Amongst our Youth

Promoting Israel and Aliyah in the West

What's New?

It is Heshvan. Do you know where your children are? The fresh groups of Elite Academy students are embarking on a journey of enrichment, independence and the attainment of a self-confident Jewish identity, combined with the best of secular studies. above: Some Elite Academy participants with (bottom row) aliyah emissaries Eitan Peer, Michael Landsberg and Roni Vinnikoff. below: On the plane from Germany to Israel.

Chattering and giggling in small groups on the verdant Mossenson campus are North American teenagers who have recently begun their sophomore year of high school in Israel. "I knew it would work," says Head of the Immigration and Absorption Department's Section for English-speaking Countries Akiva Werber, as he tries hard to get a grip on his ear-to-ear smile. The Elite Academy's first groups are already ensconced in their dorms and academic routines at the Mossenson School in Hod Hasharon and on Kibbutz Yavne.

A Perfect Option

The program is still in its infancy. Yet, Akiva believes there are structural reasons, particularly within the North American community which will ensure its success and growth. "Many Jews are interested in a quality Jewish education for their children. In cities with a relatively small Jewish community, there is usually no Jewish high school. Parents may consider sending their teenagers to a private boarding school, entailing huge outlays of money. We offer a perfect option. First of all, the price is right . Our students study for free, including access to extra-curricular activities, as well as counseling services.

"Secondly, students are assured a quality education. Na'aleh, the parallel program open primarily to FSU and Latin American students, has an excellent reputation with over 10,000 graduates. At this moment,there are over 2,000 Na'aleh participants studying in the country. Well-screened and well-supervised, these students graduate to become tremendous assets to Israeli society, invariably serving in the army, as well as continuing on to higher education and good professions.

Akiva continues, "The program has a religious and a secular track. For religious families who send their children to yeshivot far away from home, the Elite Academy on Kibbutz Yavne is an attractive alternative.

For secular or traditional families, seriously interested in a Jewish Zionist education, the pickings are very limited in North America. Parents can be assured that at the Mossenson School in Hod Hasharon, their children will receive an excellent Jewish and secular schooling.

"One of the obstacles to our recruiting in North America is our newness. We are not yet a well-known commodity in Jewish circles. The other is resources. We have not even had the opportunity to visit or recruit in the many outlying communities where the program could be particularly attractive."

Education as a Top Priority

Expanded promotion efforts for a similar program from Germany, spearheaded by emissary Anat Kagan, were well-rewarded this year as the largest contingent ever has begun studying at the Nir Haemek school near Afula.

Anat, fluent in both Russian and German, is well-placed to approach the German Jewish community which is now the third largest in Europe. Out of the population of close to 200,000, eighty-five percent are Russian-speaking. There are 90 Jewish communities in Germany and education is very high on their list of priorites. This study program can be a welcome alternative to the extremely formal and often dogmatic German school system. In addition, many young people who have visited Israel as tourists want to return to be full-fledged participants in Israel's future." However, Anat is plagued by the same problems as Akiva. "We just don't have the resources or staff to reach all our potential participants."

Akiva and Anat can be confident that word of mouth recommendations from satisfied students and parents will assist their Herculean efforts to promote the programs and bring more teenagers on this "Jewish experience of a lifetime."