Orthodox Union summer programs in Israel continue to adjust their itineraries and sites to accommodate changing safety concerns and providing security updates as warranted. Programs currently reporting amendments include YU’s Counterpoint Israel, Anne Samson TJJ Ambassadors, NCSY, Kollel, BILT, GIVE, ICE Israel, Euro ICE, JOLT and Yachad.
“Our main concern is the safety and best interest of the participants,” said Mayer Fertig, Chief Communications Officer for the OU. “We are being guided by the Israeli government through direct communications with the Cheder Matzav (situation room), and we are following their advice and going a step beyond.”
College students in Israel with the Counterpoint Israel program, an immersive service-learning initiative of Yeshiva University’s Center for the Jewish Future (CJF), were originally scheduled to run camps in Kiryat Gat and Kiryat Malachi from June 29–July 10 before relocating to Dimona and Arad for the second session, scheduled for July 13–24. The YU students were working up until Monday, July 7th, in two locations in southern Israel: Kiryat Gat and Kiryat Malachi. As sirens sounded in that region, they moved back to Jerusalem that day.
Counterpoint volunteers help empower underprivileged youth throughout Israel, and undergraduates run two separate camp sessions in Arad, Dimona, Kiryat Gat and Kiryat Malachi concurrently focusing on two cities at a time. Teaneck resident and second-time Counterpoint participant Rebecca Kleiner, a student at Stern College and alumna of Ma’ayanot High School, describes her experience as positive, both in terms of content and security: “It’s clear that security comes first. They have adapted different sites and locations but the camp is running the same.” And for Kleiner, the tremendous impact this program has is well worth any modifications in plans. “Counterpoint allows volunteers to provide these kids with exposure to a broad array of unusual activities as well as teaching English, including juggling, break dancing, baking, and music that allow them to delve into what they’re good at. We share in some kids’ getting the first chance in their lives to shine. It’s an incredible experience.”
NCSY has moved hundreds of program participants in Israel to the North in order to make sure that safety is the first priority as these students experience the diverse summer programming offered by the OU and NCSY, and has delayed and altered some of their flights and even changed destination from Israel to other sites.
Anne Samson TJJ (The Jerusalem Journey), consisting of 450 public school teens, was scheduled to head off to Israel when their departure date was initially postponed. It was ultimately decided to substitute a trip to the West Coast. “We are excited and enthusiastic despite this change,” said Fertig. “The program will be different, but it will be an amazing experience. And the vast majority of the kids are still planning to attend and are raring to go.” Parents and participants on these programs seem to agree.
The NCSY Summer Kollel, an intensive learning program for high school boys, had just begun as hostilities began. It was moved from its home in Beit Meir, approximately nine miles from Jerusalem, to Chispin in the north. The 157 boys, including about 20 from Bergen County, have reportedly been doing very well, even in the face of significant logistical challenges and alterations to their original itinerary.
Unique to the kollel’s experience this year was an organization of the rapid production of 1,000 kosher tzitzis for soldiers who wished to mobilize wearing this mitzva, reported Rabbi Tanchum Cohen, one of the kollel’s rabbeim who is also the assistant rabbi at Bergenfield’s Congregation Beth Abraham. A friend brought the raw materials to Chispin and, “for several hours the beis midrash has been filled with a dozen of our Beth Abraham boys together with 150 of their closest friends, all hard at work tying tziztis strings onto about 200 pairs of Tzahal-approved begadim and subsequently pairing their handiwork with a note of friendship and gratitude addressed to the chayyal who will wear it,” Cohen wrote in an email to congregants.
Anne Samson TJJ Ambassa dors, with 40 public school teens who have already been in Israel on a leadership program for about two weeks, began in Jerusalem but moved to the North as soon as rocket activity began. As with all programs currently in Israel, their activity has been limited to the Galil and Golan regions.
The BILT (Boys Israel Leadership Training) program, a leadership and touring program of 40 boys, has been in Israel for about nine days mostly staying in Chispin. The nature of the program is such that even in the seemingly likely event that the program must remain in the North indefinitely, sufficient activities remain available. GIVE (Girls Israel Volunteer Experience), a chesed (benevolence) and touring program of 80 girls have been in Israel for 10 days and as with the TJJ Ambassadors, GIVE is nearing the end of the hiking/ touring activities that are available in the North, and have performed fewer chesed accomplishments than originally planned. According to the NCSY security update, there is a possibility that their trip may be cut short.
ICE Israel, which is a co-ed travel program for teens looking to see the entire country, has been in Israel for five days. The program is currently staying in Sevyonei Hagalil. There is a week and a half of programming available to ICE Israel in the North. The 40 teens on ICE Euro have been in Greece for nearly a week. They are expected to travel to Israel, but given the uncertainty related to travel into and out of Israel at this time, programmers decided to arrange for the Euro ICE participants to stay longer in Italy before moving on to Israel. Possibilities include moving onto the Israel portion of the trip or extending the group’s stay in Europe until approximately August 7th.
JOLT (Jewish Overseas Leadership Training) has 40 teens on a leadership trip who have been in Poland for nearly a week. They move on to Austria next week followed by Germany, and are due to travel to Israel the following week. The feasibility of the Israel portion of the JOLT trip is expected to be evaluated closer to the departure date.
In the Yachad division, the Yad B’Yad program, with two groups comprising more than 185 typical high-schoolers, Yachad members with disabilities, and staff were to have flown to Israel with departures Sunday July 20th and Sunday July 27th. Departure to Israel was delayed for one group. Parents were informed that alternative trips to the West Coast would be offered instead of travelling to Israel. Virtually all the participants decided to travel to the West Coast. In addition, three Israel Free Spirit-Birthright trips are currently in Israel and the next departure is not scheduled until August 6.
Overall program participants seem committed to experiencing Israel and continuing with their current plans despite the current security situation.
By Lisa Matkowsky
