A Cincy Journeys success story, Ariel Weiss enjoys a recent visit to Camp Livingston with her family
By Christine Katzman
Jewish Federation of Cincinnati
Ariel Weiss’ journey to Israel began long before she boarded a plane. Growing up in a Cincinnati family committed to honoring their deep roots in Israel, she always felt a strong connection to her Jewish heritage. Inspired by her cousins who had made Aliyah, Weiss was eager to explore the land of Israel and establish her own relationship.
“I attended Camp Young Judaea Midwest as a child and was looking forward to traveling to Israel with my youth movement in high school,” said Weiss.
When she learned about the non-need-based Israel travel grants introduced in 1999 and funded by the Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati, and subsequently managed by the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, she seized her opportunity. The program was created in response to research showing that immersive Israel experiences strengthen Jewish identity and deepen connections to Israel.
“That was exactly what I was looking for,” said Weiss. “And in 2001, I joined my peers on a transformational trip.”
This year, Cincy Journeys celebrates a milestone, awarding more than 5,600 grants for Israel travel and Jewish overnight camps during the past 25 years. With 55 percent of these grants funding Israel trips, thousands of Jewish teens and young adults have deepened their connection to Israel.
That couldn’t be truer for Weiss. After her trip in 2001, she was able to use another grant to travel back to Israel for a gap year before college. The decision to defer college for a year weighed heavily on her, but in the end, she decided to go with her gut feeling.
“I figured: How lucky am I to have such an incredible opportunity to be sponsored in Israel for a second time?” she shared. “I realized that this year in Israel was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Cincy Journeys’ impact extends beyond Israel trips. Forty-five percent of the grants have funded Jewish overnight camps, allowing many young people to immerse themselves in Jewish life during formative years. These experiences build lifelong friendships and shape Jewish identities, many of which would not have been possible without the grant. Combined with engagement events and camp fellowships with professional development for counselors and staff, the Cincy Journeys program ensures that the impact of these experiences extends far beyond just a summer.
Weiss is proof of that impact. Following several years of work at the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, Weiss returned to Cincinnati with her family and eventually found herself facilitating trips to Israel as the Midwest Regional Director of the Birthright Israel Foundation.
“I get to help young people who are in the same place I was 20 years ago,” she said. “And now, I’m preparing to send one of my own children to camp for the first time — with help from Cincy Journeys, of course!”
As Cincy Journeys celebrates its 25th anniversary, its mission remains clear: provide Jewish youth with experiences that shape their identity and deepen their connection to Israel, their Jewish heritage, and their community.
“Cincy Journeys is such an incredible gift to our community,” said Weiss. “We are the luckiest Jewish community in the country to be able to access such incredible subsidies to immerse our children in Jewish camp and Jewish Israel programs. They offer our children the opportunity to experience Judaism for themselves in fun and meaningful environments. It’s amazing to me how each of these experiences can change the trajectory of our lives and I am so grateful to have received the opportunity — twice!”
Families can learn more about these opportunities at upcoming events, including a Camp Fair on Sunday, October 27, and the Israel & Beyond Fair on Sunday, November 3. Each event will have organizational representatives who will share about their programs, grant and scholarship information, Kosher food, and fun activities.
