Kehillah 2009 Updates

July 12, 2009 - Shabbat in Tzfat and Home Hospitality

Dear Nesiya Parents and Friends,

Time flies when you're having fun... who can believe it is already the third week of the program?

Before I update you about your children's adventures over the weekend, I have already begun to receive many questions about the upcoming home hospitality weekend, which will take place in just under two weeks. The weekend is a great opportunity for your children to see another side of Israel by spending time in an Israeli home. Following this update, I have therefore included an FAQ, which hopefully answers all the questions asked, and explains the structure and process of the weekend.

And now back to our update:

After their experiences last week exploring the communities of the rabbis in Tzippori, the kabbalists in Tzfat, and the pioneers in Havat Kinneret, your children began to prepare for their Shabbat in Tzfat. Not only does Shabbat in Tzfat provide an excellent rhyme opportunity for a song or poem, but also, and maybe (just maybe) more importantly, Shabbat in Tzfat affords spiritual, relaxing moments of reflection, prayer, and singing against the backdrop of ancient and modern synagogues, terraced apartments, and dramatic views of the Galilee landscape. This was also an exciting Shabbat because it was the first time that participants were responsible for many aspects of the Shabbat activities, via their participation in Shabbat committees.

On Friday night, participants were offered various prayer opportunities at some of Tzfat's many synagogues and could choose to participate (in prayer, singing and sometimes even dancing) or sit quietly to observe and marvel. There were also two meaningful alternative options offered: a song session in which participants sang diverse Israeli, American and Jewish music, and a walking tour of Tzfat which included stops outside a number of synagogues to take in the intense Tzfat Shabbat atmosphere.

While K2 and K3 stayed at the Tzfat Youth Hostel and K1 stayed at the Merkazi Hotel during their time in Tzfat, all three Kehillot joined together for a festive and enjoyable shared Shabbat dinner. After dinner, K1 headed back to their hotel for an Oneg Shabbat, and K2 and K3 remained at the Youth Hostel for their post-dinner activities, including both an Oneg Shabbat and a participant-led "tisch", including more traditional singing and storytelling, before heading to bed.

The Shabbat morning text study was the Talmudic text about Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai studying for twelve years in a cave. In discussions led by Nesiya senior staff members, the participants discussed the sacrifices required of an individual to become part of a community, as well as the rewards of the communal experience. After a good Shabbat nap, counselor-educators told their madrich stories - Alex in K1, Galit in K2 and Renana in K3 - to highly responsive and interested audiences of participants and staff. The first round of chanichim (participants) also shared their short stories in their small groups, which they will continue to do each Shabbat throughout the remainder of the summer. Zvi Hirschfield also shared with each of the groups an introduction to Kabbalah.

This morning, the groups left Tzfat to begin preparing for their community service projects. In planning and coordinating our community service projects, we work with an organization called Yeladim - Fair Chance for Children, a voluntary organization, founded in 1986, in order to assist children in residential group homes. The following is some background information taken from their website (www.yeladim.org.il): In Israel today, there are more than 10,000 children growing up in 80 residential group homes across the country. These children, ranging from birth to 18 year olds, have been removed from their homes by court order or by the welfare authorities, mainly due to their parents' inability to provide them with care and protection. For these children, who have suffered from neglect and abuse, the concepts of home, family, support and protective adults are not to be taken for granted.

Each Kehillah is volunteering at a different residential group home: K1 will be in Childrens' Home in Givat Ada, a religious children's home. K2 will visit Beit Taf in Pardes Hana, a secular children's home. And K3 will be in Haifa at Achuzat Yeladim, also a secular children's home.

While volunteering at the group home, Nesiya participants serve as mentors and friends to teens close to their own age who come from troubled situations and who rarely socialize in other circles. Both communities of young people enjoy meeting each other and, for a few days, welcoming each other into their different worlds. More details will follow regarding the specific work of each group.

