by Rabbi Rob Kahn, Director of Academics

Young Judaea Year Course

 

My synagogue is not very welcoming towards young children.  If a child is making noise, they get shushed.  And if they start crying…doubly shushed!  So, unfortunately, we don’t see too many children in our synagogue. There is, however, an exception:  Shofar blowing.  As the service approaches the time for shofar blowing, slowly but surely the kids walk into the synagogue and join their parents.  Some are so little that they have to be held in their parents’ arms.  Then the shofar blowing starts.  Tekiah!   Is there anything more precious than the kids’ faces, mesmerized by the shofar blowing?  Wasn’t that child crying a moment ago? Or wasn’t that one running around like a maniac?  Doesn’t matter.  Every kid is perfectly still and silent lest they miss the blowing of the shofar.

How does this trick work?  And why hasn’t every frazzled teacher and babysitter discovered this bit of magic?  After all, we’re talking about a hollowed out ram’s horn.  So primitive, so distant from television, smartphones, and video games. I would say “old school,” but I think it predates school.   No buttons, no lights;just a simple curve.  And yet, the kids, and let’s face it, we adults too, are transfixed by the shofar and its cries.

Yes, the shofar cries.

In the Talmud, we learn that the sounds of the shofar are like different types of cries.  There is wailing, sobbing, and moaning, and there are combinations as well.   It’s hard to demonstrate in writing, but try to fake cry and then really let it out with a sob.  That’s Shevarim-Teruah!

So what’s the lesson from the attention-grabbing crying shofar?  From an early age, we are taught to be extra sensitive to the sound of a cry.  To listen attentively…and to respond!  This is the Jewish mission.  Avraham and Sarah were given this mission in the generation after the flood, when the world was trying to rebound from lawlessness and corruption.  If we, as a people, are chosen, then we are chosen to bring goodness and blessing and healing to today’s fractured and violent world.  We use the wisdom of Torah, with its emphasis on ethics, morality, and justice, as our guide.

I am honored to work as an educator with Young Judaea Year Course in Israel, where I get to teach important subjects like history of Zionism and Israel, and the Comparative Religions of Jerusalem.  And while the content in these courses fascinates me, I often have to remember that the underlying reason for spending the year in Israel studying, volunteering, and touring is to reemphasize the Jewish mission of responding to the world’s cries.  Ultimately, the Year Course experience has to make these Jewish young adults more prepared for making Israel or their eventual community a better place.

And for those moments when the world seems so absolutely broken and the cries seem overwhelming, I offer the following story:

 

Every night when a certain man came home from work, his children would run and jump into his arms, and ask, “Daddy, will you play with us?  Please, Daddy, will you?”  And almost every night this man played with his son and his daughter, sharing games and books and toys. One night, the father was very, very tired.  So instead of rushing to play with his children, he sat down in a comfortable chair, opened his newspaper, and began to read.  As on every other night, his children asked, “Daddy, will you play with us tonight?”  But on this night, the man replied, “Oh, not tonight.  I am so tired.  I just don’t have the strength to play with you tonight.  You understand, don’t you?” The children did understand that their father was tired, but they really wanted him to play with them.  So they kept asking.  But their father’s reply did not change.

Finally, to keep his son and daughter busy – and to get a little peace and quiet from their never-ending questions – the father took a whole page out of his newspaper.  Printed on the page was a map of the whole world.  The father took scissors and cut the map into many small pieces.  Then he said to his children, “Here is a puzzle of the map of the world.  Why don’t you go and put the puzzle together?”

The father thought that the children would be gone for a long time, but they were back in just a few minutes.  The father was amazed, and asked, “You finished the puzzle already?  How did you do it?  The map of the world is so large and difficult.  How did you put it together so quickly?”

The little girl replied, “It was easy.”  And her brother added, “On the back of the picture of the world was a picture of a person.  We just put the person together, and the whole world fell right into place.”

