el
erience
JENNIFER FINER STAFF WRITER
Area high-school students take
their books overseas for a
semester in Israel.
ennis Tenenboym, who had
never been to Israel, was look-
ing forward to learning about
his religion and meeting Is-
raelis.
But he was especially excit-
ed about visiting his grand-
parents, whom he has not seen
in more than three years. They
left the former Soviet Union for
Israel right before Dennis and
his family came to the United
States and settled in Rochester
in 1991.
While friends and family
are at home battling another
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14
The Michigan delegation of
Project Discovery.
Michigan winter, Dennis
and 14 other area high-
school students have
temporarily left loved
Rebecca
ones in the cold for a
Grossman
four-month study and
says goodbye culture program in Is-
to her sister
Jennifer, who rael. On Feb. 7, the group
left for New York and an
went on the
same trip five El Al jet to Israel.
As participants in Pro-
years ago.
ject Discovery, one of a
handful of Israel pro-
grams for high-school
students, the teens will
spend a semester in an
Israeli high-school pro-
gram for American stu-
dents. The program,
which is accredited by Debbie and Gary Columbus make sure Ryan has enough candy for Israel.
American schools, in-
While Ilana was excited
cludes trips throughout Israel
about
trip, she said she was
and seminars on Jewish top-
"Israel should be a a little the
nervous before leaving.
ics.
exciting to go to Israel,
"I think it's very important
part of every Jewish but "It's
I do find myself thinking
to go to Israel, especially for
about how I'm going to miss
student's life."
Jewish students," said Ilana
my family and friends. But I
Douville, a sophomore at West
Ilana Douville
know I'm coming back and that
Bloomfield High School. "Israel
I'm going to have a great time,"
should be a part of every Jew-
she said.
school
advisers
like
the
pro-
ish student's life. Going there
"My brother went on the
gram because it prepares stu-
is such a cultural experience."
program
five years ago, and
dents
for
college.
When
they
Jeff Kaye, of the Michi-
since he came back it has been
return, catching up with class-
gan/Israel Connection, which
a goal of mine to spend a se-
mates academically is not usu-
sends Detroit-area students on
mester in Israel." El
ally an issue.
the program, said parents and