GUY MASHANI from Manhatten, New York pops in to the International Department

 

Almost 200 teens from Britain and North America about to start their gap year in Israel recently spent 3 days in Givat Haviva.

The teens - from the Federation of Zionist Youth of Britain and Ireland and their America sister movement Young Judaea – were on campus for 3 days of orientation prior to setting out in smaller groups to different parts of the country.

For the first part of their gap year the teens will undertake voluntary work with Magen David Adom, work also in animal rescue centers and National Parks and Reservations, help out in hospitals and educational facilities throughout Israel.

Working in groups in the shade under the leafy trees of Givat Haviva or in the classrooms when the temperatures rose, the young Brits and Americans were a lively bunch as they worked with their youth leaders during the orientation period.

Scottish FZY member Maurice Griffen (18) – who hails from Edinburgh – will be undertaking 3 months of voluntary work with Magen David Adom in Netanya as of this coming week and is looking forward to that and the rest of the very full program set out for the youngsters.

Guy Mishani from Manhatten, New York is more than a proud member of Young Judaea.  Wearing a freshly pressed YJ blue shirt with a selection of attractive badges, Guy was curious enough to come in to the offices of the International Department to have a closer look at the photographs on the walls.

“Wow,” said the New Yorker seeing the diverse groups who spent time on campus in recent times and commented that he hoped after finishing his 9 months with Young Judaea in Israel to stay on in the country and that he would be back.

Most of the teens will be back on campus at some stage in their program for a coexistence seminar with the International Department and as always a warm welcome will await them and their madrichim with whom we have been working closely for many years.

 

Maurice Griffen from Edinburgh, Scotland outside the Jewish-Arab Center for Peace, Givat Haviva

 

AUGUST 2008          

Photos and text: Lydia Aisenberg