To Life!
Lay
Of
The
Land
Teen Mission
goers learn the
contours and
cultures of
Israel firsthand.
from Ein Yaei bakoso_r4a made by teens Samantha Gordon
icatie;f;- :both Utfrind of West Bloomfield, at Ein Yael Living
seam_ in Jerusalgin.
i
----
4')
(Second of a weekly series of stories by participants on
Federation's Teen Mission 2006, co-sponsored by the Jewish
News.)
Brandon Lebowitz
Jake Friedman,
•
16, of West
Bloomfield-joins
teens praying at
the WeStern Wall
in Jerusalem.,
Special to the Jewish News
I
n the years following Teen Mission 2004 to Israel, several
political events occurred that have threatened Israel.
Palestinians elected a government led by Hamas, an
organization that has vowed to destroy Israel in any way
possible. And if this wasn't troubling enough, consider the
fact that Iran is developing nuclear capabilities that could be
used to threaten Israel.
At the same time, Israel had to deal with changes in its
own government. After the illness of Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon, Ehud Olmert has taken over and continues to guide
the country in its efforts for security. Understandably, some
parents and teens were hesitant about Teen Mission 2006,
but now that we've been in Israel for over a week, danger is
not the primary thing on our minds.
I had the honor and the pleasure of hosting two of the
23 Israeli teens when they traveled to Michigan for the April
Mifgash (gathering) in Detroit. Their experiences during
their short journey to America had a lasting impression on
the way they perceive American teenagers and American
life and the way I perceive Israel and its culture.
It is clear to me now that this was the beginning of
a bond that I suspect will last for the rest of our lives.
Together now with the 214 Michigan teens, the Israelis are
re-experiencing Israel from this broader teen experience.
I am beginning to understand more about the mindset
of the Israelis. They don't live life in a constant state of fear,
but rather they cherish life at all opportunities. If you're the
parent of a teen on this magnificent trip, the one thing your
child will take away from this trip is a better sense of appre-
ciation for the things that are normally taken for granted in
Lay Of The Land
on page
28
PHOTOS BY DEBBIE HILL
co
West Blo •
Israeli Dvir
ty _
Migdal HaE
—
an iPod at tfte -so
ern wall excavations
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Jerusalern's--Old Ci