Diller Teen Fellows Summer Seminar - Detroit

August 6th, 2007

Dear Diller Parents,
 

We just wanted to send one final update before we see you on Tuesday morning. On Thursday we had our last volunteer activity with AKIM, the group of special needs adults that we had been working with. We traveled to Megiddo to an agricultural farm run by AKIM and were partnered with people to do various activities. Making mud, baking pizza, visiting the animals, and riding on a tractor were some of the things that we got to do. After we planted trees together, we exchanged gifts: our friends from AKIM gave us hamsa key chains that they decorated, and we gave them Partnership 2000 t-shirts. Following our good byes, we traveled back to Kibbutz Mizra for an IDF panel. Some of our counselors shared about their army experiences and we also had two guests from the IDF come and tell us about their positions in the army. It was interesting to learn about all the different units in the army. Within minutes of ending our IDF panel, the room that we were in was transformed from a classroom into a café for another activity. The dilemma café was an opportunity for all of us teens to discuss important issues in Israeli society in small groups. We were served by our counselors who brought us a different dilemma to “chew on” with every course. After a long day we all separated for a fun night with our hosts; some went shopping, while others hung around their host cities.

On Friday morning we all donned our bathing suits and hiking boots for a refreshing water hike in the Jordan River. For some it was more a swim than a hike, but for all it was a fun activity. We had lunch and walked back to the bus on the dry trail. It was sad separating for Shabbat, but we all had fun, relaxing weekends in very diverse settings.

Today, Sunday, we are going kayaking and then to the Kinneret (The Galilee) to swim and to meet up with the other Diller teens. We’re excited to see everyone after a week of being apart in all areas of the country. Tonight we will be staying in the Hermon Field School in the north. The plan for Monday is to wrap up the amazing three weeks we’ve had together in Israel.

Saying goodbye is going to be very difficult. This summer has been incredible; we’ve all learned and grown so much and we’ve become a very close group. Coming home is exciting, but very sad at the same time.

Well, we’re off to go kayaking! See you on Tuesday!