This story reminds us that the daunting task of repairing the world starts with one person hearing the cry of a single individual,and responding.  May the mesmerizing cries of the shofar give us the strength and the wisdom and the ability to put this world back together, and may we one day live in peace.

by Yael Gastwirst, Director of Specialty Programs and Israel Experience, Young Judaea in Israel

This weekend Tiyul (Hiking) Track, the newest specialty program on Young Judaea Year Course, will set out on their inaugural trip to נחל השופט (Nahal Hashofet, or “The Judge’s Stream”), a waterfall-laiden trail between the Jezreel Valley and Mount Carmel. In addition to hiking the beautiful reserve, our 18 participants will also spend time doing fun outdoor training activities and of course bonding as a group. We were ecstatic to have the opportunity to open this new track after seeing the interest it generated. Learning Israel by seeing the country is at the core of our educational philosophy and we are always eager to offer our students new chances to see more.
“Getting to know the country by foot” (להכיר את הארץ דרך הרגליים) has been part of the Zionist ethos for more than 100 years. Youth movements, schools, families, and even the military make it a point to go hiking all across Israel, not just for fun, but also to become familiar with Eretz Yisrael as a part of our historical Jewish identity. Knowing the names, locations, and features of some of Israel’s hundreds of trails is like a rite a passage for many Israelis. Some even hike all the way from Metula to Eilat on the Israel trail. On Year Course, and in other Young Judaea Israel Programs, we go on dozens of siyurim (field trips) to religious, historical, political, and natural sites throughout the country as one of our central educational tools. We believe that living in Israel and learning about Israel without seeing Israel is a missed opportunity, and so we make every effort to incorporate siyurim and tiyulim into our formal and informal curricula. Who would want to talk about Mezada in a classroom but never see it? Adding another program to our repertoire that maximally uses the beautiful country around us is a natural fit and a point of pride for the Year Course staff.
Of course, every year we take all of our participants on numerous mandatory and elective hikes from the Negev to the Golan and the vast majority chooses to go on their own camping trips throughout the year. However, having a special track dedicated to outdoor exploration and education through a Zionist lens affords us new opportunities to expose our students to new places, new experiences, and new skills. As the leader of Year Course Specialty Programs I envisioned Tiyul Track as a means to impart greater appreciation in our Chanichim for nature and wildlife in general and for Israel’s unique landscape, geology, geography, flora and fauna in particular. I hope that the track’s participants will leave with a lasting love for the paths and trails of Israel, and that they pass some of this feeling along to their fellow Year Coursers as well as their friends and family back home.

Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom from Nahal Hashofet!

by Adina Navon and Amir Sagron, Roshei Tochnit for Year Course in Israel

The first day of Year Course has come and gone and we (Adina and Amir, the Roshei Tochnit ) couldn’t be more excited! Before our participants got here, we were busy getting ready for their arrival- preparing their apartments, planning orientation and ensuring that everything was in place to facilitate a meaningful and memorable year!

Our job, vis a vis you, is to do our best to make your year comfortable while challenging you to see, do, think, and be MORE.  For an educator this is one of the most fulfilling roles possible, especially with such a high quality group.  To say that we’re eager to meet you would be an understatement.  We’re elated, overjoyed, ecstatic!  It’s possible that we’re more jazzed for Year Course than even you are.

In the days leading up to this year course, we had been dedicated to staff training and  delved deeply into the values of Year Course- Zionism, Judaism, pluralism, social action and leadership.  We  spent a lot of time considering how these values will come into play throughout the year and how they will inspire our programming.  We have an incredible cadre of madrichim and it has been wonderful getting to know them.  They are an extremely dedicated group and we are very confident in their ability to lead and inspire.

We expect the year to be one of immense growth for both us and the chanichim.  We’ll have a lot to talk about in due time – from the ideological to the culinary – but for now, suffice it to say that we have a wonderful start to what will be one of the best years ever.

by Jenny Shub, Year Course Participant

For the past year, I have been anticipating the experience of living in Israel – looking forward to meeting people from unique backgrounds, exploring a country rich in history, learning an ancient language, and exercising my independence. And now, it is finally time to leave home and go off on a journey few get the opportunity to experience.

I am not one to pack so soon before leaving, but this is a long adventure and requires a lot of prep. Although I intend on assimilating with the Israeli culture, I have packed some important things from home. To remind me of my Island while I am away, I have packed my Puerto Rican flag and a traditional blend of spices called Adobo. organizing my clothes was the toughest task, however I was ecstatic to buy SpaceBags; the commercials have stuck with me since they were advertised and, without them, I would not be able to fit everything I have decided to bring! I do not expect to buy more clothing than I normally would during the year, but I am also prepared for the clothes trades and general disappearance of some pieces. Besides clothing, I look forward to buying a lot of jewelry!

