34 | MARCH 24 • 2022 

M

anhigut — or the 
Teen Leadership 
Program — is a five-
year leadership/educational pro-
gram for individuals in grades 
8-12 from the Central Galilee 
region (Migdal HaEmek, Nof 
Hagalil and the Jezreel Valley 
Regional Council).
The program operates as part 
of the Central Galilee-Michigan 
partnership that creates 
meaningful connections and 
opportunities for involvement 
through various joint projects, 
pooling resources, and strength-
ening the partner communities 
in the Central Galilee and the 
Jewish community in Michigan.
As part of the program, the 
groups meet once every two 
weeks and undergo value-based 
activities led by counselors. The 
candidates who are accepted 
choose to keep coming year 
after year.
The program includes, 
among other things:

• The development of social 
leadership identity alongside 
individual and group develop-
ment processes.
• Development of pluralistic 
thinking, and acquaintance 
and connection with Diaspora 
Jewry.
• Opening many doors fur-
ther down the road in partner-
ship with the Jewish Agency 
for a variety of missions to the 
Diaspora communities at differ-
ent stages in their lives.
• Peak days, the hackathon, 
a weekend seminar, meetings 
with organizations and external 
lecturers.
The Israeli Camper Program 
(ICP) has been operating in the 
Central Galilee region for 21 
years (with a two-year break fol-
lowing the COVID crisis) and 
is intended for individuals in 
grades 7-8 from the partnership 
area. The screening for the 2022 
ICP delegation took place at the 
end of December 2021, and we 

are pleased to announce that 
we have an incredible group of 
students.
Youths who participate in this 
program strengthen Jewish ties 
amongst themselves, American 
campers, their host families and 
the greater Jewish community.
Participants undergo com-
prehensive preparation sessions 
that deal with Jewish identity, 
Jewish tradition, acquaintance 
with the Jewish community 
in North America, currents 

in Judaism in Israel and the 
Diaspora, cultural differences, 
representation of Israel and 
more.
Participants selected for ICP 
meet criteria such as social 
involvement, positive leader-
ship, acceptable level of English, 
independence, resilience, matu-
rity, representativeness and con-
nection to Jewish tradition.
Before COVID, participants 
of ICP were accepted into the 
program, participated in ICP-
specific preparation sessions, 
and then traveled to Michigan 
where they attended Tamarack 
Camps. After their summer 
at camp, they would return to 
Israel to participate in the lead-
ership program.
This year, for the first time 
ever, the members of the ICP 
delegation will now start their 
time with the leadership pro-
gram before attending camp. 
This change will better prepare 
the campers and introduce 
them to the leadership program 
prior to their experience at 
Tamarack. We know that this 
move will have many benefits, 
and we cannot wait to give these 
individuals the experience of a 
lifetime! 

Hadas Shaprut is Operations 

Coordinator, Partnerships Unit at the 

Jewish Agency for Israel. Reprinted 

from Federation’s Israel and Overseas 

Department.

The ICP delegation will now start their time with the 
leadership program before attending camp. 

Changes 
to the Teen 
Leadership Program

HADAS SHAPRUT SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

ERETZ

FROM THE 
PARTERSHIP2GETHER REGION

Members of 
the Israeli 
Camper 
Program.

Members of the 
Israeli Camper 
Program.

