Originally an initiative of the Zionist Council of NSW,  the 2013 IST has seen a record number of 91 Year 10 students leave Sydney for a 6 week programme in Israel on the Israel Study Tour.

IST participants prepare for departure

The Jewish Agency for Israel,at the behest of the Zionist Council of NSW,offered an initial subsidy for the programme on the basis that a further sum of double the amount of this subsidy would be raised locally.

ZCNSW Richard Balkin told J-Wire: “The Moriah Foundation, together with a number of other generous donors,stepped up to the challenge and made,what up until now had been only a dream,a reality.  This is especially so when one considers that 4 or 5 years ago only 21 young people were fortunate enough to go on IST and have this wonderful experience.

There is simply no better way to enhance the Jewish identity of our young people than to give them the opportunity to spend an extended period of time in Israel,learning the facts of contemporary Israel,gaining a pride in the acievements of the Jewish State and returning to Sydney with a deep affinity for Israel and the Jewish people.”

 The total amount of subsidies eventuated in the cost of the IST programme being reduced by almost 25 percent and is now more affordable for families.

Balkin added: “I want to pay particular tribute to Judy Lowy President of the Moriah Foundation for her foresight and commitment to this project;to Moriah Board President  Giora Friede and to Principal John Hamey  for their unstinting support and also to Wendy Barel Principal of Masada College. I am so proud of this magnificent  achievement of the Zionist Council of NSW;the support of the Moriah Foundation and our generous donors;the foresight of the Jewish Agency for Israel and the students and their families.”

At the airport. the participants sang Hatikvah before boarding their flight to Israel.