Last week, Ofra, Workit, Ilene and I all met with a group of people visiting Arad on an Energy Experts Seminar through the American Jewish Committee. We met the group at the Inbar hotel and spoke to them about the partnership, Arad and ourselves during dinner. Ofra started the evening by giving an overview of the partnership and all that the partnership does. She also explained who Workit, Ilene and I are and how we are connected to the partnership. When Ofra was finished Workit spoke about herself and the work she does in the Ethiopian community of Arad through the Ethiopian youth center, Tzelty. The group was very interested in her aliah story and about the different culture that she comes from. Ilene and I spoke about Otzma and the role that we play with the partnership as part of our program. We also spoke about the different places that we are volunteering and the way that we are making connections in Arad. Once we all spoke we opened it up for questions from the group. The group had many questions and it was very satisfying to be able to be the ones to answer their questions. When we left the group after dinner it was a feeling of success in that we were really able to inform this group about the partnership and the different types of activities that it is a part of in order to bridge the gap between American Jews and Israelis.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
It has been about a month since I first arrived in Arad, Delaware’s Partnership 2000 city as a participant on OTZMA. At the time, the situation in Gaza had escalated to the point where the Israeli Army to defend the citizens living in the south of Israel from the daily Hamas rocket attacks. During this stressful time for Israel, I, like all Israelis, continued to live as much of a normal life as possible. I received emails and phone calls from family and friends asking if I was coming home. I appreciated their concern, however I knew that coming home was not an option. My fellow Otzma participants and I felt it was more important to stand strong behind Israel and our sister city communities in the south during this difficult time.
Since the cease-fire, many participants in my program, including myself, have moved back to their partnership cities. This week I will be participating in a seminar focused on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We will be spending time in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and most importantly Sderot. In Sderot we will be spending time speaking with citizens about their experiences and looking at the aftermath in Gaza and Sderot.
In addition to spending time learning more about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, I have been spending a lot of time volunteering in Arad. As soon as I arrived in Arad I felt at home. I have been volunteering three mornings per week at the high school helping to prepare the students for the English Begrut (the exams that Israeli high school students have to pass in order to graduate). The teachers there are so welcoming. The 12th grade English teacher, Bela, even gives me a goody bag each week. In addition to the friendly staff, I have really enjoyed helping the students gain confidence speaking English while getting to know about their lives in Arad. Another volunteering placement that I have really enjoyed is Biet Giladi, Arad’s senior day center. There, the elderly come together for two meals a day and an abundance of activities such as exercise class, singing, gardening, and bingo. I have been teaching conversational English and computer skills to a group of eager members and enjoying card games over coffee and tea. The most rewarding part of volunteering at Biet Giladi is the warm people with whom I get to share a little bit of their day while practicing my Hebrew and hearing the many stories that compose their lives. It is a really amazing to be a part of an organization that provides friendship and a community for many senior citizens of Arad, who, without this program, would be spending most days alone.
While I have spent most of my time in Arad volunteering with amazing organizations, one of my highlights thus far was when my alma mata, the University of Delaware, made a trip to Arad during UD’s annual Hillel taglit-birthright trip. We spent the morning catching up while beautifying the outside of the new young adult center/partnership offices for the upcoming dedication ceremony. We sanded the fence, trimmed the bushes, cleared the weeds, and planted a small flower garden. We all enjoyed helping out our sister city while Ofra Nathan Bezalel, the Living bridge Coordinator, talked about the connection between Delaware and Arad. She discussed potential opportunities for students to participate in Living bridge programs between Arad and Delaware. If you are interested in learning about these opportunities, you can check out http://www.shalomdelaware.org/section.aspx?id=59, or for more information on OTZMA go to www.otzma.org. Overall, it was a great experience for me to show Arad to some friends from home and share how meaningful my time volunteering with OTZMA has been.
