MAY 20 • 2021 | 93
O
ver five weeks, the
Michigan-Central
Galilee Partnership
Region participated in an
inspiring pilot program “Café
Hafooch” (“Cappuccino”) —
an intergenerational program
that aims to create meaningful
connections between Jewish
community adults and Israeli
high school students. In addi-
tion to the connections, the
Israelis work on advancing
their English skills.
The Detroit pilot (adopted
from the Toronto program that
has been active for the last few
years) included three cohorts
of six to seven participants.
Each cohort included three to
four Israeli 12th-graders, two
adult Jewish community mem-
bers and an Israeli facilitator.
Over five weeks, each cohort
met for one hour on Zoom
after watching assigned “trig-
ger” videos dealing with topics
such as Jewish identity as
Israelis or Americans, the glob-
al Jewish reality, stereotypes,
charity, social responsibility,
minorities and peoplehood.
The responses of the par-
ticipants illustrate the success
of the encounters for both the
Israeli teens and the American
adults.
HILA, 12TH-GRADER IN
THE JEZREEL VALLEY
The experience in Café
Hafooch was so special. I am
so happy that I was given the
opportunity to discuss and
deal with topics that dealt with
Israel, Jews abroad and the
diaspora that I am part of but
really hadn’t ever discussed up
until now. Jack and Sue from
Detroit and Naomi, our facili-
tator, were terrific and gave us
a place to speak and express
ourselves. It was also very new
and inspiring for me to hear
their perspectives. I really
enjoyed the experience and
recommend it for anyone who
is invited to participate.
JACK FOLBE, DETROIT
ADULT PARTICIPANT
I can’t thank you enough for
giving us the opportunity to
participate. I definitely gained
greater insight into how our
young adult partners feel
about challenging topics. Our
young adult Israeli partners
also helped me understand
my adult children, particu-
larly educating me on racism,
diversity and tolerance, and
generational differences on
being Jewish. I definitely
received more than I gave.
ROI, 12TH-GRADER IN
THE JEZREEL VALLEY
This wonderful experience
made my knowledge wider,
mostly about the Jewish
identity in the United States
and Canada. I shared stories
about my Jewish roots and
got to hear other fascinating
stories. It was a pleasure to get
to know volunteers from the
Jewish community in Detroit
and to spend a weekly online
time with them and with my
friends.
YAHEL, 12TH-GRADER
FROM MIGDAL HAEMEK
The experience in Café
Hafooch was one of a kind. It
gave me the feeling of being
in the U.S. but also with the
comfort of home. I’m thankful
for having the opportunity to
meet these interesting people
and to discuss the subjects
that I don’t get to usually dis-
cuss.
SUE CURHAN, DETROIT
ADULT PARTICIPANT
Café Hafooch was an incred-
ible experience. Even though
on Zoom — we made great
connections, built relation-
ships and learned. Our team
was fabulous. Getting the
opportunity to volunteer
with my brother Jack and
share memories was sweet.
Our fearless facilitator did
an amazing job keeping us
on track. The topics of con-
versation were sophisticated.
We examined our own Jewish
identity, cultures and choic-
es. We learned how young
Israelis feel about the same
topics. I am so impressed by
these 17- and 18-year-olds.
Our future is strong. I can’t
wait to give them hugs in
person. Hopefully, this is just
the beginning of a regular rich
and meaningful program.
Naomi Miller is director of Israel
Partnerships for the Federation.
Café Hafooch
ERETZ
U.S. adults and Israeli teens share
views in “get-to-know-you” program.
NAOMI MILLER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
“WE EXAMINED OUR OWN
JEWISH IDENTITY, CULTURES
AND CHOICES. WE LEARNED
HOW YOUNG ISRAELIS FEEL
ABOUT THE SAME TOPICS.”
— SUE CURHAN
Brother and
sister Jack
Folbe and
Sue Curhan
COURTESY OF JACK FOLBE