Program Updates

Shalom Parents Kfar 2008,

This is my final update to you.  After their three-month programme, your kids are now back home and are no doubt telling you all about their experiences in Israel and their recollections (happy, I'm sure) of their time spent here.

Before taking my leave of you, I'd like to bring you up to date with the activities of the kids during their concluding few weeks.

Week 9, as from Sunday, November 30, was spent by the girls at the girls' seminar, Midreshet Harovah in the old city of Jerusalem for the entire week and also on the Shabbat.  They met up again with the MTA girls and studied in pairs with them.  They heard shiurim from top-class rabbis and teachers, and no doubt this week was a highlight of their programme.  After speaking to them, I could see that they understood and appreciated the pleasure to be gained from learning Torah, and the week certainly made a spiritual impact on each one of the girls.  My heartfelt thanks go out to Rav Yisrael Krangel for organizing this week.

For the boys, Week 9 began (on Nov. 30) with a visit to Yeshivat Eretz Hazvi, which is one of the two official yeshivot (together with the Gush Yeshiva) which are engaged in providing year-long MTA programme for post-graduate South African Bnei Akiva youngsters.  Our kids met up with these MTA youngsters, whose year's programme was drawing to its close.  The rest of Week 9 was a year of regular studies for the boys, culminating in a Shabbat spent with their Israeli room-mates.

The earlier part of Week 10 was spent by both the boys and the girls in Gadna army training courses – the boys' group being based in the Galilee whilst the girls' group was based at Sde Boker in the Negev.  This Gadna activity is a popular feature of our programme, where the group joins Israeli high school groups, who receive IDF training prior to their conscription.  These training courses are made as authentic as possible, with the youngsters wearing IDF uniforms, being subject to army discipline, working hard and even engaging in shooting exercises.  The sleeping conditions are fairly rough, as in the regular army.   Our kids, though working hard during their time there, enjoyed the experience very much and got a true feel of what it is like to be a soldier in Israel.  I am sure they have pictures to show you from this activity.

Mid-week, on the Wednesday afternoon, December 10, the boys and girls once again met up and went on a two-day tiyul in the West Galilee.  They spent the night at a very nice hotel in Zichron Yaacov, which is just south of Haifa, which I am sure must have made a pleasant change after their rather basic sleeping conditions earlier in the week.  During their tour, they visited Atlit, and saw the place where illegal immigrants to the country had been detained by the British at the time of the British mandate: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlit_detainee_camp .They learnt about  Zichron Yaacov, which was one of the first Jewish settlements in the country, founded by Baron Rothschild in 1882:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zichron_Ya%27acov
They also went on a Tnach tour, learning about Eliyahu, and spent some time at the Caesarea Museum: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesarea_Maritima

On Thursday, December 11, in the evening, the youngsters set off for their final free Shabbat weekends.

Week 11, as from Sunday, December 14, started for the girls with a visit to  Midreshet Yeud, in Jerusalem, which is one of the two official Midrashot (the other one being Midreshet Harovah, to which I referred earlier in this update) for post graduate South African Bnei Akiva girls.  The boys, on the Sunday, had a half day of volunteering work with a chesed (charity) organization in Jerusalem.

The rest of the week, the boys and the girls had their final week of regular studies.  The youngsters showed immense appreciation and affection for their teachers, who had taught them throughout the course with commitment and enthusiasm, and developed a special and very close relationship with their pupils, in spite of the  relatively short duration of the course.  I take this opportunity to thank these wonderful rabbis and teachers for their dedicated work.

On the Thursday afternoon, Devember 18, the group joined up in Jerusalem at the headquarters of World Bnei Akiva, where they had a short, intensive "hadracha" (leadership) course with some of the best madrichim in the World B'nei Akiva movement.  We hope that this course will contribute to the leadership skills of the youngsters, when they become madrichim in Bnei Akiva, South Africa.  This day's activity was organized by Ilan Osrin, to whom I offer most sincere thanks.

The Shabbat was spent by the boys at their Yeshiva, Makor Chayim, and I heard that their time was devoted to prayers, learning Torah and a great deal of singing and dancing - indeed an unforgettable Shabbat.  The girls too spent an enjoyable Shabbat at Efrat in Gush Etzion, organized by their madrichot.

