Kehillah 2008 Updates

July 8, 2008 - Negev Shabbat and Arts Workshops - K3 & K4

Dear Nesiya Family and Friends,

After their intense desert adventure, K3 and K4 participants have now returned to the joys of indoor plumbing and are continuing their journey --- northward!  But first, let’s backtrack and learn what our valiant travelers were up to the past few days.

On Friday afternoon, the groups ventured in to the small development town of Yerucham. They interviewed local residents about their lives and the role they had in developing this area of the country. After lunch in town, the groups divided into committees and prepared for their first Shabbat in Israel.  They also visited the grave of David Ben Gurion and were taken away by the power of his story and the power of the desert.

Shabbat was a balance of peaceful time for reflection, energized singing, challenging conversations, silly games, text learning, special foods, and rest.  Participants are learning how to celebrate Shabbat together as a community despite their different religious upbringings and varied levels of observance. Shabbat morning, each Kehillah engaged in a conversation about different approaches to studying Torah and how people with very different views can study together and learn from each other.  Nesiya counselor-educators and senior staff noticed that participants have developed respect for each other and have created a warm atmosphere in which participants feel comfortable to participate and express themselves.

In the afternoon, after a few hours of Shabbat menucha (rest), Nesiya staff introduced a dynamic discussion on modesty and sexuality, within the context of responsibility and community. Each group then divided into separate boy/girl break-out sessions in which they spoke about relationships, modesty and intimacy, and the different backgrounds and assumptions that each participant brings to the new community they are forming. The discussion raised difficult questions but participants left the conversation feeling positive.

A highlight of Shabbat afternoon was the madrich story, during which one of the four counselor-educators in each group shares his life story (or a meaningful part of it) with his group. This past Shabbat, Davida from K3 and Adam from K4 shared their stories to an enraptured audience. Next Shabbat, participants will hear from another one of their counselor-educators, and will begin sharing shorter stories of their own with their small groups. After much rest and meaningful conversations, the group was full of energy on Motzei Shabbat/Saturday night, and took part in a lively Café Bereshit activity (including costumes!) that offered a creative outlet for all.

The desert experience neared its conclusion as both groups participated in their first creative arts workshops.  Participants grappled with the themes of home and journey and expressed their responses to these themes through various media, including drama, creative writing, visual arts, music, and movement.  Staff noted how well participants worked together and connected to each other.  Members of each art workshop shared their artistic expressions with the Nesiya community (K3 and K4) and, perhaps more importantly, spoke articulately about their processes of creation. I encourage you to ask your children to keep their writings or mementos of their presentations, so they can share it with you after they return home.

On Monday evening the groups left the Sde Boker base for a Bedouin tent sleep-out – including a delicious dinner (it might be one of the best meals during the entire summer --- we shall see!), bonfire and singing.  K3 and K4 are currently finishing up their swim at a beach near Caesarea and will be on their way to their new base in the Galilee region of Israel.

Participants are energized for the next unit of the program - “Searching for a Shared Purpose in History.”  Updates on this unit are sure to come, so stay tuned.  A quick peek at tomorrow – Tzippori sights and stories, and then more fun, sun, swimming (and sunscreen!) at the Kinneret!

Best,

Yael

P.S. Warm (early) Birthday Wishes to Dina Gatoff and Emily Jennings!