For the past twenty-six years, the Dorot Travel Grant Program has helped build connections between students and the Land and State of Israel.  We deeply appreciate the partnership of the many institutions that have helped make possible a significant Israel experience for as many as 6,000 students over the years.

Much has changed since the program began in 1980.  The range of Israel travel programs that exists today would delight and amaze those who first envisioned and created the Dorot Travel Grant Program.

In recent months, the Foundation has taken a hard look at the Program.  We’ve asked serious questions about the program’s purpose, its current impact, the environment in which it operates and its potential impact not only on individual students, but also on important developments occurring in Israel.

Based on our exploration, the Board has decided to end the Travel Grant program, effective immediately, and to develop a new program model to address an expanded set of goals.  Though we recognize that, for many, this change may lead to a sense of loss or frustration, we hope you will share our excitement about the new model’s potential.

Instead of block grants to a limited number of institutions, the new program, named the Social Change in Israel Awards, is a competition open to all U.S. undergraduates at accredited U.S. colleges and universities.

The pilot year of the Social Change in Israel Awards goes into effect immediately. 

The program will provide up to ten (10) $5,000 Awards to individual undergraduates who develop, in collaboration with an Israel-based Mentor and a home institution Faculty Advisor, a project promoting progressive social change in Israel during Summer 2007. 

We hope you will join us in spreading the word about the new Dorot Social Change in Israel Awards.

The partnership of many institutions has helped the Foundation fulfill one of its original goals, that of building deeper relationships between students and Israel.  We could not have done it without them.

As we seek to fulfill an upgraded goal, one that has aspirations both for undergraduates and for social change in Israel, we welcome your involvement.