And now, a little bit of 'back to the future': Last Thursday, participants read excerpts from "The Night of the Twentieth," a play by Israeli playwright Yehoshua Sobol about a group of young people who have left behind their families in Europe and question what kind of new Jewish community they should develop in the land of Israel. This play serves as a soundtrack of sorts to the issues of community and individuality explored in the Galilee unit and throughout the summer. On Monday and Tuesday, each group will engage in a creative "Night of the Twentieth" workshop, which will use the play as a springboard for creative exploration of the conflicting ideals which arose within the "intimate groups" of the young Kibbutz movement founders. The workshop also provides a unique opportunity for participants to reflect on their own community-building experience this summer and their similar attempts to build an "ideal community."

Finally, we have uploaded one more  set of pictures. These are a little different than the other albums, since they include pictures not OF participants, but rather the pictures taken BY the sixteen participants in the Negev photography workshop. The participants were asked to take photographs that explored their thoughts and feelings regarding their journey in the desert during the first week of Nesiya, and its relationship to their life journey. I highly recommend viewing these photographs even if your child did not participate in the photography workshop!

More to come soon. And now, for the information you've all been waiting for regarding the home hospitality weekend:

Home Hospitality FAQ

When is the weekend, and how long is it?
The children will be with their hosts for three nights and just over two days, from Thursday evening, July 23 through Sunday morning, July 26. They will leave from Jerusalem on Thursday, and return to Tel Aviv on Sunday; the farther the host family lives from these two locations, the later they will arrive and/or the earlier they will need to depart.

What are my child's options for being hosted? What if the host they want to stay with is not listed on their form?
Your children have three options for host families over the weekend:
1. staying with family or friends listed on the signed Home Hospitality form
2. staying in the home of an Israeli participant
3. going with another American participant to his/her host family

Please note that if you already sent in a signed home hospitality form listing specific friends and family and your child decides instead to go home with an Israeli participant, you do not need to send in another form. Your original signed form gives permission for your child to stay with an Israeli participant as well.

If your child wants to stay with friends or family not listed on the original form, or if s/he wants to go with another American participant, you will need to send in another form adding the new host. Alternatively, you may send me an email with the host name and information stating that you give your child permission to be hosted by this person.

What if my child wants to be hosted by someone who lives over the "Green Line" (i.e. in the West Bank)?
There are a number of Israeli participants who live in the West Bank, who would be happy to host American participants. If your child is interested in spending the weekend with a family who lives across the 'Green Line' (1967 borders of Israel), you will be asked to sign a special waiver indicating that you release Nesiya from liability in case anything happens during the weekend or transportation to and from the weekend. Nesiya staff are unable to provide specific guidance as to whether your child should stay over the Green Line - the decision is up to you and your family. If you have further questions about this, I will be happy to try to answer them. The waiver can be accessed here.

What if my child wants to spend time with two different host families?
Your child may choose to spend the weekend with two separate families. Nesiya staff will need to be in touch with both families regarding guidelines, transportation, etc. The participant may be dropped off by Nesiya on Thursday at one location and picked up on Sunday from a different location. Please note that in such cases, the host families will need to assume full responsibility for coordinating the participant's transportation between the two homes during the weekend itself.

What transportation arrangements will Nesiya provide to and from host homes? To what degree is my child or his/her hosts responsible for his/her transportation?
Based on all the different locations where your children will be staying, we will plan a number of bus routes that will leave Jerusalem on Thursday evening and stop at several central points throughout Israel, where the hosts will be able to pick up your children. If a host is unable to get to the pick-up point, then a Nesiya counselor will put your child in a private taxi (fare to be covered by the participant or host, as per their private arrangement), which will take them directly to the host. Sunday morning, a bus will pick up the children from the same locations when they were dropped off, and will take them to the group meeting point in Tel Aviv.

What guidelines will the participants and hosts be expected to adhere to during the weekend?
We have written a number of security guidelines for the Home Hospitality Weekend, which both hosts and participants are obligated to follow. All of the adult hosts will sign a form indicating that they are committing themselves and the participants to the guidelines for the entire weekend. The guidelines explain that participants are not allowed to travel by public transportation; they are not allowed to cross the green line (unless you give prior permission through a signed waiver form); and they are not allowed to visit any crowded public places that don't have security. In addition, all of the rules of the Nesiya program, including rules regarding drugs, alcohol, etc., are in full effect. Nesiya staff will conduct an orientation session with participants prior to the weekend to explain these rules as well.

