VFI Establishes Jeanne Schachter Memorial Fund.

By Beverly Cohen

Jeanne Schachter’s love for Israel was kindled when she was a young student, even before the creation of the modern State. In the summer of 1949, as a recent college graduate she made her first trip to the newly created State of Israel. She returned many times thereafter, including a year-long sabbatical stay in 1970-71 and numerous trips with Volunteers for Israel (VFI). Jeanne spent her 44-year professional career as a math teacher at Akiba Hebrew Academy, teaching three generations of Jewish students. She was also on the Hebrew faculty for the first 14 years. In 1982, toward the end of her teaching career, Jeanne became affiliated with Volunteers for Israel, adding a new dimension to her attachment to and love for Israel. Jeanne was passionate about Volunteers, its mission, and the opportunity to help send others to do volunteer work in Israel. VFI soon became one of the most rewarding and personally fulfilling aspects of her retirement. In addition to coordinating the Philadelphia PA Regional office for over two decades, she also served as interim Executive Director, National President, and as a member of the National Board. In loving memory, her family — together with the Philadelphia Region Alumni Group of Volunteers for Israel — has established the Jeanne Schachter Memorial Fund. The fund combines Jeanne’s two passions “ students and Israel. The fund will cover the application fee for students through age twenty-one (21) who are participating for the first time on a Volunteers For Israel program through the Philadelphia Region. Please consider a donation to the fund in honor/memory of someone special or to celebrate a simcha. Contributions to the Jeanne Schachter Memorial Fund may be made to: VFI Philadelphia Region, PO Box 693, Skippack PA 19474 For further details, contact: Bev Cohen (bevcohen@comcast.net ; 610.584.0468) or Carol Stein (cagstein@verizon.net)