MOTOR COACH TOURS
AIR AND CRUISE TRAVEL
THEATRE & SHOWS
OTHER VIEWS
"Moonlight & Valentino"
Croswell Opera House, Adrian
Comedy drama
Lunch at Hathaway House 4/21
$79
"Lion King" & Mamma Mia"
from $365
Toronto
2 Plays- 2 Dinners
5/4-5, 6/21-23, 7/6-7, 8/10-11,9/21-22
Holland Tulip Festival
5/10 "Osmond Brothers"
5/11 "Parade of bands"
Includes dinner, Veldheer's Tulip Gardens, De Klamp
Wooden Shoe & Delft Factories"
5
75
1, 2 & 3 Days, Meals
Stratford
from $95
May-Oct.
call for dates, plays & details
Shaw Festival
2 & 3 Days, Meals
July-Oct.
call for plays & details
from $239
"Producers", New York:
Meals, Play, Hotels, Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island,
Tour, More!!
8/23-27; 9/24-28
$735
Drury Lane Theatre
Chicago- Meals, Shopping
5/18-19 "Anything Goes" (Cole Porter)
7/13-14 "Joseph and the Amazing
Technicolor Dream Coat"
8/10-11 "On Golden Pond"
$195
"Ain't Misbehavin"-
Boarshead Theatre, Lansing Play - & Brunch at "Clara's
Train Station" 6/2
$75
All fates P.P. Dbl. - Call for Rye's and additional Dips
and cruise specials!
BERKLEY TOURS AND TRAVEL
248-865-8890
www.berkleytours.com
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DIPTIORT J11/1111 NEWS
J'N
Call Me Crazy
Los An eles
Rewarding Experience
all me crazy. If someone
The parents worry that spending half a
handed me a ticket to go to
term in Israel somehow detracts from
Israel tomorrow, I'd drop
the "full high school" experience.
everything in a heartbeat
Actually, the students who attend HSI
and go.
return to the States more confident and
I am a staunch supporter of Israel, a
committed to both the secular and
"Zionist" who isn't afraid to use that
Jewish communities.
word. When I tell people that
Hebrew University normal-
I work for Young Judaea
ly has several hundred stu-
recruiting students for long-
dents from the United States
term programs and encourag-
registered in the Rothberg
ing young adults to spend
International School. This
time in Israel, the response is
year, enrollment is down 50
usually, "Go to Israel now?
percent from last year. Yet,
Are you crazy?"
despite the heated political
My first stay in Israel was
situation, those who are at
with Tichon Ramah
Hebrew University have won-
Yerushalayim, a program run
derful
stories to share and are
MIRIAM LEWIS
by Ramah, the camping arm
pleased
with their decision to
Special
of the Conservative move-
experience
Israel this year.
Co mmentag
ment. I spent a semester of
Recruiting students for
high school in Israel, not real-
Young Judaea's Year Course, a
izing then how extraordinary my deci-
10-month study/volunteer experience
sion was. I now see that most Jews don't
in Israel for recent high school gradu-
like to venture off the beaten track the
ates, is a struggle, even though the pro-
way I did when I was just 16.
gram has so much to offer: up to 27
My second stay in Israel was my jun-
college credits through the University of
ior year of college at the Hebrew
Judaism, volunteer opportunities
University in Jerusalem. I also signed
throughout the country, overnight hikes
up for Sharsheret, Young Judaea's sup-
to explore Israel on foot, and sporting
plemental program sponsored by
and cultural events.
Haclassah that includes an internship,
People have a million excuses not to
apartment residences instead of dormi-
go. "It isn't safe to go to Israel" is at the
tories, special seminars and trips, and
top of the list. But all Israel programs
an accredited Zionism class.
supported by the Jewish Agency put
My internship was with Hadassah's
safety first.
Center Stage Theatre, one of Israel's
Hadassah, sponsor of Year Course, is
only English-language theaters.
an organization of 300,000 Jewish
I lived across the street from the pres-
mothers. To say that taking care of
ident's official residence in Jerusalem.
these young people is their top priority
From our balcony, my roommates and
is an understatement.
I watched dignitaries visit and demon-
Year Course staff in Israel and New
strators of every stripe parade by. We
York work together to devise strict secu-
even met President Ezer Weizmann in
rity regulations, using both private and
his sukkah.
public sources. They immediately noti-
Many Israel programs can be tailored
fy parents of security changes via e-
to fit a participant's individual interests.
mail. Students are required to carry cell
With enough initiative, a student can
phones so they can be reached quickly.
make a stay in Israel a life-changing
The staff manages to achieve a delicate
event in terms of personal growth,
balance between ensuring the highest
Jewish development, Zionist involve-
safety for the students and giving them
ment, and maturation into a leader.
an unforgettable yearlong experience.
Right now, participation in long-term
Think American campuses are safer?
Israel programs is dramatically down.
Instead of cataloguing the problems
Alexander Muss High School in Israel
that plague students on American col-
(HSI), which turns Israel into a living
lege campuses, I will point out that
classroom for American high school
many Israel programs provide a nurtur-
students, can't convince parents of the
ing environment for their participants,
benefits of taking eight weeks out of the
with a caring and involved staff
school year to study in Israel.
Miriam Lewis is the daughter of Bobbie
and Joe Lewis of Oak Park. She works fir
Young Judaea as recruiterfir Year Course
and other long-term Israel programs. Her e-
mail address is mfrwis@younjudaea.org
Back With Confidence
During the year, the students can grow
and find positive ways to have fun.
Then, with a level of confidence and
maturity far surpassing that of their
peers, they transfer to colleges in the
States well equipped to withstand
peer pressure.
Some students are afraid they can't
afford a long-term Israel program.
True, study-abroad programs can be
very expensive. The marvelous thing
about the Jewish community is that
we support programs in Israel.
The Michigan/Israel Connection
offers numerous grants and scholar-
ships for Israel programs, as do most
Jewish Community Centers and syna-
gogues. There are private scholarships
as well, and grandparents are often
more than willing to help.
I firmly believe that with the avail-
able help from the Jewish community,
a student who wants to do an Israel
program will be able to go.
When other students tell me they
are worried about getting behind by
taking time off before college, it's
hard for me not to laugh. Behind in
what? In life? What is the big rush? I
graduated from college after five
years, and I recommend taking your
time before hurrying into the adult
world, where you have to worry
about jobs, car payments and medical
insurance.
As one Year Course returnee put it,
Year Course is "not a year off, it's a
year on!"
In spite of all these excuses, this
year's 224 Year Coursers are having
the most fantastic year of their lives,
on Young Judaea's largest Year Course
ever.
Research has been done; the num-
bers are in: Jews who participate in
long-term Israel programs are far
more likely to marry Jewish, continue
their Jewish education, and not only
remain involved in the Jewish com-
munity, but become its leaders and
advisers.
Connecting to Israel personally by
spending time there is essential to the
development of Jewish identity.
Nothing else has the power to put a
lifetime of Jewish education into con-
text. ❑
To find out more about long-term
Israel programs, call the Bloomfield
Township-based Michigan/Israel
Connection, (248) 203-1462.
Miriam Lewis will be speaking at a
parlor meeting at 8 p.m. on
Monday, April 1, at the home of
Mandy and Alan Garver-Wolf in
West Bloomfield. For reservations,
by March 26, call the hosts, (248)
737-3708.
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