An Update From the EYE SQUAD's Founder and Director

Summer is greeted by most as a time for slowing down, taking some vacation time to spend with family and friends, and perhaps taking stock of the past 12 months as we know that the New Year is only 2 month away. If I had to take a moment to reflect on the progress of the Eye Squad over this past half year, only one word would come to mind: sensational!

The sheer number of calls the Eye Squad received dirung the winter and spring of this year far exceeded even the most optomistic of projections. I can safely say that what began as an idea written on a restaurant napkin which became a reality seemingly overnight proved that the issues post-high school students visitng Israel are real, and the EYE SQUAD is one way to address those issues.

The summer has been spent gearing up for next month's influx of North American and other Anglo students. With pens, bookmarks, and magnets in hand (all embossed with the EYE SQUAD hotline number), we will do our best to reach as many students as possible before Rosh HaShanah, including a kick-off event in the middle of September.

What follows is a rap up of our activities in the spring, our plans for this year and other EYE SQUAD news. I look forward to being in touch over the next few weeks to share with you the continuing success of the EYE SQUAD. Please accept my wishes for a relaxing, rejuvenating and safe summer.

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Over 120 Attend EYE SQUAD Symposium on Parents' Preparing for a Child's "Year in Israel" - Presentations Available for Download

Understanding the implications of sending a child to Israel and making appropriate decisions for the post-high year are issues that affect all parents.

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EYE SQUAD's School Reps Go for Dinner and a Schmooze

One of the ways the EYE SQUAD gets its message out to the thousands of Anglo students who come to Israel each year is by appointing representatives in as many schools/programs as possible. When the EYE SQUAD started in February 2008, only a handful of students had volunteered. After our successful kick-off event at the Coffee Bean in Jerusalem on March 1, tens of students lined up to serve as their school's representative.

"The goal of the student rep is to spread the word about the EYE SQUAD and what it has to offer amongst fellow students" said Rabbi Jason Demant, a member of the EYE SQUAD team. "We have found that the best way to attract students to utilize the EYE SQUAD is by word of mouth - and word of mouth works best and is accepted most via peer to peer."

As a way to thank the school representatives for their efforts, members of the EYE SQUAD treated them to dinner at the end of the school year. The thank you dinners actually turned out to be more informative to Eye Squad members as school representatives shared their feelings about the Eye Squad, the role of a school representative, and their ideas for what the EYE SQUAD can do in the future to reach more students who need assistance.

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EYE SQUAD to Launch BAYIT Program: Providing Surrogate Families for North Americans Spending a Year in Israel

BAYIT (Building A Year in Israel Together), a new initiative of the EYE SQUAD, pairs North American students spending a post-high school year in Israel with Anglo host families. These pairings promise to make the “year in Israel” experience richer and more comfortable for the students while giving the host families the opportunity to open their homes and give visiting students a taste of “regular” life in Israel. Students turn to their BAYIT families for Shabbat and holiday hospitality, and the families become an integral element of the support network so vital to the students’ Israel experience. Host families are screened prior to assignment, and the EYE SQUAD provides them with the tools needed to support their BAYIT students.

Ideally, students will be matched with host families at the beginning of the academic year (Elul) prior to or immediately upon their arrival in Israel, but students will be able to join the program at any time. These pairings will last throughout the entire year (or student’s stay in Israel), and we expect that participating families attempt to schedule a Shabbat with their students within the first month of the pairing.

How Does a Student/Family Join BAYIT? Contact the EYE SQUAD directly: BAYIT@eyesquad.org.

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TALYA LEVIN Named Eye Squad Program Coordinator

The EYE SQUAD is proud to announce that Talya Levin has assumed the position of Program Coordinator for the EYE SQUAD, having been a program assistant since our official launch earlier this year. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Talya is approaching her two year Aliyah anniversary and resides in Yerushalayim. She graduated from the University of Maryland with a BA in Communication and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Community Leadership and Philanthropy studies from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Before making Aliyah, Talya worked at UJA-Federation of New York.