As the month of January comes to an end and I look back on my experiences thus far, I know that OTZMA has already given an experience that I will be forever grateful for. As the program continues, I look forward to strengthening my relationships within Arad because I know that as much as I can give to Arad, I am receiving so much more in return.
~Ilene
Since the cease-fire, many participants in my program, including myself, have moved back to their partnership cities. This week I will be participating in a seminar focused on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We will be spending time in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and most importantly Sderot. In Sderot we will be spending time speaking with citizens about their experiences and looking at the aftermath in Gaza and Sderot.
In addition to spending time learning more about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, I have been spending a lot of time volunteering in Arad. As soon as I arrived in Arad I felt at home. I have been volunteering three mornings per week at the high school helping to prepare the students for the English Begrut (the exams that Israeli high school students have to pass in order to graduate). The teachers there are so welcoming. The 12th grade English teacher, Bela, even gives me a goody bag each week. In addition to the friendly staff, I have really enjoyed helping the students gain confidence speaking English while getting to know about their lives in Arad. Another volunteering placement that I have really enjoyed is Biet Giladi, Arad’s senior day center. There, the elderly come together for two meals a day and an abundance of activities such as exercise class, singing, gardening, and bingo. I have been teaching conversational English and computer skills to a group of eager members and enjoying card games over coffee and tea. The most rewarding part of volunteering at Biet Giladi is the warm people with whom I get to share a little bit of their day while practicing my Hebrew and hearing the many stories that compose their lives. It is a really amazing to be a part of an organization that provides friendship and a community for many senior citizens of Arad, who, without this program, would be spending most days alone.
While I have spent most of my time in Arad volunteering with amazing organizations, one of my highlights thus far was when my alma mata, the University of Delaware, made a trip to Arad during UD’s annual Hillel taglit-birthright trip. We spent the morning catching up while beautifying the outside of the new young adult center/partnership offices for the upcoming dedication ceremony. We sanded the fence, trimmed the bushes, cleared the weeds, and planted a small flower garden. We all enjoyed helping out our sister city while Ofra Nathan Bezalel, the Living bridge Coordinator, talked about the connection between Delaware and Arad. She discussed potential opportunities for students to participate in Living bridge programs between Arad and Delaware. If you are interested in learning about these opportunities, you can check out http://www.shalomdelaware.org/section.aspx?id=59, or for more information on OTZMA go to www.otzma.org. Overall, it was a great experience for me to show Arad to some friends from home and share how meaningful my time volunteering with OTZMA has been.
As the month of January comes to an end and I look back on my experiences thus far, I know that OTZMA has already given an experience that I will be forever grateful for. As the program continues, I look forward to strengthening my relationships within Arad because I know that as much as I can give to Arad, I am receiving so much more in return.
~Ilene
Official Arad Partnership office opening
The official opening of the new offices for the partnership in Arad took place February 2, 2009. The new offices are located in a building that has been renovated and turned into a beautiful young adult center for the people of Arad. This project was able to be completed because of the support of the Ness Foundation and the Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey. Eleanor Rubin came as a representative of the Ness Foundation and Stanley Stone, the Executive director, and other lay leaders came as representatives of the Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey. It was a true pleasure to be able to watch as Mrs. Rubin, Stanley Stone and other Central New Jersey representatives stood alongside the mayor of Arad, Gideon Bar Lev, and unveiled the new sign on the front of the young adult center. The sign is a small symbol of the generosity of the Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey toward the city of Arad. This generosity was greatly appreciated. After the sign outside was revealed the mayor had the privilege of hanging the Mezuzah on the door of the young adult center before everyone entered and the celebration began. Many different people gave their words of thanks and their visions for this new center. Specifically, the mayor, Gideon Bar Lev, stated how having this center is another way to have the young adults of the community stay in Arad. He truly believes that they are the future of the community. We were also privileged to hear the teenagers from the Ethiopian youth center in Arad perform their musical talents. A member of the young adult center, Ortal Saragani, also sang for the group with her lovely voice. A beautiful PowerPoint presentation was shown to display all of the wonderful things that are going on in Arad and the Tamar region due to the efforts of the partnership. At the end an incredible dinner was served and all that were present really enjoyed themselves and were proud to be a part of the momentous occasion of dedicating this center..JPG)
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Monmouth Delegation
The Arad-Tamar partnership is very excited to be sending a group of sixteen and seventeen year old students over to Monmouth County, New Jersey. This mission is something that started a few years ago and continues because of its importance for both the Israelis and Americans involved. This year the group of teenagers will be accompanied on the mission by Ofra who is the living-bridge coordinator of the partnership. While in Monmouth County the teens will be hosted by families from local synagogues who also have teenagers the same age. The Israelis will be partaking in the synagogue and religious school activities as well as going with the host teenager to their local public school to talk about themselves and living in Israel in English. This is a great example of the way that the partnership fosters the living bridge and having Americans and Israelis meet one another.
