SOUTH AFRICAN BOARD OF JEWISH

SOUTH AFRICAN BOARD OF
JEWISH EDUCATION
TEACHER ISRAEL TOUR PROJECT
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
ZIONISTIC ENRICHMENT.
RECREATION.
For more information, contact Eliyahu Lipshitz at [email protected]
INTRODUCTION
Israel Experience® is the leading company for educational group travel to
Israel. As a subsidiary of the Jewish Agency, we have been educating and
engaging youth, adults and educators since the field of educational tours to
Israel was started some 60 years ago.
We see ourselves as a one-stop-shop for educational experiences related to
Israel, Jewish Identity and Israel Education. Our years of experience, our
volume of operations and our name in the field give us the ability to plan and
implement tailor made programs that combine the most popular and
exciting tourist sites together with the most innovative and meaningful
experiences.
Therefore we are pleased to offer a holistic approach to the SABJE Teacher
Israel Tour in which the Torah Division of Israel Experience will oversee,
plan and implement the successful running of this initiative.
COMPANY BACKGROUND AND EXPERTISE
As a subsidiary of the Jewish Agency, Israel Experience has been bringing groups to
Israel since its founding in 1958.
Israel Experience facilitates programs in Israel for over 30,000 participants from around the
world each year & has brought close to 300,000 participants on various programs since the
year 2000.
Israel Experience is a financially stable company that is audited annually by the Israeli Tax
Authority.
Israel Experience works with Jewish organizations from around the world. These include: The
Jewish Agency, Taglit-Birthright Israel, Masa Israel Journey, Aish Hatorah, Ohr Sameah, OU,
NCSY, JJCA, UJIA, Israel Center South Africa, Jewish day schools (King David-Melbourne,
Liebler-Yavne-Melbourne, King Solomon High School- London, Yavneh College- London, JFSLondon), Jewish Federations, BBYO, Zionist youth movements, AUJS and many familie and
community trips.
OUR CLIENTS INCLUDE
EXPERIENCE RELATING TO TENDER
As an educational tour operator we successfully implement hundreds of Educational tours a
year. This is our expertise – from the planning stages, to the logistics coordination as well as the
educational content that turns the trip into an experience.
As the largest company in our field we have years of experience in overseeing and coordinating
large operations. Programs such as 'Bac Bleu Blanc' bringing over 1,000 French matric students
to Israel for a week long program including tours, learning and a mega-event is just one
example as to our organization and coordination abilities in running large scale initiatives.
As a company of educators we have been tasked in the past with the building of curriculums
that facilitate and expand on the Israel tour. We have created Tanach (Bible) learning sessions
that served as a pre-requisite to the places the groups later visited. We have created an Israel
Tour that brought to life the Zionist philosophy of Rabbi Yosef Dov Ber Soloveichik, and allowed
for elaboration in the classroom before or after the trip (sample trip attached).
REFERENCES AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Rabbi Yechezkel Freundlich <[email protected]>
to Lipshitz, Eliyahu
Just wanted to thank you again for putting together a wonderful
trip! The chevra was truly inspired and I couldn’t have asked for
more!
Rabbi Yechezkel Freundlich
Associate Rabbi; Congregation Beth Jacob Atlanta
office: 678.244.6646
RECOMMENDATIONS
•
Rabbi Andrew Davis- Head of Jewish Studies, Yavneh
College, London: +44-2087365583
•
Mr. Jamie Peston- Director of Community Liaison- JFS,
London:+44-2082063240
EDUCATIONAL STAFF
Daniel Benhaim
Director, Torah Division
Daniel has been with Israel Experience since 1998. Was JAFI
director in France 2009-2011. Has been running advance study
workshops in Israel for French Teachers for the past 16 years.
Eli Lipshitz
Director of English Speaking Desk, Torah Division
Eli been with Israel Experience since 2007. He has overseen and run,
amongst many other projects, the Israel Encounter project together with
SA Israel Center for the past four years as well as the South African Jewish
School's Principals mission in 2009.
