Time: 60 mins
Introduction (15 mins):
Give everybody a copy of the poem "Tourists"
Ask somebody to read it in English and somebody else to read it in Hebrew
Read:
"Yehuda Amichai's poem portrays the stereotyped image of the tourist in Israel as seen through the eyes of an Israeli. It can also be very much related to those going on Europe tour with sites in Europe.
The first stanza presents a critical view of the behavior of the tourists who are not sensitive to the inhabitants of the land they are visiting. The second stanza is a plea to the foreigner to turn his/her attention away from the ruins of past civilizations to the commonplace people of the present."
State that this is what their Mifgash programme - in particular with Israel tour is trying to achieve.
Ask:
Can you identify with the image portrayed in the poem?
How can you make someone feel more at home in Israel?
What picture do you have in your head when you think of tourists? What kind of clothes are they wearing? What kind of things do they carry about that native residents don't?
Do you agree with his portrayal of a tourist?
Why do tourists focus on stones rather than people?
Do stones and people tell the same story?
State that tour tries to overcome the 'just be a tourist' way of thinking - this is the reason that there are seminars on tour and why there are things like the encounter programme. It isn't all just looking at pieces of rock - a lot of it is about experiencing the country. A real 'Israel or Europe Experience'. The most memorable and enjoyable moments of tour may indeed come outside of programmed time.
The tour (30 mins):
Split up the groups into their respective tours.
Each group should have a map of Israel and someone who has participated on Israel tour before (ie a Europe tour participant). They should trace the route of the tour around Israel - being told about the places they will visit by the past participants. The past participants should try and 'bring it to life'.
Conclusion (15 mins):
Question and Answer session.
Should include:
Free weekend
People visiting on the tour
P2K representatives visiting
When the tours are together and apart
Shabbat observance
Fast day observance
Elul 5760 - September 2000