Diller Teen Fellows Summer Seminar - Detroit

July 23rd, 2007

After an exhilarating 3 days in the desert, we returned to the Har HaNegev Field School for a completely contrasting experience: an arts workshop. All of the Diller teens were given the choice to attend one of five classes including drama, visual arts, photography, creative writing, and movement. After six hours of befriending kids from other cities and working on different projects, the entire Diller group met up to watch presentations from each workshop. The visual arts group created works that represented the meaning of Israel in their lives. Those from photography presented 3 pictures each on any subject of their choice. The kids from drama performed some improvisation and a couple of skits that they wrote in groups. The creative writing kids presented the best of their skills in essays or poems about their experiences so far. The kids from movement performed various gymnastic dances.

Our weekend continued with a beautiful Shabbat experience. Everyone was given a choice to go to a service that they preferred. After services, we enjoyed a traditional Shabbat dinner followed by an oneg that us without our voices as we all sang both religious and secular music of all genres. On Saturday many of us walked to a nearby city to experience a Sephardic service. After they returned, our entire group had a giant Kiddush together, followed by football and ultimate Frisbee. We had a very relaxing day that ended with separate and meaningful Havadalah services and a movie (“Miracle”) that we all watched together. This morning [Sunday], we are heading to Ben Gurion’s grave and Jerusalem. All is well, and we are all having an incredible and educational experience.

- Kale Davidoff