HOW WE OPERATE
Daniel Benhaim
PROPOSAL SPECIFICS
As mentioned in the introduction, Israel Experience would like to offer its services
for all three opportunities and serve as the coordinator and facilitator of this
SABJE project.
The best way to make this unique initiative come together in the form of a
comprehensive and cohesive journey for your teachers is for one experienced
organization to see it through from vision to fruition.
ONLINE ISRAEL
EDUCATION COURSE
EXPERIENTIAL TOUR
EDUCATIONAL DIRECTION AND
COORDINATION
EDUCATIONAL RATIONALE AND GUIDELINES
We would like to base this initiative on what we view as one of the fundamental
guidelines of Jewish education, the oral tradition, as detailed in the universally
recognized, opening paragraph of the 'Ethics of the Fathers' (Pirkei Avot).
In this Mishna, or Rabbinic saying, the sages describe how tradition and
knowledge is passed on from generation to generation. At the end of this
description, the leaders of their generation make a final statement regarding
the importance of continuing this chain of education – 'raise up many
disciples' (Tractate Avot 1,1).
We feel that this description and these guidelines can be our guide to enhance your
teachers professional capabilities, introduce them to various types of educational
traditions and innovations as well as helping them in raising up many disciples.
PROPOSAL FOR ONLINE ISRAEL
EDUCATION COURSE
ONLINE ISRAEL
EDUCATION COURSE
We are pleased to be able to offer an interactive online
course in order to provide all participants with a basic level
of knowledge and understanding as to the complexities
and narratives that make up the modern State of Israel.
Course Topics include:
History
Geography
Israeli Culture
Israeli Politics
Israel-Palestinian conflict
!
The course will be on a basic level in order to provide a common
focal point upon which we can base the experiential tour in Israel. It
will also be a means for the tour guides escorting the trip to have a
clear understanding as to what the participants have learned
already and what can be expanded on during the trip.
COURSE PLAN
ONLINE ISRAEL
EDUCATION COURSE
History
Israeli Politics
Geography
Israeli Culture
Israel-Palestinian conflict
The course will be built based on the 5 topics mentioned above.
Each topic will consist of a number of lessons (amount of lessons depending on the
content of each topic).
I
Each lesson will be in the form of a PowerPoint presentation that will include texts as well
as visual components such as pictures, video clips, maps and recorded lectures.
II
Each presentation can be opened and run by each teacher at their own convenience.
III
At the end of each topic there will be review questions in the form of multiple
choice questions.
IV
Upon completion of all the topics there will be an assessment test that will
combine questions from the five topics.
COURSE SYLLABUS
History
ONLINE ISRAEL
EDUCATION COURSE
This course will cover the historical connection between the Jewish people and the land of Israel
from Biblical to present times. It will cover sites, and terms that we will visit or discuss during the
tour and will give the participants an understanding of the historical connection to the land.
CLASS I
Abraham to Joshua – Forefathers, the covenant of the Land of Israel, Entrance
to the land, battles and conquest, dividing of the land to the 12 tribes.
CLASS II
Era of the Kings, First Temple period, the divided kingdom to the Babylonian
exile.
CLASS III
'Shivat Tzion'- the return to Zion, 2nd temple period, sages and the oral law.
CLASS IV
Destruction of the 2nd temple until the early years of Zionism.
CLASS V
Early Zionism to the declaration of the State of Israel.
CLASS VI
The modern State of Israel
COURSE SYLLABUS
ONLINE ISRAEL
EDUCATION COURSE
Geography
This course will enable a visualization if Israel borders and neighbors as well as it's
natural resources assets and vulnerabilities.
CLASS I
General information: Demography, Geology, Terrain, climate and natural
resources.
CLASS II
Population centers – major cities, divers populations and places of interest.
CLASS III
Israel in the Middle East – Borders, neighbors, allies and enemies, International
trade and commerce.