University of Delaware Hillel Birthright Winter 2009
The University of Delaware Hillel came to Arad last week as part of their ten day Israel experience. The group came to volunteer in their partnership community as they usually do on their birthright trips. This time the group came to the new partnership offices in order to help make the landscape in front of the youth center, where the offices are, more appealing. When they arrived all the participants received Arad-Tamar partnership t-shirts and got right to work on planting flowers. While working hard outside the group got to meet other American youth who are spending time in Arad. The people they met were all part of a group called Otzma which is a long term Jewish Agency volunteer program. They were able to talk about Arad and all that the partnership and Israel have to offer as well as the many opportunities that these birthright participants will have to come back to Israel and to help in their partnership communities. The Otzma group is a great example of this as most of them are birthright alumni. After all the fun work of planting was done the birthright participants along with the Otzma group headed inside for a traditional Israeli lunch of falafel with the partnership staff. At this time the partnership director, Shimon, spoke to the group and explained to them more about the partnership and all it has to offer. When lunch was over the group was able to leave happily knowing that they left their mark in the land of Arad and their partnership.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
After leaving Nazareth Illit but before beginning the next part of Otzma in my partnership city I spent two weeks at the Pardes Institute for Jewish Learning in Jerusalem. This was a very beneficial experience for me because I was given the opportunity to study and learn Jewish texts in a pluralistic learning environment. We were able to learn in Chevruta or paired style learning. It was very eye opening to be able to hear other people’s opinions on the different topics and issues that were brought up through the text study and class discussions. At the end of this exciting learning experience we discussed ways in which to bring this text study into our year long volunteer program through the use of stories and values learned. It is my plan to use the different values and lessons from my two week learning experience to enhance my volunteering experience in my partnership city.
Due to the current situation in the south of Israel the plan that I had of living and volunteering in Ofakim and only coming to volunteer in my own partnership city of Arad two days a week was changed. I am now going to be living and volunteering in Arad full time. I am very happy with the change because from the very beginning I have wanted to come to Arad full time and now I am given the opportunity. Arad also took in the group of Otzma participants who were supposed to be in Kiryat Malachi and is giving them a temporary home until they are able to go back to their original plan. I am very proud that the partnership of Arad/Tamar was able to take in my fellow participants in this time of war in the south.
The second part of my Otzma experience began over a week ago when I moved into the partnership apartment in Arad with my friend Ilene Bloom from Delaware. I am now living and working in Arad which is the New Jersey/Delaware partnership city. I have been welcomed into Arad with open arms and have been given many choices of places to volunteer thanks to Ofra and the rest of the partnership. After seeing all of the options I have chosen to volunteer at three different locations. Four mornings a week I am volunteering at a local elementary school, Ye'elim-Ofarim, teaching English in the Kindergarten and first grade. Two afternoons a week I am volunteering at an afternoon program for teen girls, whose purpose is to keep them safe and off the street. At this placement I serve as a mentor and help the girls with whatever it is they need. Teaching them English is one thing that I have already started to do there but I look forward to starting to work with them on other things as well. The other two afternoons a week I am working in the Ethiopian absorption center. One of the two days I do activities with the kindergarten age children and the other day I work one on one with a boy who is half blind. All of these places are ones that I feel I can truly make a difference in and gain a lot from in return.
