Invest in your child’sJewish future

SKIP GoaLA meaningful high school, college oryoung adult Israel Experience programas part of your child’s Jewish education.

SKIP PARTNERSYour family, your congregation, and theJewish Federation all contribute to theSKIP savings plan.

SKIP ENROLLMENTBegin in public or day school 3rd, 4th,5th, or 6th grade and continuecontributions through 9th grade.

“LLaasstt spring I took twenty teenagers to Israel on NorthShore Congregation Israel’s ‘Israel Teen Trip’. The SKIPprogram, in combination with our synagogue’s Louis andSaeree Fiedler Israel Scholarship Fund made this trip possiblefor many of those teens, my own daughter among them.The trip was absolutely transformative for us all. Togetherwe have given these teenagers a lifetime of Ahavat Tziyon(Love of Israel). As a rabbi, and as a parent, I thank you.”

~Rabbi Judy Spicehandler, mother of a North ShoreCongregation Israel SKIP graduate and 2008 IsraelExperience participant.

“II am very appreciative of the SKIP money which allowedme to spend the summer in Israel learning about Judaismand medicine and how they relate. It was a wonderfulexperience that I could not have had in any other place.This summer was an amazing, eye-opening experiencethat I will never forget.”

~Elizabeth Sokol, age 23, B’nai TikvahCongregation SKIP Graduate and Israel Experienceparticipant in 2008.

“I just returned from a youth Israel trip [through mycongregation]…I enjoyed the trip very much and foundevery aspect of our visit fascinating. Thank you forcontributing to my trip through the SKIP program. Ivalued this opportunity to see Israel very highly.”

~Nate Evans, age 16, Congregation Etz Chaim of DuPage County SKIP Graduate and 2007-2008Israel Experience participant.

“Putting money into SKIP every year was a painlessway to save for my son to go to Israel. When he decidedto spend a semester of high school in Israel, the moneywas already there. He came back transformed by theexperience. SKIP funds allowed him to participate in alife changing adventure.”

~Robin Uchitelle, mother of two SKIP participants atOak Park Temple, one of whom was a 2005 IsraelExperience participant.

Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago

Ben Gurion Way • 30 South Wells Street

Chicago, Illinois 60606-5056 • (312)444-2895

Hundreds of Chicago area high school, college

students and young adults go to Israel each year. Make sure your child is one of them . . .

A savings incentive program to help your child go to Israel.

S k i pISRAEL PROGRAM. SKIP participants andtheir families choose an Israel Experienceprogram from among the many formal programsoffered by local and national Jewish organizationsor educational institutions. Programs must beapproved by Federation. Information on the variety of approved Israel Experience programsis available from the Jewish Federation andonline at www.juf.org/israel_experience.

Students enrolled in SKIP can use their fundstowards an Israel Experience program any timebetween the end of 9th grade and age 26, evenafter participating in a Birthright Israel program.

WITHDRAWAL OF SKIP FUNDS.SKIP contributions plus accumulated interest canbe withdrawn at any time on 30 days notice.

TO ENROLL. Enrollments are arranged onlythrough participating congregations. Furtherinformation is available from your congregation,the Jewish Federation at (312)444-2895 or onlineat www.juf.org/israel_experience/skip.aspx.

THE SKIP PROGRAM. SKIP is aspecial kind of savings plan. The SKIP partners(family, congregation and Federation)contribute matching funds each year. Studentswho participate in the program for the fullseven years (grades 3 through 9) will haveapproximately $2,000, including interest, tohelp meet the cost of a high school, college oryoung adult Israel Experience program.

SKIP FUNDING. The combinedcontribution of the family and the participatingcongregation is $170 per year for eachstudent. Each congregation determines theamount to be contributed by the family andcongregation respectively. For example, if yourcongregation contributes $50 per year, thenyou contribute $120 per year.

The Jewish Federation will set aside $85 perchild for each year that the family andcongregation contribute.

The SKIP program does not cover the entirecost of an Israel Experience program. SKIPsavings can be used together with otherFederation Israel Experience SavingsPrograms, including JUF Bar/Bat MitzvahCertificates, Gift of Israel savings, and Walk with Israel Vouchers. Families in financial need can also apply for scholarships from other sources, including the program sponsor, their congregation, and Federation.

SKIP ELIGIBILITY. Students fromfamilies affiliated with a participatingcongregation, in public school or day schoolgrades 3-6, and enrolled in a CommunityFoundation for Jewish Education or AssociatedTalmud Torahs affiliated congregational or dayschool program in the Chicago metropolitanarea are eligible to enroll in SKIP.

