At Temple Beth Sholom in Cherry Hill, a steadfast commitment to Israel is a big part of its approach to Judaism and everyday life. Rabbi Steven Lindemann said that, soon after he arrived in 1992, the synagogue created a program that exemplified this, and has since been emulated by a number of other shuls both locally and nationally.

“We initiated the program called ‘The Confirmation Class Trip to Israel,’ which we began in 1993 or 1994,” he said. “We made a determination that there is no way that a child’s Jewish education is complete without an experience in Israel. And age 15, at the confirmation age, seemed like a very good age at which to do it.”

For the more than 400 kids who are enrolled in the shul’s early childhood center, religious school and confirmation classes, learning — abo

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