In addition to the wonderful beginning of volunteering in Arad I have also been able to be a part of the partnership program with Ben Gurion University and Rutgers University which is a program that is striving to give eye glasses to all the elderly who need them in the Arad/Tamar region. To start this program a group of young adults were taken into the Ein Tamar region to a special night of activity. It was a great opportunity for me to feel connected to the partnership and at the same time meet other young adults my age from the area. I look forward to being able to continue to be a part of this and other partnership sponsored programs in the region.
While in Arad I have also had the opportunity to start to explore the area of Arad/Tamar on my own. I have been able to go down to the Dead Sea and see hot water springs as well as explore the lovely desert that Arad is a part of. It is a true privilege to be a part of this community and to be giving back to the community as part of Otzma and as part of the New Jersey/Delaware partnership. I am very excited about what is to come as my time in Arad continues.
Due to the current situation in the south of Israel the plan that I had of living and volunteering in Ofakim and only coming to volunteer in my own partnership city of Arad two days a week was changed. I am now going to be living and volunteering in Arad full time. I am very happy with the change because from the very beginning I have wanted to come to Arad full time and now I am given the opportunity. Arad also took in the group of Otzma participants who were supposed to be in Kiryat Malachi and is giving them a temporary home until they are able to go back to their original plan. I am very proud that the partnership of Arad/Tamar was able to take in my fellow participants in this time of war in the south.
The second part of my Otzma experience began over a week ago when I moved into the partnership apartment in Arad with my friend Ilene Bloom from Delaware. I am now living and working in Arad which is the New Jersey/Delaware partnership city. I have been welcomed into Arad with open arms and have been given many choices of places to volunteer thanks to Ofra and the rest of the partnership. After seeing all of the options I have chosen to volunteer at three different locations. Four mornings a week I am volunteering at a local elementary school, Ye'elim-Ofarim, teaching English in the Kindergarten and first grade. Two afternoons a week I am volunteering at an afternoon program for teen girls, whose purpose is to keep them safe and off the street. At this placement I serve as a mentor and help the girls with whatever it is they need. Teaching them English is one thing that I have already started to do there but I look forward to starting to work with them on other things as well. The other two afternoons a week I am working in the Ethiopian absorption center. One of the two days I do activities with the kindergarten age children and the other day I work one on one with a boy who is half blind. All of these places are ones that I feel I can truly make a difference in and gain a lot from in return.
In addition to the wonderful beginning of volunteering in Arad I have also been able to be a part of the partnership program with Ben Gurion University and Rutgers University which is a program that is striving to give eye glasses to all the elderly who need them in the Arad/Tamar region. To start this program a group of young adults were taken into the Ein Tamar region to a special night of activity. It was a great opportunity for me to feel connected to the partnership and at the same time meet other young adults my age from the area. I look forward to being able to continue to be a part of this and other partnership sponsored programs in the region.
While in Arad I have also had the opportunity to start to explore the area of Arad/Tamar on my own. I have been able to go down to the Dead Sea and see hot water springs as well as explore the lovely desert that Arad is a part of. It is a true privilege to be a part of this community and to be giving back to the community as part of Otzma and as part of the New Jersey/Delaware partnership. I am very excited about what is to come as my time in Arad continues.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
P2K Update--January 2009
It is with very mixed feelings that I am sending out this update on the status of our P2K community. Like many Israelis, I feel personally affected by the current conflict in southern Israel. Last Thursday, Arad lost one of its own sons when 23 year old Captain Omer Rabinovitch was killed in action in Gaza. Leadership from the Partnership made a shiva visit to his family, and learned that he had been accepted into JAFI’s Shlichut (Emissary) Program and Officer Training School. He felt that he would be better prepared to be an emissary after his experience as an officer in the Army. And so, their loss extends to us. May they know no further sorrow.
