The Center for Jewish Education of the Jewish Federation of Rockland granted three college scholarships to four area teens.
Ramat Shalom Scholarship Recipients
   Deena Bloom of Suffern High School and Elizabeth Stern, of Clarkstown  High School South, have been selected as this year's award recipients of the .  Bloom and Stern will receive cash awards of $500 each.  In addition to other qualifying criteria, each student submitted an essay describing the student's personal involvement in Judaism. 
 "My first experiences took place at the Reuben Gittelman Hebrew Day School and with my grandparents," Bloom wrote. " Reuben Gittelman helped me learn the basics of Hebrew.  I spent Shabbat at my grandparent's house, went to synagogue with them, as well as celebrated many of the holidays together.  It was a wonderful experience, especially at a young age."
   Stern wrote in her essay that "Being Jewish is extremely important to me.  It is not just my religion but is something much deeper than that.  It is a culture, a way of life and has instilled a variety of values in me including the value of education."
   The scholarship was donated by the Ramat Shalom Synagogue, which closed in 1997.  Established in 1969, this egalitarian Conservative synagogue in Dexter Park, Spring Valley dedicated itself to giving the children of member families a meaningful Jewish education in an informal setting.  A donation from the sale of the synagogue's assets was made to the Center for Jewish Education of the Jewish Federation of Rockland in order to award the scholarships.  Every year one or two students are granted a scholarship.
Dr. Edward Fisher Youth Israel Scholarship Recipient
   Samantha Botwinick is recipient of the Dr. Edward Fisher Youth Israel Scholarship. She will be attending Ramah Seminar in Israel.
  "Samantha excelled in the classroom setting.  Her participation and enthusiasm were contagious, and she truly contributed to a healthy learning environment," said Rabbi Joshua A.Wald.  Her classmates would always view her as a person of real substance and valued her opinion in class.  In fact I as a teacher enjoyed her remarks as they would often spring others into thought and become engaged in the material."
Dr. Kerry Weinberg Scholarship Recipient
   Kevin Rebhun, a Rockland County resident, has been announced as the winner of the Dr. Kerry Weinberg Youth Israel Scholarship.  Kevin will be attending the Tochnit Torah V'derech Eretz program of Bar Ilan University. 
  "My anticipated year in Israel can provide me with priceless information and memories to guide me through life," Rebhun wrote. "I plan on studying at a University where I will tackle issues of the Torah through the very puzzling Talmud, amongst other topics.  I hope by the end of my year I have gained a new understanding of the Talmud and will be able to guide my children using the knowledge I have gained in my year spent in Israel."