My cameras are also packed and ready to record my adventures. I am bringing my DSLR and hope to practice my artistic ability, and I have also packed my instant-film camera. Pictures on those seem to have a greater weight of meaning… perhaps because they cannot be retouched and edited. They are raw – as raw as the moment they are taken. For everyday things though, I will just use my phone to take pictures.

In hopes to keep the memories from the year tangible, aside from the pictures, I will also be keeping a journal. Everyone who comes back from Year Course advises me to keep one, and I think it is a good idea. It will be difficult to set aside time to write, but I hope I find the time because I have a feeling I will want to remember each and every day.

Credited to my summers at Young Judaea camps, I know people in Israel who can help guide me through the unfamiliar country (along with my friends and staff). Young Judaea, throughout my lifetime, has been preparing me for this year, and I cannot wait to see what I can do with what I’ve learned.

By Debbie Groyer, Young Judaea Year Course in Israel Parent

The consumption of a margarita after seeing Noah off at the airport was not frivolous.  Months ago, the idea of his participating in Year Course was proposed by cousins whose sons are alumni of the course.  Noah’s immediate response?   “No way!”   We, his parents and family who knew it would be the best thing for him, employed a psychologically balanced campaign of cajoling and backing off.  Behind the scenes, Noah discussed the proposed adventure with his friends and relatives, eliciting the same response from all… “Do it!”  Eventually he reached his own decision, having arrived at the realization that Year Course would be fun, maturing and, per Noah’s words, “when will I ever have this opportunity again?”

Once the decision was made the logistics were up to me and I hope I am not alone in thinking that “War and Peace” was a short story compared to the Year Course Information Guide.  Perhaps my comprehension of said document was diminished by the emotional nature of the process.  When at last the application and shopping were completed, all of the arrangements made and pertinent documents printed for Noah’s journey, one fervent wish kept repeating in my brain….I hope he doesn’t lose his passport!

After participating in the orientation call, it became apparent that the two major goals of Year Course are the same as the ones we have for Noah; that he will experience significant maturation and that he will reinforce his Jewish identity by becoming an enthusiastic Zionist.    That he will have a great time along the way is a foregone conclusion.  Noah is very sweet and sociable and people flock to him.  Yes, I know I am biased, but I have documents from objective sources attesting to this phenomenon.  They are available upon request.

Barring a potential visit to Israel, it will be nine months before I again see my son in person.  Although there have been times during the last almost 19 years when that might have seemed desirable, it is now a daunting prospect.  I am a mother and, what’s worse, I am a Jewish mother!  So there’s no question that this program will be beneficial for all concerned.  Until technology produces apron strings that span 6864.7 miles, he is officially cut loose and embarking upon his adulthood. The first step in my twelve step program is not to text unless texted to.  We’ll see how that works out.

According to my calculations and with reference to the orientation schedule, the Year Coursers are about to make their way to Bat Yam having experienced the unique and emotional experience of landing at Ben Gurion Airport.  I wonder what Noah is thinking.  I hope that in the coming days, excitement and curiosity trump homesickness for him and all of his soon-to-be friends.

With a pang in my heart I think of the 6,000 plus miles that separate us but I am comforted by the knowledge that Noah is in good hands and that he will have the time of his life.  We are grateful for the opportunity that he has been given to learn the history of Israel and our people at its source.  We hope that in the process of volunteering he has the opportunity to share his love of sports and to experience the joy of benefitting others.  Most of all, we hope that he has a wonderful time and, like others before him, will be reluctant to leave Israel when the program is over.  And, when he returns, I will be waiting with open arms.

 

by Ra’anan Gurewitsch, Young Judaea Year Course in Israel Participant

I woke up like any other unemployed teenager on August 1st; at three in the afternoon, to a Facebook notification and a text message, both reading, “ONE MONTH TILL YEAR COURSE!”