But we also have positive things to report. Mayor Gidon Bar Lev and the Municipality of Arad brought over 350 children and adults from the towns and kibbutzim that have been in the line of fire to Arad. The students are studying with their teachers, along side the Arad children. Over $20,000 has been raised from the citizens to cover housing costs for them, and we have committed to help with matching funds. We all hope that the conflict will be resolved soon, but it is so wonderful that the children have a safe place to be now, away form their shelters, the noise and pressure, and can study in peace and quiet.
Another bright light is our new Vision project. Professor Richard Israelowitz of Ben Gurion University has begun an exciting project that brings a mobile vision program to Arad and Tamar for the elderly and others. Students and staff from Rutgers University and Ben Gurion will work together to identify potential clients, examine them for glaucoma and other eye problems, and provide glasses and other appropriate remedies. Aside from helping older adults lead more active lives, this project brings together students and professionals from two universities, and familiarizes them with our special partnership. Our hope is that other programs that deal with social issues, such as substance abuse or domestic violence, can also be developed or replicated in Arad, thereby providing additional services to the city.
I can also brag that my 84 year old Mom, Naomi, who created a the AACI Library for the Visually Impaired in Jerusalem, has joined the project in Arad and is bringing her program of free books on tape for them and help expand the services (Which can be shipped free to the Library through the US Postal Service- I will send info on how to do that for those of you who have books on tape that you can send).
The ultimate goal of Partnership 2000 is to connect Israelis and Jews in the Diaspora in meaningful ways. Another new initiative of the Partnership is Eco-Connections, where classes in Israel, New Jersey and Delaware meet via the internet and connect through the study of the environment within a Jewish context. Already, three classes in Arad and Tamar have committed to participate and we are just finalizing which classes will participate from the states.
Our Living Bridge programs are gaining more and more interest as growing numbers of people participate. We are thrilled to have two OTZMA students living in Arad for two months and look forward to welcoming a contingent of volunteers from Central New Jersey to the region in March. We will again begin recruiting for our Kefiada program which sends six young adults to the region to be English language camp counselors. In turn, the region sends Israeli counselors to our camps through our Ivriada program. These counselors have home hospitality and form bonds with the families that last long after they return home. Similarly, our Maccabiah program brings Israeli athletes from the region to compete in our JCC Maccabiah games.
As you can tell, I am passionate about the Partnership and its potential. I invite you to join me and get involved in it. For more information, visit our blog at aradtamarpartnership2000.blogspot.com and find links to many Partnership sites.
Todah,
Sivia Braunstein
P2K Chair
But we also have positive things to report. Mayor Gidon Bar Lev and the Municipality of Arad brought over 350 children and adults from the towns and kibbutzim that have been in the line of fire to Arad. The students are studying with their teachers, along side the Arad children. Over $20,000 has been raised from the citizens to cover housing costs for them, and we have committed to help with matching funds. We all hope that the conflict will be resolved soon, but it is so wonderful that the children have a safe place to be now, away form their shelters, the noise and pressure, and can study in peace and quiet.
Another bright light is our new Vision project. Professor Richard Israelowitz of Ben Gurion University has begun an exciting project that brings a mobile vision program to Arad and Tamar for the elderly and others. Students and staff from Rutgers University and Ben Gurion will work together to identify potential clients, examine them for glaucoma and other eye problems, and provide glasses and other appropriate remedies. Aside from helping older adults lead more active lives, this project brings together students and professionals from two universities, and familiarizes them with our special partnership. Our hope is that other programs that deal with social issues, such as substance abuse or domestic violence, can also be developed or replicated in Arad, thereby providing additional services to the city.
