All about the children

Day 8, May 14th

Today was all about seeing a different side of Israel, one that wasn’t seen the first time around. We started out heading towards the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzaliya. Students had the chance to see what a real Israeli university looks like. We sat in a few lectures dealing with the Iranian threat and the global war on terror.
After a great campus lunch, we heard from someone about the current peace process.

We boarded the bus and headed for Tel Aviv. We were met at the Wolfson Hospital by Shachar Zahavi from IsraAID. This is an umbrella organization for all of Israel’s humanitarian endeavours. We also learned about an organization called Save a Childs Heart. Israeli doctors perform life saving heart surgery on children with heart defects from all around the world. It is truly an amazing thing to see.

After learning about their efforts we were taken to the house to meet the children who were recovering from their surgeries. Although not English or Hebrew speakers, the students were still able to communicate and play with the children.

We then headed back to Jerusalem to rest up for another big day tomorrow.

And then there was rest

Day 6, May 12th

For the first time on the program, the students got a well deserved sleep in. For lunch they were placed with different host families to get a nice home cooked meal for Shabbat. There were no complaints about the cholent.

With lots of time to schluff, we heard from Toronto native Aaron Krongold who gave the students a very inspiring talk about the 5 levels of pleasure.

That was followed by seudat shlishit, third meal, which led into a havdallah that had more energy that I’ve ever seen. The singing and dancing poured out faster than Niagara as students celebrated the start of the new week.

We all returned back to our hotels to give and get ready for another great night on the town.

To Jerusalem for Shabat

Day 5, May 11th

Our first session of the day was titled, “What’s up on your Campus.” This was an opportunity for everyone to share what’s happening on their campus in regards to Israel and in general.

From there we went into the first of a six part series called Everyday Activism Sessions. These sessions are designed to give the students all the practical tools to be Israel activists on their campus. The first was “Organizing your Israel Group and Building Future Leadership.” This session looked into what makes a leader, what makes a good leader and what makes a great leader. It also went through the tools necessary to cultivate strong leadership within your Israel or Jewish group on campus. The session was led by Campus Coordinator Ben Feferman.

We then boarded the bus and head back towards towards Jerusalem. Of course on the bus was no shortage of entertainment. We checked back into our hotels and had some free time to get ready for Shabbat.

We started the Shabbat experience with a concert by Rabbi Yom Tov Glaser. Although he doesn’t look like a rocker, he had the crowd going with some Hebrew hits like David Melech Yisrael, Kol Ha’olam Kulo and Am Yisrael Chai. But no expected him to rock out the English tunes by David Bowie, Bob Marley and Pink Floyd.

From there the women went to a light candles and do Kabbalat Shabbat on a rooftop overlooking the Western Wall. The men went down to the Western Wall to do Kabbalat Shabbat as well.

We had a delicious meal with lots of singing and energy to bring out the best of Shabbat. We had great speeches by several students who talked about their experiences on the Hasbara and what this programs has meant to them.

Although it was getting late, Shabbat was definitely not over. He had a large Tisch where students shared great stories and experiences and were able to reflect on the program to date.

Seeing is believing

Day 4, May 10th

As the sun began to rise in the morning, the students were woken up for an early early breakfast to get a quick start to the day.

The first stop was to the mystical city of Tzfat. We visited an organization called Livnot U’Lihabnot which does various community work. The site was heavily damaged during last summers war with Hizbullah and required vast amounts of help to repair different parts of the city.

We then went up to do an overview of the Kinneret to discuss water sharing with Jordan and to enjoy the great view. From there we visited the Valley of the Tears where Israeli soldiers fought a heroic tank battle to hold Kuneitra and the Syrian invasion during the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

We then moved further north to Metulla to discuss the Lebanese civil war of 1985, the first war in Lebanon, the second war in Lebanon and the situation today.

