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RONETJ .F, GRIER
Special to the Jewish News

D

eren
Tali Berg all; t ae rrt4 all 15,
pose for Danny Devnes, 15, of
West Bloomfield on the Eugene
and Man-ia Applebaum Jewish
Communiy Campus in .W est
.
Bloomfield.

Shir Hammer, 15, of Nabalal,
enjoys the snow outside the
JA114D.

Leah Schloss, 14, ofWest
Bthornfield, Natan Bar-On, 16,
of Nazareth Illit and Shiran
Saada, 16, of Migdal HaEmek
listen during a discussion at the
JAMD.

4/5
2002

86

ispelling mutual stereotypes
about Israeli and American
teenagers was one goal of a
"Town Hall" meeting on
Friday, March 22, at the Jewish Academy
of Metropolitan Detroit in West
Bloomfield.
The visit to JAMD was part of a week-
long mush (encounter or meeting)
sponsored by the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit. Nineteen Israeli
teenagers, hosted by local Jewish families,
participated in a variety of activities dur-
ing their visit.
This summer, 11 local teenagers will
take part in Federation's biennial teen mis-
sion to Israel, where they will reassemble
with their new Israeli friends.
Mifgash experiences included a
"Detroit Day," where the teens toured the
Detroit Science Center, sat in on an actual
courtroom session and visited the "Kids
Kicking Cancer" unit at Children's
Hospital of Michigan.
The teens also participated in services at
some of the local synagogues, attended a
Detroit Pistons basketball game, and
joined with their Detroit friends in .a
team-building outdoor ropes course.
The Town Hall program at the JAMD
began with speeches by two of the
teenagers: Lavi Boniyak, 16, of Givat
Shimsheet in Israel and JAMD student
Yael Smiley, 15, of West Bloomfield.
Their topic: "What it Means to be a Jew."
Their perspectives were different, but
many of their ideas were similar. Pride in
Judaism was a prevalent theme.

'

"We are gathered here today because
there are Jews who care, who care for
Israel and its people, and are willing to
protect its soil with their own lives," said
Boniyak.
She added: "No one will take this right
from us — the right to be ourselves!"
"Having pride in being Jewish is one
of our 'jobs'," said Smiley. "We should
and of supporting Israel, regardless of
not be afraid to admit that were Jews, and which country one calls home.
we should support Israel, even when
"I think the conversations went very
things look scary"
well," said Ketty Sanitsky, an Israeli teen
The students then divided into small
mission counselor. "Any interaction
groups to discuss some of the common
between the two groups is very impor-
issues facing teens in this country and in
tant."
Israel, facilitated by madrichim (coun-
The rest of the day included viewing an
selors) from the local and the Israeli teen
HBO documentary about a young cou-
mission programs.
ple's experience in the Israeli army, fol-
Tracie Goldman, a local teen mission
lowed by a discussion. The group then
counselor, asked her group whether they
accompanied the JAMD students to the
thought it was easier to be a Jew in Israel
nearby Marvin and Betty Danto Family
or in the United States.
Health Care Center for a Shabbat song
The Israeli teens believed it was easier to session with the residents.
practice the Jewish religion here in
At the end of the day, the students par-
America, which surprised the local stu-
ticipated in a Hebrew-speaking Israeli
dents in the group.
"cafe setting.
"One problem in Israel is that your
"Today was a great opportunity for
degree of religion depends on the corn-
the Israeli and American teens to see
munity where you live," said Nitzan Sarig, how much they really have in common,
16, of Moshav Merchavia. "I wish we had
even though they're a world apart," said
the choices that you do here."
Tracie Goldman.
"It seems so much clearer here," said
The two groups of teens will meet up
Shir Hammer, 15, of Nahalal. "In Israel, I again from June 30 to July 31, when
don't -go to temple, and my Judaism is
the Israeli teenagers help host the visi-
very unclear to me."
tors from metro Detroit.
"We tend to think that all Israelis are
"Hopefully, the seeds of friendship
Orthodox Jews who keep kosher, and
have been planted, and-the teens will
that's not really true," said Jason Garden,
communicate with each other between
16, of West Bloomfield.
now and this summer," said Trudy
Other topics discussed included the
Weiss, Federation's youth missions
importance of upholding Jewish traditions coordinator.

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