Receiving emails is usually a pleasure – the problem is they also need to be answered!
According to many of the emails we receive in the International Department, it would seem that for many people the Givat Haviva component during their visit to Israel, leaves a deep impression.
From their comments many are grateful to have had the opportunity to visit a campus encouraging dialogue between Arab and Jewish Israeli citizens; offering the possibility for them – the overseas visitor – to also meet and speak not only with the dedicated educators involved in the educational projects, but also with 'the people in the street' when out and about on the International Department's popular tours of the region.
Joe David, a student from the United States, spent half a day with some other 30 North American students on a short study trip to Israel. They visited Givat Haviva on a particularly hot day, with almost zilch visibility when out on tour.
Joe emailed the following:
"I learned a great deal in a few short hours. The lecturer put across so much material in 90 minutes, and I came out with my head burning. I didn't feel it was an hour and half though – it just flew by. She spoke about different periods of history from the Arab perspective, gave facts and figures I'd never heard before. She told about her personal encounters – emphasized there is no black and white in all of this.
I guess that's what I was looking for.
The tour to the village that was divided by the Green Line (Barta'a) was such an eye opener about so many different topics, Arab Israelis, Palestinians – security issues – so much.
Thank you for making me want to know more, and realizing just how little I knew before.
Joe David."
Students take a break in a Barta'a café
A Las Vegas synagogue congregation with their Rabbi, Felipe Goodman, made a tour of the Amir Mountain range, Katzir and Barta'a village whilst on a visit to our area. Most of the folks from Nevada had been to Israel before, but none to the area where they were taken by an International Department staff member!
Group member and Las Vegas attorney, Carol Zucker emailed the following:
"I was on Rabbi Goodman's tour a couple of weeks ago, and I would very much enjoy reading the articles you mentioned whilst you showed us the intricacies of the 'narrow waistline' of Israel.
You provided us with some interesting insight, even for those of us who have been to Israel many times.
Thanks, Carol."
The articles are on their way through cyberspace.
Las Vegas folks chatting with Palestinian businessman in West Barta'a
Professor Zohar Raviv is Assistant Professor of Jewish Studies at Oberlin College, Ohio, and recently accompanied a group of folks who are members of The Institute of Jewish Knowledge and Learning (Florida) to Israel.
Professor Raviv, who is no stranger to Givat Haviva having brought a number of groups in the past, emailed that:
"It was an expected pleasure to see everybody again, and, obviously, to see you at work! I hope that our relationship continues to deepen in time and affect positive change on as many people as possible.
The Institute of Jewish Knowledge and Learning members visited Givat Haviva in April for a full day seminar led by Lydia Aisenberg. The seminar and the field trip not only opened their eyes to the complexity of the Arab-Israeli reality, but also assisted in their appreciation of mutual tolerance and the need to understand different narratives of Israel.
Lydia lead the group through serious questions and managed to contextualize issues that otherwise remain perplexing for people who rely on the media alone.
This was an essential part of the trip's success, as well as a motivation to study further and teach others.
Blessings, Zohar."
Professor Zohar Raviv, Assistant Professor of Jewish
Studies at Oberlin College, Ohio
Lisa Bork is one of the team making up the German organization YAD ACHAT, a group of young professionals who have taken upon themselves to be involved in anti-racism education and also to bring Germans and Israelis to a meeting point, both in Israel and Germany.
Lisa and three of her colleagues paid a call recently at Givat Haviva in order to see what goes on and to meet with folks involved with the projects.
They also heard about the program offered by the International Department and participated in a lengthy tour of Wadi Ara, the Dotan Valley and Barta'a to see if suitable for some groups they plan to bring to Israel in the near future.
In her email Lisa states:
"Thanks for the great guided tour. We all felt very sorry that we did not plan more time for this, but we know better for the next time!
We hope to see you in Israel when we come with our next group.
Yours, Lisa."
East Barta'a on a sunny afternoon.
Gerhilde Merz is an Austrian who has visited Givat Haviva as a group member on a number of occasions, and also participated in a seminar visit to the kibbutz of Lydia.
In recent years Gerhilde has taken it upon herself to translate to German the English language articles penned by Lydia, a freelance journalist. Although writing about many Israeli topics, Lydia does write a great deal about the people and places encountered during her work in the Wadi Ara area.
Gerhilde's translations have helped non-English speakers among our German visitors be able to understand more clearly the complicated issues discussed during seminar – and so we decided to send Gerhilde a gift of the Givat Haviva publication of Children Writing Peace.
In her response, Gerhilde's writes:
"I was filled with joy by the book. Not only that the poems are charming, though obviously hard for the writers, but that you thought to send me this particular book.
Be sure that this present will not just sit on my bookshelf – I intend to use the book, read out the poems to interested people, whenever there is an opportunity.
With love, your very sincerely Gerhilde."
We hope there will be many people in Austria who will want to hear Gerhilde's readings.
So, just a few interesting emails – now to answer.
L'hitraot … International Department
May 2009