At that point our sunlight was limited and we headed back to our Hotel for dinner. Our evening activity was a screening of Relentless: The Struggle for Peace in the Middle East which discusses the Oslo peace process, its breakdown and the intifiada that followed. The film was followed by a very provocative and emotional discussion.

Into the north we go

Day 3, May 9th

Breakfast was very early this morning, 7:00am to be exact. Before we left our tour educator Yisrael Ne’eman continued the second part of his lecture which focused on the history of the state of Israel. Starting from the Zionist movements and covering everything from independence, the wars, and the political struggle today.

We left Jerusalem before lunch and headed west to our first stop which was Latrun. Its of significant strategic value because of its elevation over the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway which made it the site of many battles notably the Independence Day War and up to the re-capture of the site in 1967.

Our second stop was to visit the Israeli community of Alfe Menashe. The town of 5,800 people has much strategic and political significance due to its location of 2 km east of the Green Line.

Our next stop was to Givat Haviva where they have begun to level the playing field, teaching tolerance, patience and understanding to Jewish and Arab youngsters. Even in these difficult times, they continue to meet daily, peacefully and as equals.

As the sun began to set we checked into the Kinar Hotel. Appetites were very high when dinner rolled out after a long day of touring. Just when the students thought we couldn’t pack in any more fun, we loaded the bus and headed for a night swim at the Tiberias hot springs. There was no better way to relax.

Let the note taking begin

May 8th, Day 2

It was a delicious breakfast, the best of both worlds, Israeli breakfast and American style breakfast. Not to mention the Israeli coffee which really helps start everyone’s day with a little punch.

We made our made to the Old City where we heard from our first speaker, Campus Coordinator Ben Feferman, who taught a class called “Communicating for Israel.” This session outlines a framework for how to advocate for Israel and deconstructs the common messages used.

In order to prepare everyone for our 3-day tour of the northern part of the country, historian Yisrael Ne’eman taught a class about the history of the land of Israel. Known as the “human encyclopedia”, he outlined the history of the Jewish people leading up to the Zionist movements of the 19th century.

After lunch we boarded the bus to head to the Museum on the Seam. It is a unique museum in Israel, displaying contemporary art that deals with different aspects of the socio-political reality. Some of the art can be seen at http://www.coexistence.art.museum/eng/index.asp

We then returned to the Old City for dinner and a talked about our campuses as we enjoyed the warm night on the town. The Hasbara Fellows better get some rest tonight, because we have a jam packed day tomorrow. Sleep tight.

Day 1: Alas Jerusalem!

May 7th, Day 1.

It was a long 12 hour flight from New York’s JFK airport but at least we were entertained by Hollywood blockbusters such as An Inconvenient Truth and some Hugh Grant film, not to mention the intense excitement of landing in Israel.

Upon arrival in Tel Aviv we boarded our bus and embarked towards are hotels in Jerusalem. The women checked into the upscale Prima Kings Hotel and the men into the elegant Eldan Hotel.

We then made our way to the Old City where we enjoyed our first group meal together while going over the itinerary of the program and getting acquainted with our surroundings.
It was an emotional time for some students who hadn’t been “home” for quite some time.

We then boarded the bus to go get ready for our first night on the town. Ben Yehuda street get ready, because the Hasbara Fellows are coming.

Hasbara Fellowships Canadian Trip 2007

From May 6th to May 21st, 38 of Canada's top activists will be participating in the Hasbara Fellowships program.

This blog will capture every moment of the trip. Check it daily. Post your comments. Feel their energy.

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Hi There,

If you are planning on joining us this summer on one of our trips to Israel be sure to visit our Facebook web-event pages!


All Programs:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=2233351024&ref=share

Canadian Program:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2236596183

May 28 - June 12th Program:
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Poland and Israel Trip (June 17th - July 3rd):
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August Program - coming soon!


Recruitment Incentives:
If you are joining us on one of our programs this summer and recommend someone who joins us as well, you will receive a $50 credit on the cost of your program!!!

See you soon in Israel!
David