This Week

Even Exchange

DIANA LIEBERMAN
Staff Writer

Israeli high school students spend a week in
the Detroit area; inner-city teens will
visit Israel later this month.

caring about Israel," Rabbi
Feldman said..
Detroit teens had par-
t was a week of new
ticipated previously in the
friends and new
exchange program, she
experiences for 15
said, and the Council
Israeli teens, who are
brought it back four years
participating in the
ago. In addition to giving
Detroit/Israel Youth
teens an opportunity to
Ambassador Project with
interact with peers in
teens from Detroit public
another country, the pro-
high schools.
gram frequently gives the
Typical of teenagers,
Detroiters their first expo-
their strongest impressions
Left: Miya Thomas of Cass Technical
sure to Jewish people.
were not of the differences
High School and Haifa native Maya
The Israeli teens began
between them. Instead,
Monheit, both 16, compare notes.
their tour of this country
they focused on things of
in Washington, D.C., and
interest to kids all over the
Jain titri;
also will travel to Phoenix
world.
and New York City before
tyLgitif
Elad Leshem of
going back home.
Rehovot, Israel, learned
About 100 teens from
how to scream at profes-
e5 the four American cities
sional basketball games.
will participate in this
Yael Auman saw the biggest
year's exchange, with some
car tire in the world. Inbal
of the Detroiters possibly
Shafran learned that
staying
with Israeli stu-
Right: Israeli
Detroit doesn't usually have
dents
they
met last week,
Michal Taub takes
such nice weather.
Rabbi Feldman said.
a
turn
tossing
the
While here, the
All the Detroit teens
friendship yarn.
Orthodox Israeli teens lived
said they couldn't wait to
and attended classes with
get to Israel.
students at Yeshivat Akiva
"I applied because I
in Southfield. On Oct. 28,
thought it would be a
they toured three Detroit
good experience, that it
high schools, then cement-
would broaden my hori-
Left: Israeli students Avitan Wolf
ed their new friendships
zons," said Chanise
and Maya Monheit are part of
with the participating
Dennis, a Cass Tech
a get-acquainted friendship web.
Detroit students at a din-
junior. "I can help others
ner held at the Detroit
learn as well as myself."
Public Schools' East
Participation by the
McNichols Parent Center.
Detroit students is com-
Sixteen-year-olds Maya
pletely funded by local
Monheit of Haifa and
sponsors and foundations,
Miya Thomas of Detroit's
Rabbi Feldman said. All
Cass Technical High
the teens need to supply is
School discovered their names were
size as New Jersey.
relationships between future leaders in
spending money, and even
pronounced the same, even with dif-
On Nov. 10, a dozen Detroit stu-
Israel and Detroit, said Rabbi Marla
that is sometimes underwritten.
ferent spellings.
dents will begin their part of the
Feldman of the Jewish Community
Three of this year's sponsors, Nate
Danielle Norris, a junior at
exchange, spending a few days in New
Council. Applicants need recommen-
Shapiro of Southfield, Linda Finkel
Detroit's High School for Fine and
York with the Israeli teens before fly-
dations from teachers and community
of Bloomfield Hills and Austin
Performing Arts, said she'd learned
ing to Israel for a three-week stay.
members before being accepted into
Kanter of West Bloomfield, attended
that Israeli students have to serve in
The Detroit/Israel Youth
the program. Those chosen are not
the Detroit/Israel Youth Ambassador
the army right after high school.
Ambassador Project is affiliated with
only excellent students, but also
dinner.
"I learned that Israelis like basket-
the America Israel Friendship League,
mature, open-minded young people
"We feel we are making a long-
ball," added classmate George
and is co-sponsored in Michigan by
who have a history of involvement in
term investment in these kids,"
Ethridge.
the Jewish Community Council of
their community.
Rabbi Feldman said. "To have this
Eleventh-grader Amanda Zarzycki,
Metropolitan Detroit, the Detroit
"Here in Detroit, we want to break
experience as a young person is
who attends Crockett Technical High
Public Schools and Yeshivat Akiva.
down stereotypes, to create a core of
something they will carry through
School, learned that Israel is the same
The goal of the exchange is to build
people who will be knowledgeable and
their lives."

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11/5
1999

Detroit Jewish News

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