I can also brag that my 84 year old Mom, Naomi, who created a the AACI Library for the Visually Impaired in Jerusalem, has joined the project in Arad and is bringing her program of free books on tape for them and help expand the services (Which can be shipped free to the Library through the US Postal Service- I will send info on how to do that for those of you who have books on tape that you can send).
The ultimate goal of Partnership 2000 is to connect Israelis and Jews in the Diaspora in meaningful ways. Another new initiative of the Partnership is Eco-Connections, where classes in Israel, New Jersey and Delaware meet via the internet and connect through the study of the environment within a Jewish context. Already, three classes in Arad and Tamar have committed to participate and we are just finalizing which classes will participate from the states.
Our Living Bridge programs are gaining more and more interest as growing numbers of people participate. We are thrilled to have two OTZMA students living in Arad for two months and look forward to welcoming a contingent of volunteers from Central New Jersey to the region in March. We will again begin recruiting for our Kefiada program which sends six young adults to the region to be English language camp counselors. In turn, the region sends Israeli counselors to our camps through our Ivriada program. These counselors have home hospitality and form bonds with the families that last long after they return home. Similarly, our Maccabiah program brings Israeli athletes from the region to compete in our JCC Maccabiah games.
As you can tell, I am passionate about the Partnership and its potential. I invite you to join me and get involved in it. For more information, visit our blog at aradtamarpartnership2000.blogspot.com and find links to many Partnership sites.
Todah,
Sivia Braunstein
P2K Chair
Saturday, December 6, 2008
General Assembly Arad/Tamar Visit
Hi. My name is Aliza Gases and I am on a program called Otzma which is a 10 month volunteer program through UJC and JAFI. I am being sponsored for this program through the Middlesex County and Monmouth County federations. Part of my program is done with the partnership 2000 cities and as a result I have been working with and visiting Arad a lot. I also have an adoptive family from Arad who I get to go visit and enjoy time with. Starting in January I will be volunteering 2 days a week in Arad. I am very excited for this experience. I look forward to being able to give back to our partnership.
As part of the General Assembly(GA) I was able to go visit Arad and Tamar with the partnerships steering committee. It was a great opportunity as I was able to see many of the projects that the New Jersey and Delaware federations help fund and support. I was also able to meet many people involved in the partnership and learn a lot. I am very excited to become an active part of the partnership starting in January and I look forward to sharing with you the many opportunities that I have in Arad.
As part of the General Assembly(GA) I was able to go visit Arad and Tamar with the partnerships steering committee. It was a great opportunity as I was able to see many of the projects that the New Jersey and Delaware federations help fund and support. I was also able to meet many people involved in the partnership and learn a lot. I am very excited to become an active part of the partnership starting in January and I look forward to sharing with you the many opportunities that I have in Arad.
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Monday, November 24, 2008
Summer Reflections
While the weather is freezing in New Jersey and Delaware, but this report from two Ivriada counselors in Southern New Jersey will surely warm your hearts.
On June 16th 2008 we arrived to the community of Cherry Hill, N.J on a mission to bring some Israeli spirit to the kids in the JCC Camps.
A taxi waited for us and took us straight to the JCC. Our first American breakfast… they put something that looks like a white-spare-wheel on a plate, along with an unusual kind of cheese. They told us: "this is bagel and cream cheese"… our first American experience has begun.
After getting over jetlag we were taken to tour the camp, and for people that came from Arad, Israel, the camp looked like a whole city. We walked around the camp and just imagined how it would be with kids running around. One week after, it happened and we were living what we could only imagine in Israel. This is what we were prepared for and now it's our time to do "our thing"!
