Impact Stories

Enlightening Galina

“Growing up in a Modern Orthodox community, I was constantly exposed to Judaism, religion, and Israel – maybe a little too much. As I grew up, I fled from my roots and decided I wanted to be a part of a more secular world; I lost faith in what I had always known. I had the opportunity to…

Volunteering Surprised Bridgette

“I had it all backwards,” says 15-year old Bridgette. “I thought volunteering would be about me helping others. But the experience has actually done more for me than I’ve done for anyone else.”

The Making of a Mensch

It’s hard leaving your family and going into the unknown. That’s what it can feel like to a lot of Solomon Schechter graduates when they go off to their respective high schools. I thought it would be nice if every 8th grader had a Schechter alumni “buddy” at the high school where he…

Experiencing Israel First-Hand

Sarah Schildkraut is hooked -- and she’s only 13. The recent bat mitzvah girl comes from a strong Jewish home, her family participates in Jewish organizations and activities, she has gone to Jewish sleep away camp, and has been hearing how special Israel is for as long as she can…

Inspiring Acts of Kindness

There was a family in town whose mom needed to go into New York every afternoon for cancer treatments. The dad would leave work at 3 o’clock to drive her. It came to the attention of our public school’s community support committee that their freshmen twins were coming home after school…