COURSE SYLLABUS
ONLINE ISRAEL
EDUCATION COURSE
Israeli Culture and Society
This course will discuss the varied and complex issues facing Israel's society. It will touch on the
demographics of the population, the diversity among the Jewish population in Israel as well as
the diversity of Israel's minorities and their relationships.
CLASS I
CLASS II
Overview of Israeli Society
CLASS III
'Church and State' – the place of religion in Israeli law and religious-nonreligious
relations.
CLASS IV
Minorities – Arabs (Muslim and Christian), Druze, Bedouin
CLASS V
Army/State relations. The place of the IDF in Israeli society "A people that build an
army that builds a people".
Israel's economy - from a growing state, to the German Reparations, to 'Start up
Nation'
CLASS VI
'Aliyah' an immigrant society. Various groups of mass Jewish immigration,
their contribution to Israeli society and their challenges.
CLASS VII Social Gaps – socio-economic gaps and other social issues
CLASS VIII Israeli Culture/ Pop culture – Television, Film, Music and the arts
COURSE SYLLABUS
Government and Politics
ONLINE ISRAEL
EDUCATION COURSE
The course will give a background as to the political system in Israel, the
parties their beliefs and introduce major political figures.
CLASS I
The Israeli model of Democracy- A 'Jewish-Democratic State'.
Separation of Powers (Executive, Legislative and Judicial).
CLASS II
The Israeli political map
CLASS III
Political leaders throughout the years – visions and actions.
COURSE SYLLABUS
ONLINE ISRAEL
EDUCATION COURSE
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
This course will cover the historical connection between the Jewish people and the land of Israel
from Biblical to present times. It will cover sites, and terms that we will visit or discuss during the
tour and will give the participants an understanding of the historical connection to the land.
CLASS I
The British Mandate, the different proposal for partition and the declaration of
the State of Israel.
CLASS II
From the Declaration of the State to the Oslo Peace Accords (1948-1993)- The
Israeli Narrative
CLASS III
From the Declaration of the State to the Oslo Peace Accords (1948-1993)- The
Palestinian Narrative
CLASS IV
The Peace Process – 1993-2013
CLASS V
Current Situation – the Future of the Conflict
PROPOSAL FOR EXPERIENTIAL TOUR
EXPERIENTIAL TOUR
TAILOR MADE
Itinerary proposed for high
school teachers. For the various
teachers the specific schools/
speakers will differ though the
tour outline will remain the same.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Hotels in the proposal are
not confirmed since the
dates are not final but can be
used as an example of
accommodation standards.
MEALS
3 kosher meals a day
will be provided
throughout the trip.
TRANSPORTATION
A modern fully equipped
bus will be linked to each
group. Busses range in
size from 30 seats to 60
seats.
TOUR GUIDE
SECURITY
An English speaking
experienced certified tour
guide will be linked to each
group. A group of 60 will
necessitate 2 tour guides.
All our activities are carried
out in compliance with
regulations and standards
set by the Security
Department of the Jewish
Agency.
PROPOSAL FOR EXPERIENTIAL TOUR
EXPERIENTIAL TOUR
2 North (Galilee & Golan Heights)
In order to meet the educational
rationale and requirements for the
experiential tour, the group will travel to
the three main areas of Israel.
1 South
While using the Mishna in Avot as our
guide we will start in the south and
touch on the educational value of
receiving the Torah and our knowledge
in the wilderness. We will see BenGurion's dream of a blooming desert
come to life and meet different cultures,
traditions and people dealing with
various successes and trepidations.
We will then travel north, following Joshua's
footsteps. We will be introduced to Israel's
borders and neighbors and visit sites that will
touch the past as well as shed light on the future
of education, agriculture and technology.
3 Central Israel (Jerusalem & Tel Aviv)
Finally, we will arrive in Israel's capital Jerusalem.
