May 22, 1998 Southeastern Virginia Jewish News 17
Tidewater college students ready for Israel experience
By Rachel Zoberman
This summer, four college
students from Tidewater will
travel to our sister city in israel,
Pardes Katz, and participate in
the Kefiada program.
The Kefiada program sends
college age students to communi-
ty centers throughout Israel to
conduct a day camp for sixth and
seventh graders to improve their
English speaking skills. The chil-
dren from underprivileged homes
have historically benefited from
this program. Because of our
relationship with the Pardes Katz
community, Tidewater provides
the college students as coun-
selors for their Kefiada camp.
Jodi Sacks, Youth and Virginia
Beach Director, emphasizes the
importance of Israeli students
learning the English language to
be successful in life. She says, "
The kids' English skills will
improve just by being around
American students." 150 students
will attend the Pardes Katz Kefi-
ada, making it the largest Kefia-
da program in Israel. The UJFT
provides scholarships for chil-
dren who cannot afford the
tuition.
Sacks visited various college
campuses, including UVA and
VCU, to recruit students for this
program. The students that were
selected are Scan Philip Cohen,
Jesse Alan Lepow, Michelle
Proser, and Nachama Sternlicht.
The Pardes Katz Kefiada direc-
tot, Limor Tal, will lead an orien-
tation and training session at the
JCC with these four students, and
on June 21 the students travel to
Israel to attend a national orien-
tation with all the counselors
involved from around the coun-
try. The Kefiada program will
last for a month, and the students
will immerse themselves in
Israeli life by living in their own
apartment and spending time
with their adopted families.
Sean Cohen grew up in Vir-
ginia Beach, and is a graduate of
Kempsville High School and a
member of Temple Emanuel.
While growing up, he was active
in soccer, baseball, football and
wrestling. Sean will graduate in
May from Virginia Common-
wealth University in Richmond
with a bachelors in psychology.
He plans to further his studies in
the education department where
he will receive a masters in ele-
mentary education. In his free
time, Sean enjoys surfing, snow
boarding, and most other outdoor
activities. This is Sean's first trip
to Israel, and he is looking for-
ward to having a great time.
Jesse Lepow graduated from
high school in Charlotte, NC. He
spent 10th grade at the American
Israeli High School at Kibbutz
Beit Hashita in the Jezreel Valley
just outside of Afula in north
central Israel. After high school,
Jesse returned to Israel on the
Young Judea course program.
Beginning with an ulpan to learn
Hebrew at Kibbutz Ramat
Yochanan in the north, followed
by university courses in
Jerusalem, he finished the year at
an archeological dig on the top of
Masada while living in the desert
city of Arad. While living in New
Jersey, Jesse was active in Young
Judea and attended Young Judea
Camp at Sprout Lake outside of
Poughkepsie, NY, and Camp Tel
Yehuda in Barryville, NY. When
the family moved to Charlotte,
Jesse joined BBYO eventually
becoming the chapter Godel. He
is now AIPAC representative for
Western North Carolina.
Jesse is finishing his sopho-
more year at Appalachian State
University in Boone, NC and is
on his way to completing his
education at the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Jesse enjoys playing soccer and
golf, as well as playing bass gui-
tar with several bands. He is the
son of Susan Lepow, Educational
Director of Synagogue Beth El,
and Daniel Lepow, Assistant
Director of the United Jewish
Federation of Tidewater.
Michelle Proser is a rising
senior at The George Washington
University, majoring in Interna-
tional Affairs with a double
minor in Judaic Studies and
Political Science. She is current-
ly spending the semester study-
ing in the Rothberg School for
Overseas Students at the Hebrew
University of Jerusalem. At GW,
Michelle has been very active in
Hillel. She served on the execu-
tive board for two years, founded
the Hillel AIDS Awareness Com-
mittee, was the financial officer
for GW Friends of Israel, and
was active in a number of other
Hillel groups. Michelle has also
been very active in other aspects
of GW campus life. Recently, she
was the Public Relations Chair
for the 1997 GW AIDS Walk
Washington Team Committee,
and received the 1997 GW
Excellence in Student Life Award
and Scholarship. Michelle plans
to pursue a career in public
health policy.
Nachama Sternlicht is a sec-
ond year student at the Universi-
ty of Virginia. She is studying to
be a pediatric nurse practitioner
and would like to receive a
MBA. Nachama is very involved
in a wide range of activities on
campus. She is currently the Vice
President for External Relations
for Hillel, United Jewish Appeal
Co-chair, a transfer student peer
advisor, an assistant direclor/
membership coordinator of Best
Buddies where she works with
mentally retarded adults, a mem-
ber of Operation Smile, a sister
of Chi-Omega, and a member of
University Dance Club.
Nachama's other interests
include tennis, beach volleyball,
and playing piano.
Sacks concludes, "This pro-
gram will give these students a
chance to get the Israeli experi-
ence."
Ruby & Company
124 First Colonial Road
Va. Beach, Virginia 23454
757 491-1208
Fax 757 491-3322
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Itzhak Perlman
Klezmer Conservatory Band
7be board of directors and staff of tbe 2nd annual Virginia Waterfront Internatiomd Am leestwal take tb¢ ol)portumtv to say
u,bat a pleasure aml pn'tlege it has been working with the la, ad at 50 consortium, the Un#ed.leu4sb Federation of Tuleu'al
tbe Jeuqsh Community Center of I[&,u,ato;, the UnitedJeuqsh Community of the Virginia Penimula. and counties" (Adiaat
volunteers to wdcome some of the world's most esteemed artists to 7he Virginia Waterfront. Building succescful parmers
like tts is part of u,bat makes our communiO, a womlerful place to celebrate life, eyeD' d4y of tbe year
lt is with heardt appreciatn that u'e say once agai", '"ll'xmk you/" ",4-. C,
Robert Crts, Artistic Director Magda Ratajski, Pident, Board ol l)ireO
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PENLISULI
VIRGINIA
WATERFRONT
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ARTS FESTIVAL
2ND ANNUAL