SKIP, the SEND-A-KID-TO-ISRAEL PARTNERSHIP, unites families, congregations and theJewish Federation of MetropolitanChicago to help make an Israelexperience with their peers an integral part of the Jewish education of Chicago area students.

Someday, sooner than you expect,your child will be a teenager andthen a young adult. A high school,college or young adult IsraelExperience program can be a criticalfactor for your child’s Jewishidentity, and SKIP can help make thistrip possible.

RULES OF PARTICIPATION

SKIP is a cooperative program in which families, congregations and the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan

Chicago (Federation) each contribute funds toward an Israel Experience program for participating students.

The purpose of the SKIP program is to help more students experience Israel as part of their Jewish education.

Federation will earmark $85 per year, up to a maximum of seven years, and families and congregations will

contribute a combined total of $170 each year to the SKIP program. If the family has contributed for a

youngster for the full seven years, a fund of approximately $2,000 will exist to help meet the cost of an

approved Israel Experience program.

Eligibility

Students from families affiliated with a participating congregation, who are in public school or day school grade

3-6 and enrolled in a Community Foundation for Jewish Education or Associated Talmud Torahs affiliated

congregational or day school program in the Chicago metropolitan area, are eligible to enroll in SKIP.

Enrollment

Eligible students must enroll in SKIP through a participating congregation. The family contribution is due at

the time of enrollment. Annual contributions by each of the parties to SKIP continue through ninth grade.

SKIP contributions are made for a specific participant and are to be used only for the benefit of that participant.

SKIP savings are not transferable.

The combined annual contribution of the family and congregation totals $170. The family and congregation

must each contribute a minimum of $25 annually for each student in the program. The remainder of the $170 is

to be divided between the family and congregation as each congregation deems best.

Families can enroll new participants in the SKIP program or make contributions for previously enrolled

participants only during the annual fall enrollment period. Family contributions must be made directly to the

congregation by December 1, with family checks made payable to the congregation. The congregation will then

forward its total combined check equaling the combined contributions of $170 per participant to Federation by

December 31, clearly specifying the amount contributed by the family and by the congregation for each

participant. The congregation's check must be made payable to the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago.

Suspension, Withdrawal, and Transfer

If family and congregational contributions are not received for a participating student within the specified time

period, the student will be suspended for one full year, and Federation will not earmark its $85 annual

contribution during the period of suspension. A student is eligible to resume participation by resuming

contributions, by December 1, in any succeeding year through ninth grade.

RULES OF PARTICIPATION (page 2)

A participating family may suspend contributions at any time. Family and congregation contributions from

previous years will continue to earn interest. Accumulated contributions of family, congregation and Federation

may be used for an eligible Israel Experience program as stated below.

A participating family may also withdraw its contributions at any time by submitting a SKIP withdrawal form

found on the website. If withdrawal occurs, the family forfeits its rights to the contributions of the congregation

and Federation; contributions made by the family and by the congregation will be returned to each with interest.

If a participating family discontinues membership in the congregation, the congregation's contributions from

previous years will remain in the participant's SKIP account. If a student transfers from one participating

congregation to another, he/she may continue in the program pursuant to the terms agreed upon by the family

and the new congregation. Both discontinuation of membership in a participating congregation and transfer of a

student to a non-participating congregation will be treated as a suspension, and the family will have the option

of withdrawing or leaving the funds in SKIP to be used according to the terms of the SKIP program.

Administration of Funds

The SKIP program is administered by the Jewish Federation. All family and congregational contributions will

be deposited in an appropriate financial institution. Federation will contribute the funds it has earmarked for

the student, at the time of participation, to an approved Israel Experience program chosen by the family.

Participants will receive annual reports on the status of their SKIP accounts. Families should be aware that

Federation has been advised that Federal law considers interest earned on SKIP savings as taxable income.

Supplementary Funding

SKIP funds can be used in conjunction with other Federation Israel Experience savings programs (including

Gift of Israel, Bar/Bat Mitzvah Certificates, Walk with Israel Vouchers, etc.).

The accumulated funds of the three SKIP contributing partners do NOT cover the full cost of most Israel

Experience programs. While many families may be able to meet the total cost from personal resources, others

may not. Participating families can request additional financial support from their congregation, the Israel

Experience program sponsor, and/or Federation's Israel Experience scholarship programs.

