Seven Helyn B. Reich Scholarships Awarded
for Study in Israel
American Zionist Movement Recognizes Outstanding Young Adults' Dedication to Israel
Sarrah Bechor and Nira Lois Lee, rising college juniors, will study for a semester abroad at Tel Aviv University's School for Overseas Students and the University of Haifa's Honors Program in Peace and Conflict Resolution, respectively.
A political science major at Queens College's Honor College, Sarrah hopes to use her time in Israel to research her thesis topic of Jews in Far East Asia and their political, ideological and perceptual relations with Israel. "Studying in Israel will be an immersion in the state's politics and daily culture of its people, and my awareness will be enormously enriched by being part of the international and Israeli student body," Bechor said.
Lee also looks forward to being a part of Israel society. "In Haifa, I hope to live for a year not as an American student in Israel, but as an Israeli, speaking Hebrew and living with Israeli roommates... while improving my Arabic in a country that inspired me to learn it," she said. An active member of American University's Hillel and Israel club, Lee has served as a CAMERA fellow and spent spring break at Moscow Hillel strategizing with Russian students how to advocate for Israel as diaspora Jews. Last winter, she volunteered at Akko's Weitzman School to repair damage from the rockets which devastated northern Israel.
"These are bright and caring young adults who recognize that they are part of a greater whole, the Jewish people. They are using their time and talents to practice tikkun olam, making the world a better place. Their decision to do so in Israel enriches them professionally and personally, and it also contributes to the Jewish Homeland," AZM Executive Director Karen Rubinstein said.
The Helyn B. Reich Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in 1995 in memory of Helyn B. Reich, wife of founding AZM President Seymour D. Reich. The initial gift in Helyn's memory was given by Mrs. Sarah Fischer and her son Dr. Stuart Fischer. The scholarship seeks to recognize candidates who have demonstrated pro-Israel activity in their personal lives and show a commitment to future involvement with the Jewish and Zionist community.
The deadline to apply for a Helyn B. Reich Scholarship for study in Spring Semester 2009 will be January 1, 2009.