As I put the phone down and began to fall back asleep, I shot up out of bed in shock and excitement. “Wait… How long till year course?” I thought to myself, “there’s no way it’s only a month!” I couldn’t believe it, but it was true. That far-off thing I signed up for that seemed so– well– far off, was only a month away. I was now beginning that stage that I dreaded for so long. That month when I’d have to somehow do everything from packing to shopping to saying my farewells AND not go completely insane.

Now, there are three days until Year Course and it seems like ever yday I have been getting more and more excited to move all the way out to Israel, become more independent, and make lasting and unforgettable friendships. The anticipation for this experience has made this month of preparation significantly less stressful. A combination of spending the previous month at Camp Tel Yehudah, where every senior staff member would insist I was about to have the best year of my life, and joining the Facebook page for Section 2 Tochnit Yama have made this summer extraordinarily exciting.

As Year Course quickly approaches, I have set my focus on physical and mental preparation. I’ve consulted the packing list, friends, and family for tips on packing smart and light. I’ve got everything from a camelback to power converters to an international student ID packed up and ready to go. All I need now is for these next few days to fly by.

I hope the transition from living with my parents in the United States to living independently in Israel will be a smooth one and I am confident that my madrichim, whom I am very excited to meet, will do everything they can to help. Ultimately, I cannot wait to move into my apartment in Bat Yam to kick off the best year of my life. Until then, I’ll be at home itching in anticipation.

By Dr. Avi Rose
Director of Education, Young Judaea Year Course in Israel

As I sit and contemplate how to begin addressing the confusing and deeply painful events of this summer, I see that I am not alone. Friends, colleagues, even those in the media are trying to make sense of what has taken place. We are all, it seems, asking the same questions: How did we get to this point? Could we have acted differently in order to prevent this conflict, or was it unavoidable? Did we wage a restrained and ethically minded military campaign? How can we end the current conflict in such a way as to begin a process of healing and move toward a just and lasting coexistence? Is there hope?

I contemplate all this as I, along with the other dedicated and experienced staff of Year Course, prepare for the arrival of our newest students. We know that they too will be asking these questions, in addition to ‘usual’ issues that we bring to our learning environment, questions concerning a personal connection to Israel, Judaism and Zionism? Does this mean that we need to set these issues aside in light of the current conflict?

I, for one, think that we do not. I believe that the situation highlights the overall questions that we have always worked with students to answer, questions about the nature of Jewish existence, the creation and growth of the Zionist ideology and the development of a modern State that attempts to function as a reflection of both. It seems that this is a real-time test case for the State of Israel and for the Jewish people. We have to confront some very tough questions concerning our ability to survive, prosper, and function in a manner consistent with our religious and ethical principles.

As we present the programming, travel, volunteering and informal education that will take place on Year Course, we will not shy away from the deep existential dilemmas of war, of life in the Middle East, and of the need to work, live, fight and survive in accordance with our cultural and spiritual code. By being here with us as Israel ‘picks up the pieces’ and reflects on what has taken place and what will come next, students will see how Israel has always functioned—a real place with a deep commitment to self-criticism and improvement. This is in many ways the only answer we can give to the tragic loss of life on both sides of this current conflict, but most especially to the parents, siblings, partners, children and friends of our fallen soldiers. It is for them that Israel will continue, will heal and will learn to re-balance itself in new and hopefully better ways as it seeks a path out of war and into a more promising future.

Far from being the worst time to come and experience a year in Israel, this is perhaps the best. Yes, Israel will seem less ‘pretty’ (though she is still physically stunning and worth exploring), less ‘fantasy’ and more reality—myths will be quickly shattered. However, the reality is in fact quite impressive; Israeli society will come together to mourn, to re-group and move on. Witnessing the unique Israeli response to such events, exemplary of the Jewish value of ahdut, or unity, can be a transformative experience for anyone, particularly a young and newly independent adult trying to grapple with their own Jewish identity.  The tone of conversation may not be soft or polite, but it is authentic and vital and something that every Jew should witness and weigh in on.

I know that Young Judaea is expert at keeping its participants safe from physical danger as much as is humanly possible. This summer, I witnessed the amazing work of colleagues in our logistics and short-term program departments as they shepherded groups out of risky areas while still providing them with sound educational and recreational experiences. It should be noted that all this was done while many of our staff were called into active duty. Only a handful of parents felt the need to pull their children out of Israel and all went home safe and sound.

