Providing as balanced a program as possible when dealing with the sensitive subjects and issues we touch upon in our seminars here in the International Department is indeed challenging. In the old days (pre-intifada 2000 that is) the International Department's seminar programming covered almost everything and anything to do with Israel, Israeli society, history, the Holocaust, geography, kibbutz movement and ever changing political map. Since the knock-on effect of the year 2000 intifada, the nature of the majority of the groups we deal with as well as the subject matter has changed drastically and now focuses more on current affairs, Jewish-Arab relations within the state and the identity crisis of the Arab citizens of Israel. Another major issue being dealt with in the classroom and whilst touring the vicinity of Givat Haviva during seminars, is the pre-l967 Green Line and also the newly constructed security fence in the area. The large groups of kibbutz volunteers who hailed from all over the world and for whom we held a monthly 2-3 day seminars ceased to come after 2000, our last volunteer seminar being held in 2004 - after 20 uninterrupted years reaching thousands upon thousands of globe-trotting young adults spending time working on a kibbutz. Many of the other 'permanent' groups apart from the kibbutz volunteers, such as a few hundred German apprentices sent by their companies for seminars of two week duration tapered off by the end of 2001. We then saw the arrival of Israel support groups, stalwarts from youth movements, synagogue congregations, student organizations, journalists and others and we also continued our field service sending speakers to kibbutzim, hotels or wherever else they were asked to come. The biggest boost came of course from the Birthright Israel groups of students from many different countries and an increase in the number of youth from Britain and north America participating in movement summer camps and tours of the country. Over the last 2 years the demand for our seminars has grown rapidly and just over 7000 overseas youth and adults participated in seminars organized by the Givat Haviva International Department during the year 2005 alone. We are often asked why so many come to our seminars. Under the circumstances, the emails received from past participants should be the answer in themselves and here are just a few examples of late. On his first trip to Israel with other Shomrei Torah synagogue members from Santa Rosa in California, Michael Pecullan emailed staff member Lydia Aisenberg upon return to the States: "I was with the group you took recently on a trip to the Green Line and security fence in the Wadi Ara area. The opportunity that was given to speak with Palestinians at the crossing point was, for me, unprecedented. Your perspectives on Arab social problems caused by Israel's security needs have given me much food for thought and I wish that more of us here in the States could hear you in person. I know you will continue to keep up the good work. Many thanks for an outstanding, balanced and enlightening experience." Jerry Newman, a fellow group member saw Givat Haviva as "a place of hope," and Ruth M. Turner commented "excellent program – we could use more of these."
Another major issue being dealt with in the classroom and whilst touring the vicinity of Givat Haviva during seminars, is the pre-l967 Green Line and also the newly constructed security fence in the area. The large groups of kibbutz volunteers who hailed from all over the world and for whom we held a monthly 2-3 day seminars ceased to come after 2000, our last volunteer seminar being held in 2004 - after 20 uninterrupted years reaching thousands upon thousands of globe-trotting young adults spending time working on a kibbutz. Many of the other 'permanent' groups apart from the kibbutz volunteers, such as a few hundred German apprentices sent by their companies for seminars of two week duration tapered off by the end of 2001. We then saw the arrival of Israel support groups, stalwarts from youth movements, synagogue congregations, student organizations, journalists and others and we also continued our field service sending speakers to kibbutzim, hotels or wherever else they were asked to come. The biggest boost came of course from the Birthright Israel groups of students from many different countries and an increase in the number of youth from Britain and north America participating in movement summer camps and tours of the country. Over the last 2 years the demand for our seminars has grown rapidly and just over 7000 overseas youth and adults participated in seminars organized by the Givat Haviva International Department during the year 2005 alone. We are often asked why so many come to our seminars. Under the circumstances, the emails received from past participants should be the answer in themselves and here are just a few examples of late. On his first trip to Israel with other Shomrei Torah synagogue members from Santa Rosa in California, Michael Pecullan emailed staff member Lydia Aisenberg upon return to the States: "I was with the group you took recently on a trip to the Green Line and security fence in the Wadi Ara area. The opportunity that was given to speak with Palestinians at the crossing point was, for me, unprecedented. Your perspectives on Arab social problems caused by Israel's security needs have given me much food for thought and I wish that more of us here in the States could hear you in person. I know you will continue to keep up the good work. Many thanks for an outstanding, balanced and enlightening experience." Jerry Newman, a fellow group member saw Givat Haviva as "a place of hope," and Ruth M. Turner commented "excellent program – we could use more of these."
British Cambridge University graduate Alex Stein first visited Givat Haviva and undertook a seminar during the summer months last year when he was accompanying a group of British youth on a month long program in Israel. Alex returned to his final year of studies at Cambridge and decided to organize a non-affiliated study tour to Israel for a group of interested fellow students. An astounding number of 40 Jewish and non-Jewish students answered the call to learn for themselves about the country, the people, places and politics. Alex of course put a Givat Haviva seminar and tour of the Green Line/security fence high on the list of 'things to do' and came with the group a few months ago. Alex commented in an email sent upon their return to Britain: "The tours and seminars offered by Givat Haviva are invaluable for anyone interested in looking at important issues in Israeli society that are too often neglected. The tours of the northern West Bank provide a powerful insight for those who think that the only locale of importance is Jerusalem and its environs. "In addition, the meetings with Israeli-Arab citizens are absolutely essential, and highlight that the task of providing civic and material equality for minorities still has a long way to go."
