Members of the Eye Squad team made appearances at Israel Nights all over the New York/New Jersey area this month, getting the word out to next year’s incoming post-high school students. At these evenings, including one at the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls (covered in the 5 Towns Jewish Times), Squad representatives distributed magnets, pens, and information about the Hotline and BAYIT programs to students and their parents, with enthusiastic responses.
The Squad does Israel Nights
Eye Squad Update - Elul/September 2008
“Rosh Chodesh Elul, the traditional beginning of the influx of Anglo student to Israel attending one-year “gap” programs, begins this Sunday…”
Eye Squad Update - Summer 2008
“Summer is greeted by most as a time for slowing down, taking some vacation time to spend with family and friends, and perhaps taking stock of the past 12 months as we know that the New Year is only 2 months away. If I had to take a moment to reflect on the progress of the Eye Squad over this past half year, only one word would come to mind: sensational!…”
Click here to read the full summer update from founder and director Rabbi Aaron Tirschwell.
BAYIT Program Introduced in Jewish Star
“A new program called BAYIT (Building A Year in Israel Together) will pair students studying in Israel with families who have made aliyah from North America, attempting to ease the transition period for those who spend a post-high school year learning in Israel…”
Click Here for the full article, “A home away from home” by Dov Winston, which appeared in the August 8th issue of the Jewish Star.
Hamodia Covers Eye Squad Launch
“We are talking about young men and women who are experiencing living away from their home for the first time,” said Tirschwell. “The conservative estimate is that approximately 10 percent of these students suffer from some sort of psychological or emotional issue, including eating disorders and alcohol and [substance] use and abuse… This is a staggering number of young adults who are at risk and who desperately need help.”
Click here to read the full article (PDF), which appeared in Hamodia on March 12th, 2008.
The Eye Squad in Arutz Sheva
A new “students in distress” hotline service has been opened for overseas students spending a year in Israel. The service, named Eye Squad, was launched this Friday…
Click here to read the full article on the popular English-language Israel news website of Arutz Sheva, IsraelNationalNews.com.



