incentive savings program in which families, congregations and the Jewish Federation of Rhode Island provide funds toward an educational program in Israel for participating students. The focus of Gift of Israel is to enable students to have an Israel experience during high school or college and to enrich their Jewish education. The goals of the program are to strengthen the Jewish identity of American Jewish youth and to foster the relationship between Israel and American Jewry.
In the Rhode Island Jewish community, a child is eligible for enrollment when he or she is in the 3rd-8th grades and enrolled in an approved program of Jewish studies.
For those enrolling in 3rd grade: Each year the family will contribute $150, the participating congregation will contribute $50, and the Jewish Federation of Rhode Island will match these contributions with $200, for a total of $400 per year. In the event that the student's family is not a member of one of the participating synagogues, the family contributes $200 per year. For those enrolling in the program in the 4th-6th grades, a catch-up payment program is available. (Click here to see the Gift of Israel Rules of Participation.)
A child can go on an Israel trip as early as the conclusion of 10th grade. However, the accumulated funds may remain in the account and be used during college years or until age 26 for a study program approved by the Israel Committee. Approved Israel programs include study/travel options as defined in the Gift of Israel Guidelines, an overview of which is available in the Gift of Israel frequently asked questions (FAQ) document. To view the FAQ, click here.
How To Enroll Your Child
Read through the Gift of Israel Rules of Participation to become more familiar with Rhode Island Jewish Community's Gift of Israel program. If you have any questions, call your synagogue or day school principal, or contact Beth Brier at the Bureau of Jewish Education 401-331-0956 x223 or via email at: bbrier@bjeri.org.
Complete the Rhode Island Jewish Community Gift of Israel Participation Agreement and return it to the Bureau of Jewish Education of Rhode Island, 130 Sessions Street, Providence, RI 02906, during open enrollment period, September 1st - April 1st. Include a $50 registration fee, payable to the BJE/RI. Your copy of the Participation Agreement will be returned to you after we have received confirmation of your deposit from Signature Bank. Please click here to review the enrollment checklist before delivering your documents to BJE/RI.
Complete the Gift of Israel Signature Bank Account Application Form included in your enrollment package and send it along with your first check to Signature Bank using the address on the application form. Mark the check payable to: Signature Bank fbo your child’s name. Signature Bank will send you a receipt of your deposit as well as a new deposit form to use with next year's payment. All family funds must be received by Signature Bank by April 1st of each year in order to receive community funds.Gift of Israel is coordinated by the Bureau of Jewish Education of Rhode Island and supported through the Endowment Fund of the Jewish Federation of Rhode Island.