Teaching in Israel`s remote regions

Development
News
Of the Jewish Federation
Melinda Doner
United Jewish Campaign Chair
This page is generously
underwritten by
Joel Frydman
Foundation Chair
Teaching in Israel’s remote regions
Federations recruit young
Jewish adults for serviceoriented year in Israel,
with focus on Negev
town of Yerucham.
The Miami Federation works there,
specifically with the Jewish Agency’s
Youth Futures program which takes
at-risk youth and helps them in school
and with afterschool activities.
Working with both a secular high
By Mariel Honigman. JFNA Israel
school and a girl’s religious school
Using the potential of the Negev is
allows Lauren to see a wide array of
an important part of Israel’s developJewish identity within Israel.
ment. The Negev region constitutes 66
Lauren was raised with a strong
percent of Israel’s land mass, yet consense of Jewish identity. However,
tains only 15 percent of its population.
Lauren says she lost that tradition
American Sarah Adler gives one-on-one
The Jewish Federations of North
once she moved away from Atlanta.
English lessons at Emunah in Ashkelon
America and its Negev Work Group
Through OTZMA in Israel, she was
have been heavily involved in developable to find her sense of Jewish idenvice to Israel, there has been a growing tity and now wants to hold onto these
ment in the Negev through various
programs. The OTZMA Israel Teaching need for volunteers in more isolated
rediscovered traditions.
regions.
Corps (ITC), launched two years ago,
Along with a stronger connection to
Specifically, English teachers were
is a Federation-supported initiative
her Judaism, she says that “living in a
that brings English teachers to remote in high demand in small Negev commu- small town on the periphery (of Israeli
areas, while encouraging young Ameri- nities, and OTZMA created a program
society) gives you a good sense of the
to help tackle this problem.
can Jews to connect with the region.
real life, good and bad. It’s not a birthITC participants play an
ITC is the result of a joint effort beright program. It gives you a
active role in their placement ‘It’s not a
tween seven Jewish federations, who
taste of the real thing.”
communities, as English tu- birthright
wanted to connect their own youth
Over the past two years,
with young people in their Partnership tors to Israeli students from
the
OTZMA Israel Teaching
program. It Corps
across the spectrum.
2gether regions (formerly Partnerhas been an instru“Because this program tar- gives you a mental program in educating
ship With Israel). OTZMA’s mission is
gets a specific issue in Israeli taste of the Jews in Israel and enabling
to bring diaspora Jews to Israel for a
society, we only accept very
10-month immersive program.
North American Jewish
real thing.’ young adults to experience
strong and unique people
Federations across North America
recruit young Jewish adults with moti- possessing a special characthe Negev region and help
vation, commitment and initiative for a ter,” said Dganit Jenshil, the
address its growing social needs.
service-oriented year in Israel. Once in OTZMA Israel Director. “They need to
The Jewish Federations of North
have a rich background of studying
the country, they explore the diverse
America’s OTZMA program has played
and volunteering.”
geography, culture and politics of the
a pivotal role in supporting ITC’s misLauren Hyman, an OTZMA ITC parJewish state.
sion and has inspired North American
While the program has long acted as ticipant, is a 23-year-old from Lawyouths to engage with Israeli society
a way for participants to provide a ser- renceville, Ga. She works in the Negev and to learn more about Israel.
Community
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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • OCTOBER 2011 PAGE 27