All of this time we were hosted by wonderful host families who opened their warm hearts and were like our parents and family in the U.S. We changed 4 host families during the summer. Every time we arrived to a new family it was a bit weird in the beginning…new house, new food and new people but every time when we had to leave and move out to a new family, to see the faces of the people that we lived with for few weeks and their feelings towards us showed us that we did a good job. We knew that we touched their hearts and brought Israel into their house. We also got the feeling that now Israel means more to them after they know us.
A week after a week, we became an inseparable part of the camp and the campers' life. We brought Israel and Hebrew to them by teaching them Hebrew words in the mornings and just by being with them. Strong bonds were made with the campers and the staff. So strong that chatting with our American staff-friends is an everyday event with "Facebook" in our lives. We remember how in the first few weeks we didn't know what to do after camp in the evenings. It changed after few weeks. It turned from "don't know what to do" to "which friend's offer should we choose"…how to be with everybody…
Without any doubt, this summer was an unbelievable experience that changed our lives. We keep thinking of it, talking about it and keeping the fire that we started in our American friends' hearts burning!
Thank you to all the people that were involved in this unforgettable summer!
Benny Brest
Eyal Oz, Arad - Israel.
On June 16th 2008 we arrived to the community of Cherry Hill, N.J on a mission to bring some Israeli spirit to the kids in the JCC Camps.
A taxi waited for us and took us straight to the JCC. Our first American breakfast… they put something that looks like a white-spare-wheel on a plate, along with an unusual kind of cheese. They told us: "this is bagel and cream cheese"… our first American experience has begun.
After getting over jetlag we were taken to tour the camp, and for people that came from Arad, Israel, the camp looked like a whole city. We walked around the camp and just imagined how it would be with kids running around. One week after, it happened and we were living what we could only imagine in Israel. This is what we were prepared for and now it's our time to do "our thing"!
All of this time we were hosted by wonderful host families who opened their warm hearts and were like our parents and family in the U.S. We changed 4 host families during the summer. Every time we arrived to a new family it was a bit weird in the beginning…new house, new food and new people but every time when we had to leave and move out to a new family, to see the faces of the people that we lived with for few weeks and their feelings towards us showed us that we did a good job. We knew that we touched their hearts and brought Israel into their house. We also got the feeling that now Israel means more to them after they know us.
A week after a week, we became an inseparable part of the camp and the campers' life. We brought Israel and Hebrew to them by teaching them Hebrew words in the mornings and just by being with them. Strong bonds were made with the campers and the staff. So strong that chatting with our American staff-friends is an everyday event with "Facebook" in our lives. We remember how in the first few weeks we didn't know what to do after camp in the evenings. It changed after few weeks. It turned from "don't know what to do" to "which friend's offer should we choose"…how to be with everybody…
Without any doubt, this summer was an unbelievable experience that changed our lives. We keep thinking of it, talking about it and keeping the fire that we started in our American friends' hearts burning!
Thank you to all the people that were involved in this unforgettable summer!
Benny Brest
Eyal Oz, Arad - Israel.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Mimi Avishai's Desert Queen Experience
This year, in honor of Israel's 60th celebration of independence, the Jewish Agency's Partnership 2000 program joined one of Israel's most innovative and challenging initiatives for women – Geographical Tours "Desert Queen" Annual Jeep Expedition. The expedition took place in the Negev Desert for seven days of extreme sport, obstacle driving, rappelling, a12 Km bike ride into the desert and cliff climbing peppered with Zionism, history and sisterhood.
So what made this expedition so special?
Incredible women from the Israel P2K Partnerships together with our remarkable sisters from Partnership Federations from the Pittsburg, Florida, New Zealand, Germany, Australia, Argentina and South Africa joined together to celebrate Israel's 60th year. Sixty women set out with back packs and sleeping bags in Four Wheel Drive jeeps to explore the Negev desert as well as our inner selves for a challenging week of sisterhood, excitement, sharing and learning.
And all the planning, guiding and logistics - by strong, energetic, inspiring women of the Geographical Tours organization and the Jewish Agency.
