Program Updates

Shalom Parents Kfar 2008,
 
It is hard to believe that we are now almost two-thirds of the way through the programme.  How time flies!
 
Overall, I am delighted to be able to relate that your youngsters are behaving in an outstanding manner, with enthusiasm and commitment and, as I am sure you hear from them, are having a great time and enjoying themselves thoroughly.
 
The boys and girls are continuing successfully with their studies at their separate schools.  I meet with the kids very often and they tell me they are happy with the weekly schedule.  Both the boys and the girls are fully integrated with their Israeli counterparts, and I am all the time receiving very positive feedback about them from the administration and the teachers at the two schools.  I am told that our kids have become just like the local Israeli youngsters and all mix together most happily.  When I see our kids and the Israeli pupils playing football together and participating in other activities, it is strongly brought home to me that our youngsters have most certainly become a truly integral part of the schools, which was indeed one of the goals of our programme.
 
The boys spent Week 6 at Yeshivat Har Etzion (Gush), where they once again met up with the fine MTA youngsters.  During their week at the Gush, the kids heard shiurim from the different Rabbanim at the Yeshiva and were also given lessons by the two heads of the Yeshiva, Rav Amital and Rav Lichtenstein.  The boys studied in pairs, on a one to one basis, and I think that overall they felt strongly the spiritual nature of their week's stay at the Gush.  In addition to their studies, they also went on tiyulim, including a hike in the footsteps of Avraham Avinoo. Spending Shabbat at the Gush with 400 yeshiva students couldn't fail to make a very strong impression on our youngsters, (Nov. 14/15).  Special thanks for organizing their stay at the Gush are due to Dani Mirvis.
 
On Thursday of Week 6, after a busy week of studies, the girls had a tiyul, tracing the footsteps of two of Israel 's brave and wonderful heroines, Sarah Aronson in Zichron Ya'acov: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Aaronsohn and Hannah Senesh in Sdot Yam: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannah_Szenes . Sarah Aronson was one of the leaders of the Nili spy ring, which was founded during the First World War when the Ottoman Empire ruled Israel .  The group helped the British to fight the Turks and transmitted information about the Turks to them.  Sarah was captured by the Turks and tortured, but committed suicide to avoid giving information on Nili's activities.   No less of a heroine was Hannah Senesh, who volunteered to be parachuted from Israel (then Palestine) into Europe during the Second World War, in order to try and save the Jews of Hungary, who were about to be deported to Auschwitz.  She was arrested and tortured but refused to reveal details of her mission, and was executed.  We in Kfar feel strongly the importance of providing role models for our kids, either of a spiritual or a Zionist nature. 
 
Week 7, started (on Sunday, November 16) with a "chesed" (good deeds) experience for the boys.  They left school after lunch and traveled to Kiryat Gat, a development town in the South and once there, they visited a large Chesed organization in the town, and spent the afternoon helping them in their work.  The organization provides invaluable help and support to hundreds of needy families in the town, and our youngsters helped them in this work with gusto and efficiency.  The kids felt happy and fulfilled in the performance of this mitzvah and we did indeed receive most enthusiastic feedback from the organization expressing appreciation for the help which they received from our youngsters, and the spirit in which it was carried out.
 
During the second half of this week, as from the Wednesday, November 19, the boys had a unique experience when they spent four days, together with their Israeli fellow pupils, at "Machaneh Gibush" (Integration Camp) – and this four-day experience did indeed make the bonding together of the two groups, which was already strong, stronger than ever.  They went on hikes, had song and dance activities around bonfires and various other fun activities, whilst sleeping in tents.  It was a great adventure for them and a most memorable experience.
 
During Week 7, on Tuesday, November 18, the girls had a one day trip with the whole school to the lovely Carmel Mountains, which was greatly enjoyed by all the participants, and, as to be expected, helped in the bonding of the two groups.
 
This last week, Week 8, the boys and girls were once again united when, on Thursday, November 27, they went on a two-day tiyul in the Judean Desert.  They visited the most beautiful Nature Reserve, Ein Gedi and swum in the Dead Sea,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Sea  which is the lowest point in the world.  The night was spent in Beduin tents whilst the following morning, they had camel rides – which I imagine will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for them.  They also had the unforgettable experience of climbing up Masada. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masada
As I am sure you know, Masada is the mountain overlooking the Dead Sea, to which a number of Jews and their families fled, in the year 70 A.D. following the destruction of the Temple by the Romans. They remained on the mountain top, and held out there against the Romans for three years.  When the Romans finally managed to breach the walls of their fortress, they found that the Jews, who numbered almost 1,000, had committed mass suicide rather than surrender, and be faced with execution or slavery.  It was certainly a interesting and educational tiyul for our boys and girls.
 
This most recent Shabbat, November 28/29, the boys and girls remained together, and spent Shabbat just outside Jerusalem together with the Tafnit youngsters.  Tafnit is also a post high school Bnei Akiva programme.  Ilan Osrin was a guest at this successful Shabbat, whom we thank very much. 
 
Motzei Shabbat, (November 29) the group joined Bnei Akiva for its "Shabbat Irgun", when celebrations are held at branches all over the country.  This is an annual activity, and the kids were happy to be present at this special "Mifkad" and
event.
 
In my next update, you will be hearing about the week-long stay by the girls at the girls' seminar, Midreshet Harovah, in  the old city in Jerusalem, starting from Monday, December 1. You will also be hearing about the four-day stay by the boys and the girls at Gadna, which is an army training camp.
 
Once again, many thanks are owing to the four dedicated madrichim, Tamar,Tzipora,Moshiko and Devin, who are devoting themselves day and night to looking after your kids and making sure they are happy and comfortable.
 
Enjoy the new pictures, and I'll, of course, be sending a further update,B"H in a couple of weeks time.
 
Kol Tuv

Dani