In the summer of 1971, while participating in a NFTY in Israel program called Mitzvah Corps, I met the person I would marry, Audrey Heller. The next year, Audrey returned to Israel as a participant in the EIE program.

The program was very different in the early 1970's. The students would arrive in the summer and spend six weeks at Ben Shemen studying in an ulpan. After the time in Ben Shemen, each student would go to live with an Israeli family for their fall semester of high school. Audrey's family was in Haifa, and she attended the Leo Baeck School there. We are still friends with her Israeli "sister" and her family. A number of years ago I attended their oldest son's bar mitzvah. They have visited us in the United States and we see them every time we go to Israel.

A few years ago, Audrey and I became re-involved with the EIE program, but this time as concerned adults. At first we were disappointed to learn about the changes in the program from Audrey's experience. We did not think the students could gain the same connection to Israel. But in 2005 we spent a week with the EIE students at Kibbutz Tzuba. We traveled with them on their instructional tiyullim, sat in on classes, and I even taught them a Talmud shiur. We witnessed first hand the dedication of Baruch and the EIE staff. We witnessed American and Canadian Jewish students embrace Judaism and Israel in ways we did not think were possible. We quickly recognized that URJ's high school in Israel program is one of the true jewels of the Reform movement.

The EIE program is transformational. It takes students who have had no exposure to Israel and deeply connects them to the land and people of Israel. It provides students a liberal and intelligent atmosphere within which to explore the depth and breadth of Judaism. I firmly believe that if we could send 300 students per year on the EIE program, that we could change the face and direction of Judaism in the decades ahead. Not only do EIE alumni provide some of our future professional Jewish leaders, but a cadre of educated and dedicated liberal Jews who will take the lead in Jewish life as well.

In the not too distant future, Audrey and I are hoping to organize an EIE alumni trip, so that past participants, especially those from the first few decades; can witness first hand the incredible work being done with our students at Tzuba. The program needs all of our support, as the costs continue to rise and we want to make it available to every student who wishes to participate. Who better to help future generations of participants than those who have gone in the past?

I look forward to sharing more news about the development of the EIE program in future alumni bulletins.

L'shalom,

Rabbi Jack Romberg
Chair, EIE committee