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The Comings and Goings of February, 2010
Even though February is usually somewhat cold and wet, this year there have been weeks of almost summer temperatures – coupled with periods of really cold snaps and some rain. Confused with the roller coaster of almost all four seasons rolled in to one month, wild flowers have popped up earlier than the norm everywhere creating colorful natural carpets – such as the deep blue and rather majestic lupines pictured above.
INTENSIVE ARABIC SEMESTER students – who commenced the 5-month Givat Haviva-MASA program in mid-January – were able to enjoy the favorable weather this month when out on a study day to the Jordan Valley and Golan Heights accompanied by International Department staff members Lydia Aisenberg, Uri Barel and Inon Tagner. The students, hailing from England, Scotland, USA and Columbia, visited the Old Courtyard of Kibbutz Gesher (pictured above close to the security fence, River Jordan wending its way through the valley behind and remains of three bridges built by the Romans, Turks and British), and the 'Plucked Flowers' memorial at Nahariyim in honor of seven Israeli schoolgirls killed by a Jordanian soldier when visiting the area on a school trip. From Nahariyim the next port of call was Bet Gabriel on the shores of the Kinneret at the Tzemach junction where the students were invited to enter the Peace Room (pictured right) and sit around the table where leaders of Ascending the Golan Heights from the twisting, turning and harrowing narrow road from El Hama to Mevo Hama – a visit to a former Syrian bunker sitting on a strategic hilltop overlooking Hamat Gader, the River Yarmuk, A picnic lunch at the aptly named Ein Pik and journey across the Golan Plateau to Har Bental for a view over present day Syrian territory and the snow capped Hermon.
Left: the helter-skelter ascent from Hamat Gader and (right) working up an appetite at Ein Pik
Intensive Arabic Semester students with (third from left) Orna Shimoni of Kibbutz Ashdot Yaacov, a founder of the Four Mothers movement and creator of the 'Plucked Flowers Hill' memorial at Nahariyim, and at the famous Har Bental road sign giving directions and distances to near and not so far away places in Israel, Syria and Lebanon.
EDUCATORS FROM
A group of 23 educators from Saxony, Germany, visited Givat Haviva during the period of preparations for the Hashomer Hatzair conference (attended by 1,200 young movement members) to begin later that day. Staff member Lydia Aisenberg took the opportunity of asking a number of conference organizers (pictured above with their backs to the camera) to explain something about their movement's goals and importance of their work with youth in present times. Following the impromptu chat in the campus forecourt, the group (who were participating in a Yad Vashem seminar in Following a talk regarding the Wadi Ara region, background to the divided village of Barta'a, the Green Line and security fence in the area, the group were taken out on a tour of a few hours duration, visiting the community of Harish, traveling the Dotan Valley and Katzir on the Amir mountain range before taking in a short visit to Barta'a village where they spoke with Palestinian shop keeper Allam Abu Abead.
Educators from Saxony, Germany on a rainy day in Barta'a meeting with Palestinians and on a sunnier day in Jerusalem
The Saxony educators group leader, Renee Winkler – who was also with a group in Givat Haviva last year – emailed that the group had enjoyed their time in on campus and touring the region and in an email from Noa Mkayton from Yad Vashem, it was noted that the group spoke highly of their experience on and off campus upon their return to Yad Vashem. Additional dates have been booked for seminars with the International Department by the Yad Vashem team and we look forward to receiving them in Givat Haviva and touring our region.
Kerrie (from
INTENSIVE ARABIC STUDENTS also spent a few hours in the The visit to the divided village culminated in a tasty lunch in the East Barta'an restaurant of Salach Kabaha, a Palestinian from that part of the village who is not allowed to cross the Green Line. The students found the morning to be extremely interesting, thought provoking and gave them more confidence to go out into the community – just a mere 10 minute drive from Givat Haviva but a world apart.
