No'ar Hadash Israel Experience: The Trip

No'ar Hadash Israel Experience : Shalom, Welcome

No’ar Hadash Israel Experience: The Youth Programming Network of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

- Dates

- Highlights

- Tour Operator

- Safety

- Cost

- Registration

- More Information

- Trip Info Top

Dates:

The trip will take place during July and August 2011 (exact dates TBD). Participants (entering high school juniors) will begin with an orientation on the Aaron and Marjorie Ziegelman Campus of Camp JRF. The group will then fly together to Israel for three-and-a-half weeks of touring the land and living the experience. The trip will conclude with Shabbat at Camp JRF - bringing the experience of a lifetime back to the American Reconstructionist community.

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Highlights:

After building community together at Camp JRF, participants will travel to Israel where they will begin a month-long interactive experience of the land and the people. Based on a civilizational approach, participants will move through history as they find ways in which Jews have lived their lives in Israel throughout the generations. They will spend time in all parts of the country as they climb, swim, sing, hike, learn, and explore their way through the land. Participants will have an opportunity to experience Shabbat in Jerusalem, see the sunrise over Masada, participate in tikkun olam projects with their Israeli peers, marvel at the natural wonders of the land, discuss the realities of life in contemporary Israel, and connect with Reconstructionist rabbis living and working in Israel. They will then bring their learning back to the Reconstructionist youth community in the United States - spending Shabbat at Camp JRF so that they can share their experiences, their stories, and their excitement about this unforgettable summer.

Tour Operator:

The No'ar Hadash Israel Experience is run through IsraelExperts, one of the leading educational tour companies in Israel. The itinerary is created by Rabbi Lee Diamond, Director of Educational Program Development for IsraelExperts, in close consultation with No'ar Hadash staff. Rabbi Diamond, who studied with Mordecai Kaplan, made aliya to Israel in 1971 and began his unique rabbinate as an Israel Educator for the Diaspora, serving as Israel director of the Alexander Muss High School in Israel, Associate Director of the Israel office of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) and the North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY) Israel programs, and as Rabbi of United Jewish Congregation in Hong Kong.

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Safety:

The safety and security of our teens is of the utmost importance. When running any program, we take all steps necessary to keep each of our participants as safe as possible. While in Israel, all tour groups are in constant contact with the Security Department of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI), which monitors security concerns at all times. This provides up-to-the-minute updates on security, allowing for immediate itinerary changes as needed. The group will be accessible by phone 24-hours-a-day and will be in frequent touch with JRF staff in the United States.

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Cost:

The trip cost is being finalized; for Summer 2010 it was $6,600. This includes airfare (New York - Israel - New York), all lodging (in youth hostels, kibbutz guest houses, and 3-star hotels), meals, ground transportation, staff (Israeli guide, medic, and counselor, as well as two No'ar Hadash staff members), entrance fees, and insurance. Not included in this price are airfare to/from Camp JRF, travel insurance, and spending money. In order to offset the cost of the trip, participants and families are encouraged to seek funding from their synagogues and local Federations. As available, scholarship funds will be provided to those who need further assistance.

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Registration: Applications will be available in late October.

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More Information: Please contact us at noarhadash@jrf.org.

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No’ar Hadash Israel Experience: The Youth Programming Network of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation