The 25 eighth-graders who make up this year’s graduating class at Bi-Cultural Hebrew Academy Lower School in Stamford practically had their bags packed for their trip to Israel, when their plans to spend a month trekking through the Jewish state came to a screeching—and heartbreaking—halt.
Just as the class were ready to embark on what has become for the lower school’s graduating class an eagerly anticipated rite of passage, it became clear that, owing to the rapidly spreading pandemic, the month-long “Israel Experience” trip would have to be cancelled.
Needless to say, the students were devastated. With good reason. For the lower School’s graduating class, the “Israel Experience” is the capstone of their years at BCHA; a chance for students to strengthen their bond not only to the land of Israel—to their heritage and their people—but also to one another, as they get set to move on to the next stage of life.
BCHA faculty realized that nothing they conjured up would come close to taking the place of actually setting foot on Israel’s holy ground; of traveling through the land’s ancient cities and along its magnificent coastline. Still, they were determined to come up with a viable—and, of course, virtual—“Israel Experience.”
Conceived and coordinated by BCHA Judaic Studies teachers, Morah Elana Friedman and Rabbi Tzachi Posner, the “Israel Zoom Experience” kicked off in early May with a social distancing home visit to eacheighth-grade student by Rabbi Ofir and Adi Yarchi, the school’s shlichim who came bearing Israel-themed gift bags.
Led by tour guide Elli Shashua, and occasionally addressing heavier topics such as the ins and outs of the Arab-Israeli conflict, the group’s primary goal was to engage in entertaining educational activities that mixed fun with fact. Students participated in a scavenger hunt through the sacred Old City of Jerusalem, a practical demonstration of life-saving army techniques, an exploration of Israel’s world of high tech, a Zoom session connecting students with Israeli teens, and, home-made Israeli iced-coffee in hand, a virtual trek up the steps mountain path to Masada where, in celebration of Lag B’Omer, Shashua produced a Go-Pro adventure through ancient caves used during the Bar Kochba revolt.
Other BCHA teachers also got in on the fun and learning. During an examination of Southern Israel, BCHA science teacher Christopher Graseck conducted a science lab on salinization and the Dead Sea that gave them an understanding about the importance of water in Israeli policy. Morah Iris led an Israeli Master Chef level cooking class, recreating the popular mid-eastern breakfast dish, shakshuka.
A highlight of the experience were Zoom visits with BCHA’s Banot Sherut volunteers, both past and present.
“Our trip to Israel may not have been what it was supposed to be; nonetheless, given the circumstances, I’m in awe of Morah Elana [Friedman] and Rabbi Tzachi [Posner] for the way in which they conceived and orchestrated a meaningful program for our eighth-grade graduates,” said BCHA Head of School Jackie Herman.
Rabbi Tzachi and Morah Elana summed up the experience, saying, “We would never attempt to actually replace the Israel trip with a Zoom call; it’s simply not possible! Rather, we sought to find solace through uniting as a class and engaging with the history, culture, and land of our people.”