KIBBUTZ PROGRAMS CENTRE, TEL AVIV
Aya Sagi, Director of the KPC (
Young people from all over the world volunteering in kibbutzim would be a common site on campus at Givat Haviva, coming together for the monthly 'Volunteer Seminar' during which time they would enjoy getting to know each other and learn about Israel related topics they knew little about. With the events of the Second Intifada (2000) and the drastic drop in overseas visitors to Six months ago Aya Sagi from Kibbutz Tzora, took over the helm of the KPC in Tel Aviv and this month discussions were held between Aya and the International Department about the possibility of bringing back the defunct volunteer seminars to Givat Haviva. In latter years requests from young people abroad seeking a kibbutz volunteer experience have risen and some are turned down solely due to lack of places available in a limited number of kibbutzim. Aya Sagi has undertaken an aggressive campaign to encourage more kibbutzim to open up their doors and workplaces to potential ambassadors for Israel from many different countries in an attempt to turn the clock back to the days of yore when thousands of young people graced the work and public places of kibbutzim, becoming positive 'hasbara' pebbles in the large pond of anti-Israel sentiment to be found in so many countries. Department staff explained to Aya the rich past of volunteer seminars in Givat Haviva and of the continuing field service to some kibbutzim. Hopefully, we will once again see kibbutz volunteers on campus.
Hazorea volunteers on seminar in 2008 & 2009
THE EVANGELISCHE KIRCHE BADEN (Protestant
Torsten Reibold (check shirt) leading a group from Baden in
A group of 20 people from Baden, members of the The pilgrim group, apart from the main sights of Christian interest found in Torsten Reibold spoke with the group at length with regard the various and diverse projects undertaken by Givat Haviva and showed them around the campus. "The people were very excited to hear about the work of the "There was a special interest in the long-term effects of the work of JACP projects and they were rather disappointed not to be able to make a tour of the region because of lack of time. However, Annegret Brauch, the tour leader, said that next time she would bring a group to Givat Haviva she would definitely allow more time and incorporate also a guided tour of Wadi Ara," said Torsten.
INTERNATIONAL VISITORS THIS MONTH
DAVID FISHER (left) an Oberlin College student and GIORGIO BERNARDELLI (right) a journalist from Milan, Italy, spent time visiting Givat Haviva and shown around by International Department staff. Both visitors enjoyed the company of IAS students, David touring the region with the students and on a different day, Giorgio joined the students visiting the various departments of Givat Haviva also with International Department staff members. See attached article: Oberlin College student … Italian Journalist visits after ….
PROFESSOR ZOHAR RAVIV PAYS VISIT TO INTERNATIONAL AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN GIVAT HAVIVA …
Professor Zohar Raviv, Head, International Education Staff of Birthright.taglit visited the International Department Intensive Arabic Semester students and other departments of Givat Haviva. Pictured above with IAS students at the lunch table in Barkai and right) chatting with Mitzi Alper, a teaching assistant in the SEE ATTACHED ARTICLE: Zohar Raviv return visit to Givat Haviva
Westtown School & faculty pictured on the outskirts of Umm el-Fahm whilst visiting the Amir mountain range for an overview of the Shaked settlement bloc and Dotan Valley from above..
Following their initial first days in Israel spent in Jerusalem the group of students and teachers participated in a two-day program organized by the International Department during which they dealt with the topics of the Israeli Arab population, relationships between different sections of Israeli society, dilemmas encountered in shared society projects, kibbutz and much more. On tour in the Wadi Ara region the The students and teachers visited the outskirts of Umm el-Fahm, Mei Ami and a vantage point where it was possible to overview the Visiting Kibbutz Mishmar HaEmek with Lydia Aisenberg from the International Department, also a member of that kibbutz, the Westtowners visited the Holocaust Memorial of the kibbutz, met with child Holocaust survivor Pnina Talmi in her home and walked through the neighboring cactus garden before gathering in
Pnina Talmi speaking with the Westtown students and staff and right) walking the kibbutz grounds
The Holocaust memorial of Kibbutz Mishmar HaEmek, view across kibbutz rooftops to the Jezreel Valley ad Mt. Tabor, and the palm lined avenue entrance to the 88 year-old Hashomer Hatzair kibbutz.
On Friday evening the Westtown folks participated in the lighting of Shabbat candles and enjoyed an explanation about Shabbat before sitting down to dinner at Givat Haviva, after which they attended a workshop dealing with the map of Although Westtown is a Quaker school, the student and teaching body are made up of people of different faiths and indeed this particular group was Quaker, various Christian denominations and some Jews. Following the Givat Haviva seminar the group headed for Nazareth and Tiberias after which they were due to spend a week in Ramallah staying at a Quaker school founded in the Palestinian city over 100 years ago and with whom Westtown School shares close ties. Westtown students and staff will be dropping us a line or two about their experiences and comments with regard the seminar in Givat Haviva. L'hitraot, THE INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT STAFF Hilit Ben Zvi, Uri Barel & |
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