What kind of communication will Nesiya staff have with the hosts?
Prior to the weekend, a Nesiya staff member will contact each of the hosts to confirm the visit with them, to coordinate regarding transportation to and from host homes, and to explain the security guidelines for the weekend. Additionally, we will explain to the hosts that the health insurance we've purchased for the children applies throughout the weekend.

What if my child has a health issue during the weekend?
Prior to the weekend, your children will all receive their health insurance policy number and instructions regarding how to obtain medical care. Should you hear from your children during the weekend about a health concern, please instruct them to call the Nesiya senior staff (they will receive a list of emergency phone numbers). In general, we advise that participants wait to deal with non-emergency situations until they return to the program.

What additional information do you need from parents at this point?
Since you have all already signed the home hospitality permission form (which indicates that you give your child permission to visit the homes of the families you listed or of an Israeli participant), the only additional permission we would need from you would be if your child decides to spend the weekend with a family who is not listed on the original form you gave us and not connected to Nesiya. We will also need a signed waiver if your child wishes to spend the weekend across the 'Green Line'. We will be in touch with you if your child falls into these categories.

Although there are many guidelines and logistical details, we've found that the weekend is one of the highlights for the North American participants. It's a special opportunity for them to experience authentic Israeli culture, as well as to take a small break from the intensity of group living.

If you have any further questions or concerns about the Home Hospitality Weekend or anything else, please do not hesitate to email me.

All the best,
Leah

12.7.2009 - שבת בצפת

הורי נסיעה וחברים יקרים,

הזמן טס כשנהנים... מי היה מאמין שאנחנו כבר בשבוע השלישי של התוכנית?

אחרי החוויות שלהם בשבוע שעבר וההיכרות עם קהילות רבניות בציפורי, אנשי הקבלה בצפת והחלוצים של חוות כינרת, ילדיכם החלו להתכונן לשבת שלהם בצפת. לא רק ששבת בצפת היא חרוז מצוין אם כותבים או שרים שיר, אך, ואולי (רק אולי) זה החלק החשוב ביותר, שבת בצפת מעניקה רגעים רוחניים ומרגיעים של התבוננות פנימית, תפילה ושירה על רקע בתי כנסת חדשים ועתיקים, בתים עם מרפסות והמראה הדרמטי של נופי הגליל. זו היתה שבת מרגשת גם מפני שזו היתה הפעם הראשונה שהמשתתפים היו אחראיים על חלק גדול מפעילויות השבת כחלק מהשתתפותם בוועדות השבת.

ביום שישי בערב הוצעו למשתתפים מספר אפשרויות לתפילה בחלק מבתי הכנסת הרבים בצפת, והם יכלו לבחור להשתתף (בתפילה, בשירה או אפילו בריקודים) או לשבת בשקט ולצפות. הוצעו גם שתי אופציות אלטרנטיביות משמעותיות: מעגל שירה שבו המשתתפים שרו שירים ישראלים, אמריקאיים ויהודים, וסיור בצפת שכלל עצירה במספר בתי כנסת כדי לספוג את האווירה השבתית המיוחדת שיש בעיר.

למרות ש-K2 ו-K3 לנו באכסניית הנוער בצפת, ו-K1 התארחו במלון "מרכזי" , שלושת הקהילות התאספו לארוחת ערב שבת חגיגית ומהנה. אחרי ארוחת הערב, K1 חזרו למלון לעונג שבת, וk2 ו-K3 נשארו באכסנית הנוער לפעילויות הערב בהם עונג שבת ו"טיש" בהנחיית המשתתפים, ובו הרבה שירה וסיפורים.

