Tel Aviv 08/05/2011
 
The program is back in full swing after what was hopefully a restful and relaxing home hospitality weekend!

Upon their return, participants compared stories of their weekend - who had the most soulful chicken soup, the most flavorful meals, the most sumptuous cakes, the most comfortable bed, the most enlightening Shabbat lunch conversation, etc. etc. For many of the participants this past Shabbat provided a wonderful opportunity to strengthen their relationships with their Israeli peers; for others it was a chance to visit with (or meet!) Israeli relatives and friends. 
The weekend offered an invaluable opportunity for everyone to truly experience Israel. No matter how many amazing site visits, inspiring speakers, exciting workshops and powerful group encounters we facilitate, nothing can compare with spending time in an Israeli home for a dynamic, authentic experience of life in this country.


And now, lets rewind a bit to where we left off last week...

On Tuesday of last week, the groups spent the day concluding the Galil and Golan unit, and then spent a relaxing afternoon on the shores of the Mediterranean. The next morning, our Israel explorers traveled to the city of Acco, where they explored Jewish and Arab relations in this mixed city, including a visit to a mosque, independent exploration of the Old City of Acco in small groups, and a workshop with an Israeli-Arab artist. Both groups were also thrilled to spend time in the afternoon relaxing and cooling off in the pool at the Acco Beach Hotel. On Thursday, K1 traveled to Dir el Asad and K2 to Majd al Krum, Arab villages near the northern city of Karmiel, where they met with local high school students for workshops, games, conversations and meals during which they explored commonalities, differences, and questions of identity and community.

After a long and inspiring day of dialogue, the groups departed Thursday night for their home hospitality experiences - getting delayed along the way by a huge and festive Arab wedding which shut down many streets in Majd al Krum. The groups returned Sunday morning to Tel Aviv, where they began a two-day exploration of Israel's cultural center. Throughout the day on Sunday and Monday, the participants discovered the sights, sounds, and smells of Tel Aviv, and explored the role that Tel Aviv plays in modern Israel and Judaism.

The visit to Tel Aviv included a screening of three short films about Tel Aviv produced for an Israeli documentary station - I encourage you to watch the award-winning films your children viewed, which included Lady with a Movie Camera, The Walking Man, and Jaffa-Tel Aviv; an educational tour of Neve Tzedek, one of the earliest neighborhoods in Tel Aviv; a tour of Independence Hall, where David Ben Gurion signed Israel's Declaration of Independence in 1948; a tour of Neve Sha'anan, home to many foreign workers and Sudanese refugees, led by guides from BINA, as well as a meeting with an Eritrean assylum seeker and a representative from theAfrican Refugee Development Center; and a visit to Beit HaAm where participants explored the concept of Israeli and Jewish art and met with a Tel Avivian artist. They also spent time on the beach and on Sheinkin Street, the trendiest spot in the city, where the participants enjoyed sidewalk cafes, chic fashion boutiques and time to buy their own lunch and relax.


 


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