We will experience and witness the complexities
of a holy city and the attempts at tolerance and
cooperation. We will then visit Tel Aviv and have
a taste of the young vibrant city and high tech
hub that it has become.
Following this path we can take the
participants from receiving knowledge in
the desert, around the borders of Israel,
the era of the sages and onto the
teachings of the Men of the Great
Assembly (Knesset Hagdola) and the
modern State of Israel.
PROPOSED ITINERARY
EXPERIENTIAL TOUR
“Following me into the wilderness, into an
unsown land” (Jeremiah 2,2)
Desert challenges and opportunities
Between North and South
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
DAY 1
DAY 2
DAY 3
Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport
Welcome activity and meal at
Abraham's Tent
(www.genesisland.co.il/home)
Qasr El Yahud – Jordan
River biblical crossing
point and baptism site.
Ein Gedi – Judean Desert Oasis
Drive To Beer Sheva and
check-in at Leonardo Negev
Hotel
Rest and relax
Drive to Sderot
Check-out
Overview and explanation
as to situation in Gaza
Caraso Science Park,
Beer Sheva
(www.sci-park.co.il/)
Dead Sea swim
Sderot Media Center
tour (sderotmedia.org.il/)
'Shvil Hasalat' – agricultural
innovation
(www.salat4u.co.il/?t=PV&L1=8)
Drive to Kibbutz 'Sde Boker'
Meet teachers and students at
Sde Boker environmental
high school.
Visit Ben-Gurions tomb –
reflection time and processing
Return to Beer Sheva and
overnight at Leonardo
Negev Hotel
Massada tour
Drive North
Check in at Leonardo
Tverya Hotel
Kinneret Boat Cruise and
free time
PROPOSED ITINERARY
EXPERIENTIAL TOUR
The Golan Heights
Ancient settlements and
strategic importance
Upper Galilee
Unique communities and up and
coming industries
Welcome to Jerusalem
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
DAY 4
DAY 5
DAY 6
Mitzpeh Ofir –
Overlook into the Galilee
from the Golan hills
Meet with Branco Weiss
at-risk educators at
Branco Weiss school, Katzrin
(www.brancoweiss.org.il/)
Katzrin Talmudic village –
educational activity and
Talmudic lunch
Mt. Bental – viewpoint into Syria
and receive a hands on
explanation and visualization as
to the close proximity of the
fighting in Syria.
Return to Tverya for
processing session and
overnight at Leonardo Tverya
Hotel
Visit the city of Safed –
tour ancient synagogues
and alleyways.
Candle factory & shopping
Tefen Industrial park –
Stef Wertheimer's model
industrial park
(goo.gl/BJX4ox)
Visit teachers and students in the
Tefen School – a 'different'
school forging a community
of students from rural Jewish,
Arab and Druze villages.
Rosh Hanikra –
famous grottos on the
Mediterranean sea and
the Lebanese border
Overnight at Leonardo Tverya
Hotel
Check-out
Drive to Jerusalem
Mt. Scopus lookout –
view of Jerusalem from the
Hebrew University campus
Machane Yehuda Market –
taste and smell the city
preparing for the Sabbath
Check-in at Prima Kings Hotel
SHABBAT
Friday night Services at The
Western Wall
Dinner
Processing and reflection time
Overnight – Prima Kings Hotel
PROPOSED ITINERARY
EXPERIENTIAL TOUR
A Holy City
A Tale of Two Cities
Memory and meaning
SHABBAT
Sunday
Monday
DAY 7
DAY 8
DAY 9
Optional prayers at
Jerusalem's Great Synagogue
Optional tour of sites around
Jerusalem (Catholic sites:
Church of the Holy Sepulcher,
Room of the Last Supper,
Gethsemane etc., Protestant
sites: Garden Tomb. General:
Temple Mount, Mount of Olives).