Coming on Year Course this fall will be seen by Israelis as a great act of support and will go a long way toward assisting in the healing process. Students’ positive and compassionate energy, openness and desire to give something to Israel will be deeply valued. No less significant, I believe, is what it will do for the students themselves, since they will have the chance to experience Israel over a long period of time in many different ways and locations. They will speak and interact with Israel and Israelis and will, no doubt be strengthened and challenged. They will see, in an adult fashion, the value of Israel, the resilience of her people and the strength of her culture to deal with the every day and extraordinary circumstance of life here.

In 1973, a group of Year Course graduates refused to abandon Israel or their commitment to their Jewish and Zionist principals in the face of a devastating and debilitating war. They went on to found Kibbutz Ketura in Israel’s southern desert, an enterprise that thrives and reflects all that is most valuable to our movement and people. Who knows what creative and effective response the Year Course graduates of 2014-15 will create in the wake of Operation Protective Edge? Who knows how they will contribute to the growth of the Jewish people and to the ideals that we strive to live up to? I, for one, look forward to being there to help launch their potential, guide them as they discover their power and challenge them to help build a better future for us all.

 

By Gila Tuchman

Perspective of a Zionist mother, sending her son to Israel: People have been asking me a lot lately, “Are you worried about sending Coby to Israel? Is he still going to go?” Yes I worry – but the worries are ‘will he eat enough? Will he call me enough? Will he get all that he has hoped out of this experience he has waited years for?’ And of course he is still going to go. We never have doubted for one second about sending Coby to Israel after the tragic events in the news. Just the opposite, we look forward to him being immersed in the society to understand the day to day climate, struggles, perspectives, and complicated history.

We hope that he will learn enough Hebrew to be able to understand the TV pundits arguing. And most of all, we hope he will form a mature opinion on the situation based on his living in Israel (albeit somewhat artificial within the confines of any organized program compared with actually fully living there.)

And while the news focuses on the negative, we look forward to him living the culture and all the positive. The Shabbat dinners with his cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents. The uniquely Israeli attitude of a store clerk. The celebrations at every holiday. The peace that descends on a Shabbat in Jerusalem, particularly after the hectic hours that precede it in the shuk. The masses that march on Yom Yerushalyim. The warm hospitality of Israeli families to guests. The slang of Israeli teens. Understanding the geography so he doesn’t need to look at a map when he hears talk of Rosh Pinah or Sde Boker on the news. The internal struggles of the religious vs. secular communities. Tel Aviv nightlife. The multicultural aspects of the Ethiopian, Moroccan, and Russian communities. I could go on and on.

I’m sure the doubt is a reality for some families, but not for us. I hope the tense situation quiets down soon, but for the sake of those trying to live their lives without disruption and threat, and for the soldiers I keep close in my prayers. And I hope when he gets there he stays safe, in the same ways I hope he is safe when he starts college in New York. This is the opportunity for Coby to form his lifelong connection in a meaningful way to Israel, and he is thrilled to get it started.

Participants on Young Judaea Year Course have the opportunity to bring their experience abroad with Tikkun Olam – Rwanda!  For three full weeks, these participants spend time learning about Rwanda’s history and culture, fundraising projects on behalf their community, learn about the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam, and work directly with the students at the Agahozo Shalom Youth Village.

Watch me!

Hear from participants directly in this video and find out more here!

1. Always have a reusable bag handy.
2. Classes are great, but you’ll learn more about Israeli history and collective memory if you ask your taxi driver where he’s from.
3. Never let your guard down at the beach – stray, high-speed matkot balls are EVERYWHERE!
4. Circle the first day of  Sukkot on your calendars – it’s the opening of Krembo season.
5. Take in a soccer game, but don’t dare to call it anything but ‘football.’ (You can also learn some very colorful language watching the game that you probably won’t hear anywhere else…)
6. Enjoy an impromptu outing by pooling all of your loose change with friends and having a picnic.
7. Learn the difference between “white spreadable cheese” and “cottage cheese.”  There’s nothing worse than thinking you bought a container of cottage cheese only to realize you purchased its weird white cheese cousin.
8. Never pass up a Shabbat invitation – you never know who you’ll meet.
9. Have a powerful experience on KUMA in Poland.
10. Shoko b’Sakit