New York–A group of CIJE–Tech High School Engineering Program students from Jewish day schools will be participating in the first “CIJE-Tech: Journey to the Start-Up Nation” STEM Education Israel Trip from January 13-23.

The 10-day initiative is a unique, new component of the Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education CIJE-Tech program to prepare students at Jewish day schools to innovate, problem solve and leverage their skills in 21st century STEM-based careers.

During the trip, several dozen students will work together in teams to develop product and technology ideas and meet entrepreneurs at major start-up and established companies in Israel who will provide real world feedback. Students will also have a chance to pitch their ideas to venture capital executives from Jerusalem Venture Partners and meet with best-selling Start-Up Nation author Saul Singer, who will discuss the Israel high tech miracle in the heart of “Silicon Wadi.”

CIJE-Tech is a discovery-focused, interactive curriculum with a year each of scientific and biomedical engineering. CIJE-Tech exposes students to a diverse range of science and technical knowledge areas while helping develop multidisciplinary and abstract thinking as well as leadership and teamwork skills. CIJE also provides intensive teacher training, on-going teacher mentoring, as well as all science laboratory equipment and materials. The curriculum was developed in collaboration with the Israel Sci-Tech network of schools.

Israel is far ahead of much of the world in leveraging STEM capabilities in new business startups,” explains Judy Lebovits, vice president and director of the Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education (CIJE). “We’re providing unique access and activities that will significantly enhance our CIJE-Tech students’ education.”

“Schools and parents are intensely focused on providing these STEM skills and we hope that with additional support, we can organize more of these unique, engineering-focused trips,” says Jason Cury, CIJE president.

Students will be participating from the following schools: Davis Renov Stahler Yeshiva High School for Boys–Woodmere, NY; Hebrew Academy of Five Towns and Rockaway–Lawrence, NY; Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls–Hewlett Bay Park, NY; The Frisch School–Paramus, NJ; New Community Jewish High School–Los Angeles, CA; Yeshiva University of Los Angeles High Schools for Boys and Girls–Los Angeles, CA.

“We will have the opportunity to join other CIJE-Tech students throughout the country who are coming together for the sake of science, which I find very exciting,” said Frisch School CIJE-Tech student David Lifschitz. I’m very keen to be in Israel on this experience of a lifetime.”