Day 7 in Israel

Shalom,

Today (Monday), we settled in at Idanim School where Aviva is principal. As you can imagine, Idanim is very active in the Educational Bridge. In fact, as part of the Israeli delegation coming to Rochester this December along with Aviva is Aviva, Aviva's Vice Principal and grade 6 teacher, Ophira - grade 1 teacher, and Yisrael - teacher in the school's ecological garden. Yisrael hosted us this morning for a 2-hour workshop with a student leadership group. Yisrael led us through, along with his student leaders, a typical lesson, where we opted to engage in one of three activities: (1) making pita and firing up a dome oven, (2) clearing dead stems and foliage from harvested tomato plants and covering the soil until the next planting, and (3) spackling a mixture of sand, clay and mud on the ecological hut that has been in the making for over 7 years. These activities are all meant to put us in touch with the land, ourselves and each other in a quiet, caring way. We watched how empowered and enthusiastic these selected students behaved in the garden and we took our cues from them. We came away full of inspiration and ideas on what and how to incorporate the philosophy and reality of the "ecological garden" in Rochester.

We moved back to the library, our meeting place, for more coffee and cake and an Israel Update from Neil Lazarus of Awesomeseminars.com, who offered his expert news perspective on a variety of topics including Israel and Iran, Israel and obama, and the Goldstone Report. He provided context, answered all our questions, and engaged our interest through humor. By the end of Neil's hour and a half lecture, it was time to eat again, this time lunch of felafel, chips and salad, relaxed in the library and in the adjacent garden.

Immediately after lunch, we toured Idanim with Aviva, walking into classrooms, viewing the many bulletin boards highlighting Rabin's life anticipating the memorial ceremonies this Thursday, and even Idanim's "Pinat Chai" - live animal corner (snake, rabbits, ferrets, mice and the like) which services children with special needs in the school as animal therapy.

From 1 - 3:30 p.m. we met with principals and Israel teachers who participate in the Bridge. Our main questions for discussion included: Why is the bridge important to both sides? Why is it important for principals to be involved in the bridge? What does each side need from the other for success? How do we define success? What are the most effective strategies for the Bridge? The conversation was lively, honest, and revealing. All the participants left with enthusiasm and full of potential for following up with their matched teachers and in the classrooms.

Free few hours for shopping at Mega (Modi'in's Wegman's), Azrieli Mall, Didactika (school supply store), etc.

6:30 p.m. pot luck final dinner at Hana's house. We are indebted to Hana for hosting this sumptuous and social dinner and to all the hosts and P2K members and former delegates who brought their best dairy recipes to share. 7 of this past summer's JFI teens also joined us. This author, for one, could not get enough hugs from this precious group of young adults (see video of them singing). Each of them was plotting how to save enough money to come to Rochester next summer. Hila Hadas, P2K, Chair was there, as well as Yehuda Gohar, Israel's Education Bridge Chair, and Aviva even arranged for one of her teachers, Yifat, to come with accordion in tow to lead us in Israeli songs in Hana's yard (yes, the weather is still summer-like). Thank you 's were expressed on both sides, and three of our American colleagues - Jacqui, Sandi, and Rona - wrote, framed and read a poem of gratitude, composed of an acrostic of the word "Modi'in". A grand time was had by all.

Tomorrow is our final day. We will spend early morning in our matched schools, then a workshop at Pinat Shorashim at Kibbutz Gezer to bookend our first day at Naot Kedumim - more about that later. As Frost would write: "...and miles to go before I sleep." We have much to do to move the Education Bridge forward. We look forward to the challenge!