CLEVELAND VOLUNTEERS MAKE ENGLISH FUN FOR ISRAELI YOUNGSTERS
by David Beker

Oberlin College Student Meredith Goldberg with Kefiada campers from Beit Shean.

"I learned so much about the culture of Israel. I am very happy that I actually had the opportunity to live here rather than just spend time as a tourist," says 19-year-old Meredith Goldberg of Solon. "It's been a lot of work, but Kefiada gave us many opportunities that we wouldn't get on any other program."

Goldberg, a student at Oberlin College, along with five fellow Kefiada volunteers from Cleveland, spent the summer teaching English to 85 summer campers from Beit Shean. The Jewish Federation of Cleveland is linked with Israel's Beit Shean region through Partnership 2000, a Jewish Agency-United Jewish Appeal program which links 550 Diaspora communities with 27 development regions in Israel. More than 230 Kefiada volunteers throughout Israel taught English in a fun setting to some 2,500 youngsters this summer, making a real impact on Israeli society.

Case Western Reserve University Student Bonnie Schwartz (left) of Cleveland Heights with Francine Silverman of Beechwood.

Beit Shean residents hosted Goldberg and her fellow counselors for the duration of the three-week camp, which concluded at the end of July. The Kefiada volunteers enjoyed the local nightlife, interacted with college students from the area, and toured attractions in the region.

"Through their daily interaction with the campers and their families, Kefiada volunteers get a real sense of what it's like to live in Israel's development areas," notes Yigal Yerushalmi, Director General of the Jewish Agency's Israel Department, which runs Partnership 2000. "People-to-people connections form the heart of Partnership 2000."

20-year-old Harvard Student Joshua Penzner of Shaker Heights takes a break from counseling.

"I definitely built relationships with the kids here," adds Goldberg. "I brought a piece of America to them which they might not otherwise have had the chance to experience."

The Jewish Agency has been operating Kefiadot for more than a decade, but this year's volunteers enjoyed an interesting new twist - a Jewish identity seminar courtesy of the Livnot Ulehibanot (to build and be built) organization. The volunteer counselors delved into their Jewish roots in a pluralistic setting, sharing their thoughts over a spiritually charged Shabbat dinner in Safed.

Tufts Student Seth Willen of Pepper Pike (left) joins Case Western Reserve University Medical Student Michael Altose and Beit Shean Campers.

"Standing in Safed Friday night singing L'cha Dodi where it was written was just one piece of an incredibly powerful Jewish experience," notes 23-year-old Michael Altose, a medical student at Case Western Reserve University.

Nisan 5762 - April 2002