HARTFORD – Connecticut teens Lee Winters and Zoe Coelho are part of a cohort of 33 teens from across North America who will spend four months in Israel on the NFTY High School in Israel – Eisendrath International Experience (NFTY-EIE) program. Winters, who is a member of Temple B’nai Chaim in Georgetown and Temple Shearith Israel in Ridgefield, and Coelho, a member of Congregation Kol Haverim in Glastonbury, will study in Israel from August through December of 2016.

Established in 1961 by NFTY, the youth arm of the Reform Movement, NFTY-EIE is based on Kibbutz Tzuba outside of Jerusalem.

“I don’t like being a tourist, and I thought EIE would be more on the immersive side and less touristy,” says Lee. “I’m really looking forward to experiencing the High Holidays in Israel.”

“The NFTY-EIE High School in Israel offers outstanding teens the opportunity to develop a deep sense of personal connection to Israel and the Jewish people while being inspired to explore their personal Jewish identity during four challenging and rewarding months,” said Paul Reichenbach, director of Camping and Israel Programs for the Union for Reform Judaism.

For more information, visit www.nftyeie.org.