Pictured left to right: Robert Berkowitz, Campaign Chair, Jewish Center for Community Services; Yael Nir, young emissary in RI; Tse'ela Shmueli, young emissary in Worcester, MA; Alan Feldman (standing); Albert Madwed.

On January 17 and 18, 2003, the candidates being considered for the young emissaries program in 2003-2004 met together with Andy Hechtman, Uzi Inbar, Shimon Peer and Donna Ron for a Shabbat seminar at the Youth Hostel at Tel Hai.

The goal of this meeting was to facilitate within the future young emissaries a process of awareness of their Jewish-Israeli-Zionist identities. Tel Hai is an area which symbolizes the struggle of the Jews to re-settle the Land of Israel in the 20th century. The story of the pioneers at Tel Hai bears witness to the struggle which has been an intregal part of this chapter of Jewish History and which is still very relevant for all of us. Tel Hai is located in the Galillee surrounded by the Lebanese, Syrian and Jordanian borders.

Left to Right: Uzy Inbar, the Israeli coordinator of the Young Emissaries program in Afula/Gilboa; Robert Berkowitz, Campaign Chair, Jewish Center for Community Services; Eshel Fram, Regional Manager of Afula/Gilboa, Jewish Agency for Israel

Andy Hechtman led the Kabbalat Shabbat service, the Shabbat morning service, and other activities with the Siddur and other Jewish sources. Andy's contribution to the facilitation of the seminar added an incredible element of harmony to the process of preparing, learning, and connecting to self and others. The Jewish sources were presented by Andy in a refreshing and engaging manner which will enable the emissary candidates to take a renewed approach to Judaism. Andy's exceptional talent in working with the material and the youths caught everyone's interest and showed in a short time a new perspective of Jewish learning to the group. The Shabbat weekend seminar was a fruitful beginning to the process of working with the youths in preparing them for their year of service in the SNEC communities.

  Adar Aleph 5763 - March 2003