The IDC

Special SpOTliGHT ON
NORTH CAROLINA FRIENDS OF IDC
American Friends of IDC reaches out to communities across the
United States. This year, Jonathan Davis and Felicia Steingard
were warmly invited to North Carolina to meet members of
the community, share stories from IDC Herzliya and encourage
young students to study in Israel at IDC’s Raphael Recanati
International School. Ms. Michelle Hensley, mother of RRIS
student Goel Damkani, served as a gracious host and arranged for
meetings at the UNC Hillel, Beth Meyer Synagogue and Raleigh
Charter High School, among other locations. Local TV Channel
5 WRAL-Raleigh Durham Reporter Bruce Mildwurf interviewed
Mr. Davis for their news segment. Mr. Davis presented on a wide
range of subjects including: “Making the Case for Israel,” “The
Impact of Immigration on the State of Israel” and “The Challenge
of a Democracy in its Fight against Terrorism.” Thanks to all the
wonderful members of the community who came out to show their
support; IDC’s doors are open to them on their next trip to Israel.
NEW YORK FRIENDS OF IDC
AFIDC COCKTAIL PARTY AT CAROL AND JOEY LOW
On a gloriously sunny day in Westchester, Carol and Joey Low hosted
50 friends and neighbors at their home, to meet and hear the stories of
three exceptional IDC graduates – Mali Akum, Devorah Desta and Mazal
Yitzchak. Having just finished prestigious internships at the US Holocaust
Museum in Washington DC, these articulate and talented Ethiopian-
Israeli women educated an eager audience about Ethiopian Jewry and their
experiences in IDC Herzliya’s Israel at Heart Ethiopian Program.
Mali, Mazal and Devorah, who graduated with BA degrees in communications,
government and psychology respectively, spent a summer
in WDC giving tours to visitors of the museum and broadening their
understanding of Jewish history and themselves. “We met and worked
with survivors who were so full of life and so encouraging,” said program
Devorah Desta, Jack Solow, Mali Aklum Mali Aklum with Danny and Wendy Moskowitz and
Hannah Low, mother of Joey Low
graduate Devorah Desta. “I really enjoyed Washington DC, I am going
to miss it,” said Mali Akum. “Though my family did not go through the
Holocaust, as a Jew it is part of my history.” The museum was so thrilled
with the three interns that they have already invited a new group to
participate next summer.
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The audience was curious to hear about their families’ journeys to Israel,
how Israelis perceive Ethiopian Jews, and what educational and job
opportunities they found there. The graduates were very proud to tell
their personal stories and to discuss the frustrations they face and the
tremendous advantage their education at IDC has afforded them.
Started by Joey Low, the Israel at Heart Ethiopian Program gives full
scholarships and other assistance to talented Ethiopian Israelis who wish
to pursue college degrees. The enrollment process differs from other
Israeli colleges in that it looks at the whole person, not just grades, finding
leadership potential and nurturing those candidates via a comprehensive
and tailor-made program. Now in its 5 th year, over 50 students have been
accepted. Almost all the students of the first graduating class have secured
Joey Low with his parents, Hannah and Eddie Low
gainful employment at prestigious firms in Israel and are working within
their fields of choice.
To learn more about the Israel at Heart Ethiopian Program at IDC or
to become a scholarship donor please contact in Israel Jonathan Davis:
jonathand@idc.ac.il or in the US Felicia Steingard: felicia@afidc.org