Option to organize tour of
Bethlehem
Walking tour of Jerusalem's 'new'
neighborhoods – Yemin Moshe,
Nachlaot
Free time on the Town –
Jerusalem's night life
Overnight – Prima Kings Hotel
Student/Staff Basketball game
and workshop at Jerusalem's
Bi-Lingual school 'Yad B'Yad.
A divided city – Tour along
the pre-67 Jerusalem border
as well as todays security
fence.
City of David – Presentation
and archeological site
(www.cityofdavid.org.il/en)
Hebrew University
colleagues – reception and
networking with teachers of
similar subjects in conjunction
with The Melton Center for
Jewish Education.
Israeli Culture through
cinema – through Israeli box
office films as well as student
films.
Overnight – Prima Kings
Hotel
Check-out
Yad Vashem Holocaust
memorial center –
Museum visit and pedagogic
enrichment in Holocaust study.
Mt. Herzl – Israel's national
cemetery
Drive to Beit Shemesh
Meet with staff and students at
P2G twin schools.
Drive to Tel Aviv
Check-in at Tel Aviv, Golden
Beach Hotel
Namal Tel Aviv – Tel Aviv night
life (www.namal.co.il/en/
default.aspx)
PROPOSED ITINERARY
EXPERIENTIAL TOUR
Co-existence in a mixed city
Israel's Many Faces
Taking it Back to School
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
DAY 10
DAY 11
DAY 12
Birds eye tour of Tel Aviv from
the roof of Azrieli Mall
Drive to Haifa
Jaffa tour – visit the original port
city and experience the
challenges of minorities living in
Israel
Visit the famous Bahai
Gardens
Neil Lazarus lecture –
Exciting talk on Israeli politics
and advocacy
(awesomeseminars.weebly.com)
Facilitate and take part in a
co-existence project at
the Leo Baeck School in
Haifa. (leobaeckec.org/)
Lunch and tour of Google TLV
campus – a taste of
Start Up Nation
Learn about the Druze
community over dinner in the
Isfiya Druze village.
Independence Hall –
the site where the State of Israel
was declared
Educational workshops at
CET – Center for Educational
Technology – Enhancing the
classroom (cet.org.il/pages/
Home.aspx)
Dialogue in the Dark –
experience other's challenges
at the famous Blind Museum
Screening of the Israeli film –
'Ajami' followed by discussion
and processing
Return to Tel Aviv
Reflection time and night out
Trip summary and final
processing
Farewell Banquet
Overnight at Golden Beach
Hotel
Departure
PROPOSAL FOR EDUCATIONAL DIRECTION
AND COORDINATION
EDUCATIONAL DIRECTION
AND COORDINATION
As stated earlier, we believe that our experience and expertise in the
field of educational experiences enable us to direct and coordinate
all aspects of this initiative.
We feel that it is necessary that the person coordinating this project will be
certified as a tour guide as well as an educator and that our organization
has the ability to find the right person and facilitate this project.
We will provide the appropriate staff within the Torah Division to
coordinate with the various parties and communicate with the SABJE
and all the components of the tour.
PRICE PROPOSAL
The prices quoted below are based on the materials and content outlined in the above proposal.
We must take into consideration some unknowns such as changes in the prices of tourism services
in the Israeli and world markets. Additionally, without final dates it is hard to commit to
accommodation prices so the quoted prices are in place to assure the quality of the program and
may change in accordance to your budgetary needs.
Price quote for educational direction and coordination
First year, project development, management and coordination - $40,000 a year
Following the first year and the pilot program - $20,000 a year.
Price quote for development and creation of online course
$100,000 for the 25 classes outlined in the proposal.
Price quote for Experiential Israel Tour
$2,075 per participant for the 12 day program outlined above.
THANK YOU
Thank you for considering working with Israel Experience,
the number one Educational Tourism company in Israel.
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Please feel free to contact us with any comment, question or request.
Daniel Benhaim, [email protected]
Eli Lipshitz, [email protected]
www.israelexperience.org
!
“…‫”כי מציון תצא תורה‬
"From!Zion the
teachings will come forth"