IST marks 50 years

Transformative. That was the description heard most frequently at the recent 50th reunion of what is now named the Joyce Zeff Israel Study Tour. As the only community trip to Israel still left nationwide, IST has a lot to be celebrating — not least its over 3,000 participants over the years, among them at least 14 married couples who met on the trip, according to JEWISHcolorado President and CEO Rabbi Jay Strear, who also led the trip three times. For 50 years, beginning in 1971, IST has taken Colorado teens, typically following their junior year, for five weeks to Israel, to explore their Jewish roots, discover the country and connect with each other. “This doesn’t only connect our community to Israel,” says former Jco board […]