Program Updates

Shalom Parents of Kfar 2008,

It is now just over two and a half weeks since your kids arrived and I sent you my first update, but I have got to know all the youngsters so very well that I feel that a far longer time has elapsed.

The group spent the days before Yom Kippur in preparing themselves for the holy day with shiurim and Chavrutot. As part of the preparations, the girls had a shiur with the Rabbi of Caesarea at Caesarea , which was followed in the evening by songs and stories on the beach, which was a truly beautiful experience. As for the boys, they had their final special selichot before Yom Kippur with their school mates in Mearat Hamachpela in Hebron! Yom Kippur itself in the schools was a powerful experience, with the youngsters entering fully into the spirit of this holy day.

On Friday, 10th October, the group came together, and travelled to Gush Etzion, where they had a Tiyul and spent Shabbat. The guest of the Shabbat was Ilan Osrin from World B'nei Akiva, and I take this opportunity to thank most sincerely World B'nei Akiva, and especially Ilan, for all his support and help prior to and during the programme and for his contributing greatly to the success of the Shabbat.

The following week, the week of Succot, was spent in Yerushalayim. On the Sunday, the group started learning about Yerushalayim, from the period of David Hamelech, whilst visiting the City of David and walking through the Tunnel of Hezekiah, then jumping forward in time to the Second Temple and visiting the tunnels of the Kotel. That same day, the kids saw how the people of Yerushalayim do their preparations for Succot whilst visiting Meah Shearim, which must surely be the livliest place in the world, I think, at this particular period, and some of the boys bought there the four minim. 

The following day, the group travelled to the Bet Shemesh area, where our tour guide gave us an interesting tour. He told us the story of David and Goliath, which had occurred in that particular place, and the kids crawled some 100 meters in the dark, cool and most atmospheric tunnels.

The following two and a half days were the days of the chag, which we spent in our beautiful hostel in Yerushalayim, dividing our time between davening, having marvellous meals and listening to shiurim. The guests for Chag were Rabbi Steve Gar, Ilan Osrin and also my family and myself.

On Thursday, their first day of Hol Hamoed, they had the unique opportunity of going to the Kotel and witnessing the Birkat HaCohanim. This is a special happening which takes place only once a year at Succot, where the youngsters were amongst a crowd of some 50 thousand people deriving great pleasure from witnessing the blessings of the many hundreds of Cohanim. This was surely a never to be forgotten experience.

Afterwards, the group learned about the battles for Jerusalem in 1947 and 1948 in the War of Independence prior to and immediately following the creation of the State of Israel. The tour finished off at Ammunition Hill, where the group learned about the Six-Day War in 1967 and were privileged to witness a ceremony marking the induction of new parachutist soldiers.

On Thursday evening, October 16th, the group went to their families and friends for a free Shabbat, returning on Sunday, October 19.

On Sunday this week, the youngsters traveled North to the Mountain of Arbel , close by Tiberius, where they had a most enjoyable hike and rode on donkeys. The scenery there is very beautiful, with views of Kinneret and all the surrounding area. In the evening, they arrived at their hostel in Tzfet, their base for the coming week. Monday morning, they took part in special Hoshana Raba Musical prayers in the Carlebach style, which was followed by a beautiful though wet hike in the mountains of the Galilee , wading through streams and enjoying themselves thoroughly.

The kids are now in the middle of the chag, though Yom Tov for me finished earlier this evening. Our plan for this weekend is to spend a group Shabbat close to Yerushalayim with the MTA programme.

Next week, with the holidays behind us, we are looking forward to getting started on our regular routine.

Don't forget that if you ever want to be in touch with me or with the madrichim, don't hesitate to do so. You have, of course, our numbers and emails.

Until the next update, kol tov and wet winter for us in Israel ..

Dani