Dear BJE Havayah Friends and Supporters,

Here's what 's been going on with the BJE's Havayah 2004 this past week.

On Monday, February 9, the Havayah greater Boston contingent of 14 teens and staff arrived in Israel. On Tuesday, at the Bet Rotenberg Institute for Youth in Haifa, our teens and the Haifa group (another 16 teens and staff) started working together and "bonding" in preparation for the "winter camp" in Dnipropetrovs'k. While in Haifa, the group got to visit the Coexistence Walk at Wadi Nisnas, The Bahai Shrine and gardens and an Israeli mall. Getting to understand Haifa and the issues of building a pluralistic community in Haifa is part of the Havayah experience of building and living in a global Jewish community.

At 1:30 (a.m.) Wednesday morning, (Israel time) we woke the group up to begin their trip to Ben Gurion airport and then to Ukraine. They arrived, safely, later that day in Dnipropetrovs'k.

After a good night's sleep Wednesday, the group was enthusiastic to get to "work". Camp opened Thursday, first with some "ice-breaking" activities (not literally!) and then programming based on this year's Havayah theme, "All Israel is responsible one for the other".

The kids from Dnepropetrovsk also shared some local songs with the Haifa and Boston groups. Everyone got to experience a light Ukrainian snowfall - a real eye-opener for some of our Israeli teens.

On Friday, the second day of camp, the Dnepropetrovsk teens had the opportunity to run part of the program; they organized making a special tablecloth for Shabbat.

In preparation for Shabbat, the Havayah group joined the Dnepropetrovsk day school students in their Hesed Yeladim (The kindness of children) project. Through this project , the children prepare and deliver Shabbat packages of candles, Hallah and other foods to house-bound, sick and elderly members of the community. Our group got to visit and sing songs with some of these house-bound individuals. One recipient thanked us by sharing a poem she had written especially for us.

The Boston group led Kabbalat Shabbat (welcoming the Shabbat) services. Both community members and Dnep Havayah alumni were invited for Shabbat dinner. Shabbat day services and lunch were held at the city's central and newly renovated Golden Rose Synagogue. On Saturday night, the Israel Culture Center sponsored a disco night.

Adar 5764 - March 2004