Program Updates

Shalom Parents of Kfar 2008,

The chagim are now behind us and we have finally got started on our regular routine.

After Simchat Torah in Tzfat, the kids spent the Shabbat close toYerusalayim with MTA. I would just point out that throughout our programme, we have introduced the kids to the two official B'nei Akiva programmes following High School, MTA and Tafnit. On this particular Shabbat, the youngsters participating in the MTA programme were very good role models for our kids and a source of inspiration for them.

Weeks numbers four and five were devoted mostly to our regular studies schedule, to which many top-class rabbis, teachers and lecturers come on a regular basis to teach and educate our youngsters and I am sure you have received enthusiastic feedback from your kids about these studies. 

Our evening activities comprise fun activities like sports and games, bonding with Israelis and social activities with the madrichim etc. On Thursdays, following the morning's studies, the kids are taken on outings, where they tour and learn about Israel . On Thursday, October 30, we had a Gush Katif seminar, where we travelled to the largest town of the evacuees, Nitzan. Nitzan is a caravan town, where a few hundred families live in temporary caravan homes. The kids were taken on a tour of the town by one of the evacuees living there, who told them his personal very moving story about how he, his wife and 8 kids were forced to leave their beautiful home in Gush Katif and are still, more than three years later, living in temporary quarters whilst waiting to be resettled in permanent homes. Your kids met some of the children of the yishuv and were shown a very sad and touching film about the evacuation and their experiences and difficulties whilst trying to get resettled. At the end of the film some of our youngsters were in tears, and I am certain that this visit brought home to them most forcibly and unforgettably the sad story of the evacuation.. 

The following Shabbat, 31st October/1st November, the boys were guests at the homes of their room mates at the yeshiva and the girls spent a group Shabbat at Neve Daniel in Gush Etzion . Neve Daniel is a small village with 200 young orthodox families. The girls stayed with families and became acquainted with this unique way of life. The people living there, just as in my own home village of Peduel in the Shomron, live a modern religious and idealist life style, and the Shabbat was greatly enjoyed by both the hosts and guests. I was proud of the youngsters and the way they integrated into this different way of life.

Yesterday, Thursday (Nov. 6), after the morning's studies, the kids travelled to Tel-Aviv, and visited a couple of well-known and important museums. These were the Palmach Museum :
http://www.palmach.org.il/show_item.asp?itemId=8069&levelId=42792&itemType=0 and Independence Hall:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Hall_(Israel)

where the kids learned about Israel 's battles leading up to the creation of the state. No doubt that to sing Hatikvah on the very spot where Ben-Gurion read out the Declaration of Independence on the establishment of the state was a powerful and touching experience.

This Shabbat, the boys have their second (out of three) free Shabbats and the girls will be spending Shabbats as guests of their room mates.

Enjoy seeing the pictures which I'm attaching. I will be updating you as usual, B"H, in a couple of weeks.

Kol Tuv
Dani