Our journey took us through the amazing archeological and geographical sites of the Negev desert. We visited Nizanna on the Egyptian border where we learned of their absorption of Ethiopian Youth, and their recycling and environmental programs. We visited a women's combat unit on their base. We learnt of the Nabitean, Biblical, Bedouin and Nomadic way of life. We felt the presence of G-d all around us as we stood looking over the Makhtesh HaKatan (Small Crater) and our guide, Sigal, read a poem to us as we took in the breathtaking scene before us.
Orna and I are from the Arad-Tamar/ New Jersey-Delaware Partnership. We both feel grateful and privileged that we were given the opportunity to represent our Partnership on this occasion. We, as Grandmothers, felt a great deal of satisfaction and accomplishment as we mastered each of the challenges and obstacles along the way. We both came out of this experience stronger and prouder – stronger and prouder of being women, stronger and prouder than ever before to be Israeli, and stronger and prouder to be part of P2K.
However, we were both awe-struck and inspired by four remarkable young women on our expedition. Team 4, comprised of Hanna (from New Zealand), Ronit (from South Africa), Tali (from Germany) and Ingrid (from Argentina) are participants in the Jewish Agency Masa Program – a project of the Government of Israel and Jewish communities around the world, represented by the Jewish Agency for Israel which enables young Jews from all over the world to spend a semester to a year in Israel on any of over 160 programs. Three of these young women have completed their time with Masa and have made the decision and commitment to make aliya.
We are starting the New Year with renewed energy, vitality and spirituality. We would like to thank both the Jewish Agency and the Geographical Tours for a wonderful experience. And we would like to wish all our friends, family and Partners and very Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year.
So what made this expedition so special?
Incredible women from the Israel P2K Partnerships together with our remarkable sisters from Partnership Federations from the Pittsburg, Florida, New Zealand, Germany, Australia, Argentina and South Africa joined together to celebrate Israel's 60th year. Sixty women set out with back packs and sleeping bags in Four Wheel Drive jeeps to explore the Negev desert as well as our inner selves for a challenging week of sisterhood, excitement, sharing and learning.
And all the planning, guiding and logistics - by strong, energetic, inspiring women of the Geographical Tours organization and the Jewish Agency.
Our journey took us through the amazing archeological and geographical sites of the Negev desert. We visited Nizanna on the Egyptian border where we learned of their absorption of Ethiopian Youth, and their recycling and environmental programs. We visited a women's combat unit on their base. We learnt of the Nabitean, Biblical, Bedouin and Nomadic way of life. We felt the presence of G-d all around us as we stood looking over the Makhtesh HaKatan (Small Crater) and our guide, Sigal, read a poem to us as we took in the breathtaking scene before us.
Orna and I are from the Arad-Tamar/ New Jersey-Delaware Partnership. We both feel grateful and privileged that we were given the opportunity to represent our Partnership on this occasion. We, as Grandmothers, felt a great deal of satisfaction and accomplishment as we mastered each of the challenges and obstacles along the way. We both came out of this experience stronger and prouder – stronger and prouder of being women, stronger and prouder than ever before to be Israeli, and stronger and prouder to be part of P2K.
However, we were both awe-struck and inspired by four remarkable young women on our expedition. Team 4, comprised of Hanna (from New Zealand), Ronit (from South Africa), Tali (from Germany) and Ingrid (from Argentina) are participants in the Jewish Agency Masa Program – a project of the Government of Israel and Jewish communities around the world, represented by the Jewish Agency for Israel which enables young Jews from all over the world to spend a semester to a year in Israel on any of over 160 programs. Three of these young women have completed their time with Masa and have made the decision and commitment to make aliya.
We are starting the New Year with renewed energy, vitality and spirituality. We would like to thank both the Jewish Agency and the Geographical Tours for a wonderful experience. And we would like to wish all our friends, family and Partners and very Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year.
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