From Week 12, the week of Chanuka, up to the end of the programme, the boys and girls stayed together.  The week began on Sunday, December 21, with a tiyul in the Modiin area in the footsteps of the Maccabees.  No doubt that learning about the Maccabees and actually being, at Chanuka, in the very places where the battles of the Maccabees took place gave a special significance to the Chag.  On the Sunday evening, we went to Geula in the Meah Shearim area, and were interested to see the preparations underway for the chag and the kids were happy to have that opportunity to buy chanukiyot.  That evening, we lit the first Chanuka candle at my office at the “Yeladim- Netivot” organization at the entrance to Yerushalayim, and had our first Chanuka party, where we enjoyed eating warm and tasty jam and chocolate doughnuts.

On Monday, December 22, we spent a day at Moshav Mevo Modiin, where Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach lived.  At that unique place, we participated in workshops, were given lectures and shiurim, and met some very interesting people.  A special concert was put on for us by some of Rabbi Carlebach's disciples.  Finally, we participated in a musical candle lighting ceremony and were happy to enjoy the very jolly atmosphere.

On the following day, Tuesday, December 23, we headed South to spend four days at a JNF seminar in Nitzana, where we all unwound and had a most relaxing time in the peaceful desert.  We took trips and hikes and learnt more about Israel – and ourselves.
This gave us an opportunity to start the summing up of our intensive three-month programme and it seemed to me that the kids enjoyed every moment of this seminar. 

On Friday, December 26, on our way back from Nitzana, we stopped at an Air Force Museum, close to Beer Sheba, where we learnt about our wonderful Air Force from its modest beginnings during the War of Independence to the mighty power it has become today. 

We arrived for Shabbat at Migdal Oz, which was where we had spent our first Shabbat, and remained there till Tuesday, the day of our return.  That Shabbat, 26/27 December, was truly outstanding.  My family and I joined the group and the joyous atmosphere and  high spirits of the youngsters was so remarkable that I shall remember this Shabbat for a long time to come. 

The final three days, 28th, 29th and 30th December were devoted to closing sessions and touring.  We visited the Gush Etzion Museum, Har Herzl and Yad Veshem.  We were given final shiurim from Steve Gar and Rav Taragin, and we had final Bnei Akiva sessions with the heads of World B'nei Akiva, Zeev Schwartz and Ilan Osrin.  We also had closing sessions with Yeladim Netivot staff, Dovi Paritsky, Mimi Lax and myself.  On our final night, Monday 29th December, we had our farewell party which was a touching occasion.  The kids spoke about what they had gained from the programme and relived many of the special moments, and there were tears in the eyes of many of the youngsters.   On the last day, Tuesday, 30 December, we went to the Kotel, and stood next to this holiest place in the world and sung the beautiful song:”Acheinu” about our brothers in danger, following which, for the final time in the programme, we sang Hatikva.

In summing up the three-month programme, I could not do better than quote from a letter which was presented to me on the final day by the participants in the programme, and which I shall keep as a very special moment:

"These past three months have honestly been the most inspiring, fulfilling, interesting and special months of our lives so far.  We have learnt so much about Torah, Israel and ourselves.  We have grown as people, as leaders and as friends…"

I don’t think there is anything I can add to these beautiful words.  I really enjoyed being with these youngsters and it was one of the best groups I have ever had.

The programme was B"H a big success, and its great success was in no small part due to the work put into it by the following people, to whom I wish to give heartfelt thanks:

First and foremost, our dedicated and excellent madrichim, Tamar, Tzipora, Moshiko and Devin; The staff of “Yeladim- Netivot”, under the leadership of Dovi Paritsky and my colleagues, Mimi and Dorit; The Yeshiva College, under the leadership of Rav Perez and Rav Raanan; Bnei Akiva, South Africa, especially Dean and Warren Sher, Naomi Barsky, Eran Sterenberg and Daniel Kaplan; Also World Bnei Akiva, and especially Ilan Osrin.

Last and certainly not least may I thank you parents for entrusting your children to us and also, of course, the youngsters themselves for being so marvelous throughout!

I am sorry to add a somber note but I cannot conclude without speaking of the hard times we are now going through in Israel.  With war raging in Gaza, our hearts go out to the IDF and IAF, who are defending our country against Hamas with such skill and courage.  May Hashem protect our boys and keep them safe.

Hope to see you all in our homeland soon.

Kol Tuv

Dani