Talya is an alumna of Midreshet Lindenbaum and a former madricha for Hasbara Fellowships, an Israel advocacy training seminar, and Bnei Akiva’s Torah v’Avoda Institute (TVI) leadership training program. She is also an accomplished artist and arts educator, most recently overseeing the Arts and Theater program at Capital Camps, a pluralistic Jewish sleep-away camp outside of Washington, DC.

As we welcome Talya to her new position, we bid a fond farewell to Adina Bloomberg, EYE SQUAD's first Program Coordinator, and wish her continued success in all of her endeavors.

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Rabbi Edward Davis Joins EYE SQUAD Advisory Committee

Rabbi Edward Davis, spiritual leader of Young Israel of Hollywood/Ft. Lauderdale, Florida has recently joined the EYE SQUAD Advisory Committee. "Known for his specific focus on maintaining relationships with his post-high school congregants through their year in Israel and beyond, Rabbi Davis' years of experience with this specific age group will enable us to better tailor our services to those in Israel on one year programs" said Aaron Tirschwell, Founder and Director of the EYE SQUAD.

The following people have graciously agreed to serve as the initial members of the Eye Squad Advisory Committee. While the responsibilities committee members take on are limited (as not to overburden anyone), they nevertheless play a crucial role in the direction, scope and future of the EYE SQUAD.

Zev S. Berman, Chairman, Berman Consulting Group, Jamaica Estates, NY; Jerusalem, Israel
Hershel Billet, Rabbi, Young Israel of Woodmere, NY
Norman Blumenthal, PhD, Cedarhurst, NY; Director, Project Chai (Chizuk, Healing and Intervention), Chai Lifeline
Shmuley Boteach, Rabbi, author, therapist and television/radio show host
Edward Davis, Rabbi, Young Israel of Hollywood/Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Aliza Frohlich, PhD, Director, Yeshiva Therapists Network; Director of Guidance – Middle School, Yavneh Academy, Paramus, NJ
Daniel Jacobson, Rabbi, Psy.D.; Director of Student Services, Yeshivat Shvilei HaTorah, Jerusalem Israel; private practice, Jerusalem and Gush Etzion, Israel
Dassi Jacobson, PhD; Psychologist, private practice, Jerusalem and Gush Etzion, Israel
Robert Levinson, Chief Financial Officer, Coventry Real Estate Advisors, NY 
Shlomo Z. Mostofsky, President, National Council of Young Israel
Steven Pruzansky, Rabbi, Congregation Bnai Yeshurun, Teaneck, NJ
Jerrold Rapaport, Senior Counsel, Israeli Operations, IDT Corporation, Jerusalem, Israel
Daniel Rosen, Rabbi; Director of General Studies, Frisch School, Paramus, NJ
Daniel Rotenberg, CEO, Beach Hill Capital, Miami Beach, FL
Sarah Schwartz, Former Guidance Coordinator, Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School, Brooklyn, NY; Jerusalem, Israel
Aaron S. Tirschwell, Founder and Director, The Eye Squad – Jerusalem, Israel

Expanding the size of the Advisory Committee is important for the growth of the EYE SQUAD. Please contact us with your suggestions: aaron@eyesquad.org

As you can tell from the above stories, the EYE SQUAD is brimming with activity. In fact, these are only some of the activities taking place and plans for more expanded services in the future.

Yet, the EYE SQUAD and its programming don't take place on their own. In order to maintain current programming and provide for new initiatives, we need the support of people like you. YOUR donation goes a long way in helping the EYE SQUAD in reaching its mission.

Please take a moment to make a secure donation online or contact us for more information about donor opportunities. We thank you in advance for your support.

Donations to the EYE SQUAD are considered tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law in the United States and Israel. USA (501 (c)3) Tax ID #03-0381957 (Young Israel Programs - CYIR). Israel (Article 46) Tax ID #580162691 (Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel.) For Online Donations, click here.