Dear Friends,

Finally, the rain has come our way, and not too far away, the Hermon is covered in snow. With the blessing of rain, came our new Selah students – the ninth year we have the honor. As usual, these teenagers come fresh from the Former Soviet Union with hopes, expectations and above all, motivation to succeed in their studies and integrate into Israeli society.

Our veteran students – Ethiopians on the Kedma and Ofek programs were there to greet them and show them around. We are expecting our Latin American group in the coming weeks, and then we can say that Ibim is home to students from every corner of the globe. We will soon celebrate Hanukah together, and as we light the candles, we will wish each of our students a year of light and happiness as they begin a new life here.

We hope you enjoy our newsletter and welcome comments.
Best Wishes and Happy Hanukah,
Soni Singer
and the entire staff of the
Ibim-San Diego Student Village

Walking Through Jewish History

At the Naama Farm, Ibim students try their luck at handling the sheep.

New arrivals participating in Ulpan Aleph and Kedma, celebrated the beginning of their academic adventure by stepping back in time. At the nearby Na'ama Farm, which specializes in traditional methods of sheep-raising and the production of dairy products, the students got a taste of our ancestors' way of life. A guide explained the care of sheep and the cheese-making process to the students, and gave them an opportunity to try feeding and milking the sheep themselves. Although they enjoyed the challenge, they were happy to return the next day to their cafeteria and kitchenette meals which require less technical prowess to prepare.

Moving on from the farm, the group hiked in the Gerar Valley, the valley where Abraham sojourned with Sarah. It was with Avimelech, the King of Gerar, that Abraham later made his famous oath at the well, the spot now known as Beer Sheva. The students learned the history of the area, and took in its stark beauty. Singing and dancing around the campfire together in the evening was a fitting conclusion to a fun and interesting day.

Later on in the month, Ulpan Aleph and Kedma students made the trip up to the Diaspora Museum at Tel Aviv University. There, the students were exposed to themes of Jewish tradition such as rites of passage and prayer, as well as major moments in Jewish history, both tragic and joyous, such as the Holocaust and the birth of the State of Israel. The emphasis on how various communities celebrated and commemorated differently, strengthened the students' sense that despite their differences in background and color, they are part of a whole, part of the Jewish people.

Stepping Softly When mere mortals are rubbing the sleep from their eyes, four of Ibim's fittest have already completed their laps around the village, clocking in at over ten kilometers daily. "We didn't realize just how serious they were," explains Cultural Coordinator Arik Saban, "until one day Bahiran Waba (above) very politely came to inquire if he could obtain assistance buying a pair of running shoes." It turns out that 22-year old Bahiran, an Ofek student has been garnering top titles in long-distance running for the past three years. His mates are not far behind, and now they can all count on Arik and the Ibim staff for help and encouragement. We wish them luck in the upcoming national competition.