Israel Experience Programs

SKIP participants can use their SKIP funds for a wide variety of approved, formal Israel Experience programs

offered by local or national Jewish youth groups or non-profit educational institutions in Israel. Israel

Experience programs are, by definition, peer group programs; family trips are not eligible for use of SKIP

funding. All programs must be approved by Federation's Israel Experience Department. SKIP funds cannot be

used for Federation missions or Birthright Israel programs because Federation already provides a great deal of

the funding for these programs. Participants can use their SKIP funds towards an Israel Experience program

any time beginning at the end of 9th grade* through age 26.

Policy

Policies regarding rules of participation are established by the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago.

*Under certain circumstances, families may be able to use some of their SKIP funds for 8th grade Israel

Experience programs. Please contact our office to learn more.N:\Israel Experience-Youth Initiatives\ISRAEL EXPERIENCE\SKIP\Enrollment\2011-2012\RULES-2011.docx Rev. 9/14

Answers to Some “Frequently Asked Questions” about the SKIP Program

Q: My child is only eight years old. How can we know he'll want to participate in an Israel Experience

program?

A: Most young people who have attended religious school from elementary school through junior high

and high school welcome the opportunity to go on an Israel Experience program when in high school

or college. However, if your child decides not to participate in an approved Israel Experience

program, your family's contributions, plus interest, are fully refundable to you by submitting a SKIP

withdrawal form.

Q: My child is in fifth grade. Is it possible to enroll her now and pay for third and fourth grades, so that she can

participate for the full seven years?

A: SKIP participants can enroll only for the current school year. Catch-up payments are not accepted.

Q: My child is past sixth grade. May I enroll him now and pay for the years back to sixth grade?

A: No. Children beyond sixth grade are not eligible to enroll in SKIP. Catch-up payments are not

accepted.

Q: Can I enroll my grandchildren in SKIP?

A: Grandchildren can be enrolled only if they meet the eligibility requirements of a participating

congregation as set forth in the SKIP Rules of Participation.

Q: Must my child go to Israel on a specific Federation program?

A: SKIP participants can use their SKIP funds for a wide variety of approved, formal Israel Experience

programs offered by local or national Jewish youth groups or non-profit educational institutions in

Israel. Israel Experience programs are, by definition, peer group programs; family trips are not

eligible for SKIP funding. All programs must be approved by Federation. SKIP funds cannot be

used for Federation missions or Birthright Israel programs because Federation already provides a

great deal of the funding for these programs.

Q: SKIP sounds too good to be true. Am I really getting funding from my congregation and Federation with no

"strings" attached?

A: There are no "strings" attached to SKIP. Congregation and Federation funds are made available to

SKIP participants to encourage more young people to participate in an approved Israel Experience

program as part of their Jewish education. Your contributions can be returned to you in full, plus

interest, at any time by submitting a SKIP withdrawal form.

SKIP is a very special program because everyone benefits from it: your congregation, Federation, the Jewish

community, Israel, your family and, most of all, YOUR CHILD.

IF YOU HAVE MORE QUESTIONS, contact us at (312) 444-2895 or israelexperience@juf.org.

New Participation Agreement

The parties to this Agreement, ,

(Congregation name)

, and the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago agree to participate in

(Parent/Guardian)

the Send-A-Kid-To-Israel Partnership (SKIP) program.

The purpose of this program is to provide financial resources to help enable

to go on an Israel Experience program as a part of his/her Jewish education.

(Child’s name: Last, First – PLEASE PRINT)

and

(Congregation name) (Parent/Guardian)

agree to contribute a combined total of $170 each year to the SKIP program administered by the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan

Chicago. The congregation will contribute $________and the family will contribute $________. The Federation will contribute an

additional $85.00 per student enrollment year to the approved Israel Experience program selected by the participant.

The terms and rules controlling the parties’ participation in this program are defined in the attached separate document titled,

“Send-A-Kid-To-Israel Partnership (SKIP) Rules of Participation” (hereinafter known as “Rules of Participation”). The parties to this

agreement state they have read the separate document known as “Rules of Participation” and have agreed to participate in this program

according to its terms.

The parties acknowledge their participation in the SKIP program by signing and dating this agreement below.

CONGREGATION:

(Congregation name)

By: (Date) (Signature of Congregational representative)

FAMILY (please print legibly & complete entire section):

(Date) (Signature of Parent/Guardian)

(Home address: include street address, city, state & zip code) (Home phone number)

(Parent’s email address) (Grade in public/day school) (Child’s date of birth)

JEWISH FEDERATION OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO:

By:

(Date) (Signature)

Rev. 09/14