לימוד המקורות של הבוקר היה הסיפור התלמודי על רבי שמעון בר יוחאי שלמד שתים עשרה שנה במערה. בדיון בהנחיית צוות נסיעה הבכיר, המשתתפים שוחחו על הקורבנות שנדרשים מהיחיד כדי להפוך לחלק מהקהילה, וכן על היתרונות בחוויה הקהילתית. אחרי שנת שבת טובה, המדריכים-מחנכים סיפרו את סיפוריהם – אלכס ב-K1, גלית ב-K2 ורננה ב-K3 , לקהל מעוניין וקשוב של צוות וחניכים. הסבב הראשון של חניכים גם שיתפו בקבוצות קטנות, והם ימשיכו בסבב במהלך השבתות שנותרו בתוכנית.

הבוקר, הקבוצות עזבו את צפת והחלו להתכונן לפרויקטים של ההתנדבות הקהילתית. בתכנון ותיאום ההתנדבות אנו פועלים עם ארגון בשם "ילדים בסיכוי – המועצה לילד החוסה", היא גוף של מתנדבים שהוקם בשנת 1986 במטרה לסייע לילדי הפנימיות. להלן מידע מהאתר של הארגון (www.yeladim.org.il): בישראל של היום, יש למעלה מ - 6,500 ילדים מגיל יום עד גיל 14 הגדלים מחוץ לביתם ב- 80 פנימיות ברחבי הארץ. ילדים אלה הורחקו מבתיהם על ידי רשויות הרווחה או הוצאו בצווי בית משפט בגלל מצוקות קשות, הכוללות, בין השאר, התעללויות פיזיות ונפשיות, הזנחה, יתמות ועוד. עבורם הבית, המשפחה, תמיכה והגנה מעולם המבוגרים אינם מובנים מאליהם.

כל קהילה מתנדבת בפנימייה אחרת: K1 יהיו בבית הילדים בגבעת עדה, בית ילדים דתי. K2 יבקרו בבית טף בפרדס חנה, בית ילדים חילוני, ו-K3 יתנדבו באחוזת הילדים בחיפה, בית ילדים חילוני גם כן.

במהלך ההתנדבות, משתתפי נסיעה ישמשו כחונכים וחברים לבני נוער הקרובים לגילם שבאים מבתים ומצבים מורכבים, ואשר לעיתים רחוקות נפגשים עם נוער מחוץ לחברה שלהם. שתי הקבוצות של בני הנוער נהנים להכיר אנשים חדשים, ובמשך מספר ימים יכניסו אחד את השני לעולמות השונים שלהם. פרטים נוספים לגבי העבודה הספציפית שהם עושים יבואו בהמשך.

ועכשיו, מעט "בחזרה לעתיד": ביום חמישי שעבר, המשתתפים קיבלו חלקים מהמחזה "ליל העשרים" שכתב יהושע סובול, העוסק בקבוצה של צעירים שעזבו את משפחותיהם באירופה ודנים בשאלה של איזה סוג קהילה יהודית יש לפתח בארץ ישראל. המחזה הוא סוג של פסקול לנושאים של קהילה ואינדיבידואליות שאנו חוקרים ביחידת הגליל ובמהלך הקיץ. בימים שני ושלישי, כל קבוצה תשתתף בסדנה יצירתית של "ליל העשרים", אשר תשתמש במחזה כמקפצה ל"חקירה יצירתית" של האידיאלים הסותרים שהתמודד עימם דור המקימים הצעיר של התנועה הקיבוצית. הסדנאות גם מעניקות למשתתפים הזדמנות לחשוב על החוויה האישית שלהם בבניית קהילה הקיץ ובניסיון הדומה שלהם לבנות "קהילה אידיאלית".

לסיום, העלינו סדרה נוספת של  תמונות. אלה תמונות קצת אחרות מהאלבומים האחרונים, מכיוון שהן לא תמונות של החניכים, אלא תמונות שצולמו על ידי 16 החניכים שהשתתפו בסדנת הצילום בנגב. המשתתפים התבקשו לצלם תמונות שמשקפות את הרגשות והמחשבות שנוגעות למסע שלהם במדבר במהלך השבוע הראשון ב"נסיעה", ואת הקשר שלהם למסע החיים שלהם. אני ממליצה לצפות בתמונות אלו גם אם ילדכם לא השתתף בסדנת הצילום!

עוד עדכונים בהמשך...
כל טוב,
לאה