<HTML>In response to "how to help our students feel more of a connection to
Israel" - I have no doubt that one of the only ways to make sure that
happens (to the best of our abilities as educators) is to make Israel real
for them. Having just returned from Poland and today being Yom HaShoa, I
can state from personal experience that the Shoa is only as meaningful to
me as it is - because I visited Poland (this year being my second visit).
I don't have any close family that survived - so the events did not have
personal meaning to me as a little kid growing up in America. so, so too
here! educational trips to Israel, high school programs in Israel, summer
programs, march of the living, etc. etc. etc. is our best educational
tool.
The more time our students spend on quality time in Israel, the more
Israel will mean to them. I believe there is a program called "Netivot -
High School in Israel" that runs 2 month programs in conjunction with
yeshiva high schools. I have in the past run several programs during the
school year for 8th grade trips, winter vacation trips, etc. I encourage
all programs that can allocate the time - and the subsidies to make it
cost-effective, to run programs to Israel.
David Katz, Administrative Director - Michlelet Mevaseret Yerushalayim</HTML>
