Hundreds of Jewish Day School Students Invest in Israeli Businesses

Three hundred students from Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School (CESJDS) in Rockville spent Friday, Dec. 13, selecting small businesses in Israel to lend to as part of SparkIL’s effort to connect young Jews around the world to Israel and support these struggling entrepreneurs.

SparkIL, a peer-to-peer online lending platform, worked with the school to embrace their mission of supporting small businesses in Israel. Many of the current business owners who receive loans through the platform have been deeply affected by the ongoing war in Israel, including reservists and evacuees.

Students broke into advisory groups of eight or nine members to explore the SparkIL website, learn about the various businesses seeking loans, and discuss their options. Each student then chose a business to support with an impact loan, using a $36 gift card provided by the SparkIL NextGen Fund. CESJDS students were the first of the organization’s massive movement which included some 10,000 young people who took part in this initiative, which aims to foster a meaningful connection with Israelis and introduce them to the power of impact lending.

“We are excited to partner with SparkIL to bring our students into direct contact with a diverse set of small Israeli entrepreneurs as a means of connecting American Jews with Israelis,” said Rabbi Mitchel Malkus, CESJDS Head of School. “SparkIL’s mission also aligns with our school’s new Social Entrepreneurship program and our core values of Ahavat Yisrael and Tikkun Olam.”

Teachers leading the program reported it was an overwhelming success, with students showing genuine excitement and engagement. Many were particularly inspired by how simple it was to make a real difference in someone’s life.

“There was so much electricity in the air,” said Anat Kaufman, high school Hebrew language teacher and Israel engagement coordinator at CESJDS. “I knew the students would be excited, but I never could have imagined anything like this. Their connection to these businesses were immediate and they were so enthralled about the opportunity to give back to Israelis who need it.”

Na’ama Ore, CEO of SparkIL, said, “The event at CESJDS was a resounding success where we were able to inspire young Jews around the world, their parents and their community at large to invest in Israel and connect with its citizens. When these students contribute to a small business, they are investing in an Israeli’s hopes and dreams which is so important during this difficult time in the country.”

Nir Buchler, regional director for the Southeast at The Jewish Agency for Israel, who met with the students, said, “I came away deeply impressed by the caliber of the students I spoke with, and they were very interested in my experience visiting SparkIL businesses the last time I was in Israel. The Jewish Agency has two critical missions: reinforcing the State of Israel and connecting Israelis to global Jewry. As such, SparkIL fulfills both and is a valued partner of The Jewish Agency.”

Established in 2022 in partnership with The Jewish Agency for Israel and The Ogen Group, SparkIL is a first-of-its-kind platform that enables users to participate in crowdfunding interest-free loans which aim to make a real, measurable, and continuing impact on underserved populations across Israel.

Lenders begin the process by exploring various business opportunities that empower them to make an impact on Israeli society which speaks to their aspirations, passions, and values. After repayment of their loan, lenders can choose to reinvest their money into other worthy businesses — ensuring that their initial loan has ripple effects indefinitely — or to withdraw their funds from the platform.