The first visit on the third morning of the seminar has started in the Misgav region. The lands on which Misgav settlements were established were developed with the support of Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael – The Jewish National Fund together with donations from JNF Australia, including laying the foundation for construction and building a sports center with a swimming pool and tennis courts.
The meeting took place in the Misgav municipality high school library – local education people have presented us with the educational activity taking place in the region and we shared ideas they may implement in their classrooms.
KKKL-JNF House for excellence. Photo: Yoav Devir
Micha Honen, director of Merhavim Association for Misgav seniors told about the Association’s activity for the elderly in the region of all religions. “Jews and Arabs live here side by side with good neighborly friendship and shared lives” added Yaki Skuler-Sella from the Resource Development Department in the Regional Municipality Misgav.
Safa Marisat-Hatib, a Bedouin education woman told how she was the first woman in her family who went out to get high education and acquired a Master’s Degree in education “I feel I have opened the door for many women in my family and in the community”, she says.
“The situation in Israel is very complex, but it is inspiring to see how people live here side by side and accept all members of other religions”, says Robyn Grana from Masada College in Sidney.
Lori Abramsom from the International School in Oranim College, who engages in teachers’ training told about the special connection of the College with Australia and on the collaboration with JNF-KKL. Jackey Levi-Atias, also from Oranim College has spoken about a new initiative from the Government of Israel of strengthening the relations with Jewish communities in the diaspora via Teachers’ training program abroad.
Margalit Konstock, a specialist teacher of Hebrew as a second language, has lectured us about the connection between language and culture. “Every person needs a cultural identity, and for us the Jewish identity and the connection to Israel pass through the Hebrew language”, she says. At the end of her lecture she has engaged the attending teachers with a workshop for developing thinking skills and analyzing the dialogue existing between art and exposure through trees paintings and drawings of Israeli artists. She offered the teachers a variety of tips how to conduct similar activities in their own schools.
“Usually I teach others, but here I have an opportunity to learn about Israel”, says Eve Figdor, a teacher in Mount Scopus School in Melbourne. “This delegation allows me to meet many teachers and exchange ideas and thoughts”.
The group members toured the adjacent Australia Park, that was established as a token of acknowledgement to our friends from overseas. The park combines cultured plants together with trees from the land of Israel and includes a children’s amusement facilities and an open-air amphitheater to host various shows. A stone relief of the Jewish National Fund collection box was placed on Australia’s map. The eco garden and the eco school class used for environmental and sustainability studies were also build with support of The Jewish National Fund together with donations from JNF KKL Australia.
“It is moving to see how much JNF Australia are involved in Israel”, says Tanya Tairy from Carmel School in Perth. “We gain so much new knowledge and unique experiences throughout this seminar which we will be able then to pass to our students”.
A home for excellence
Our next visit took place in the Galilee View, the KKL-JNF House for Excellence in Nazareth. The building of Jewish National Fund Houses for Excellence in the northern part and in the Southern part of Israel is an important endeavor the Jewish National Fund has undertaken for the years to come. These are educational centers which conduct enhancement classes and educational activities for high school students, with an emphasis placed on technology, math, English language and sciences. The goal is to nurture excellence, develop young leadership and reduce the gaps between the periphery and the center.
The Galilee View house is the first of 10 houses the Jewish National Fund plans to erect in the Southern and northern periphery, with the aspiration to nurture excellence in places where young people have fewer opportunities.
The Galilee View, Jewish National Fund’s house has invoked much interest with the visiting teachers. The place includes classrooms, computer lab, a multi-disciplinary lecture hall and an open space for social activities. The impressive structure was designed in a young and innovative style.
The visiting teachers met students and teachers, as well as Simon Abuhatzira, the housemaster, which exclaimed “if we start looking at the student as young leaders, they will take on the role of leader, and not just attempt to survive high school”.
Following this activity, the education delegates have taken part in activity related to Israeli innovation. This activity was developed in the Overseas Education Department of the Jewish National Fund to benefit students worldwide. This hands-on activity presents the unique contribution of Israel to the world, with many Israeli inventions such as drip irrigation, cherry tomatoes, Soda Stream, Iron Dome, flash drive (also known as disc on key),Waze and many many others.
The delegates watched video clips, searched online for information and answered some riddles. The winners of these assignments have received Jumbo size letters with which all the participants have constructed together the sentence: ISRAEL THE START-UP NATION.
The educational tool was suggested to the teachers for activities with their students in Australia, with the goal to expose the students to some State of Israel success stories.
“We constantly keep looking from new ways to deepen the Jewish identity of the students”, said Ofrah Smoli, a teacher of Judaism in Mount Scopus school in Melbourne. “We have many tools to engage with ancient Jewish history, but thanks to this seminar we will be able to create some significant experiences that may assist us in strengthening the Jewish identity while connecting to Israel of the present.