By:  Einat Fisher, "Lev Haemek", Neot Mordechai.

Our mission of students and teacher Sarah Hen left for Edmonton Talmud Torah on October 2nd, 2007.

Awaiting us at the airport were our hosts, the school studies coordinator, Sandra, and the school principal, Mr. Yehoshua Ben Simon. The welcome was very warm and friendly.

The mission schedule was followed as set out in advance by the principal. The visit was very special: meeting the Edmonton Jewish community, visiting different Reform and Conservative synagogues, meeting host families and students every evening and a joint trip of the eighth and ninth grades with Emek Hahula students to Jasper Park.

The "Lev Haemek" program which I brought with me was meant at the outset for 1st-4th grades (joint decision with Sarah Hen), while the "Lev Haemek" students entered the rest of the classes (5th-9th grades).

The "Lev Haemek" Program:

1. A pictorial presentation was prepared for the 4 classes, including views of the Galilee, sources of livelihood (agricultural emphasis for the fall season), pictures of the Lebanese border and the war, and of course, pictures of Lev Haemek: Tishrei holidays, etc. The presentation concludes with pictures of squills (grades 1-2) and pomegranates (grades 3-4). From this point we moved onto activities with an artistic emphasis.

2. Grades 1-2: Preparing squills by using long poster paper and white and gold stickers. The children enjoyed this very much and cooperated fully. They were very happy to have a final product to take home or decorate the school bulletin boards.

3. Grades 3-4: Preparing pomegranate as magnet, working with aluminum, while becoming familiar with the Lev Haemek tradition surrounding the pomegranate.

The children also had a good time with this activity.

At the end of the activity, each child received a personal and class gift (personal magnet for each 3rd and 4th grader with Israel's logo for its 60th year, book marks for 6th graders, dispensers for custom designed papers for the 5th graders, key chains and magnets for 4th grades, personally designed blessings for 3rd graders and a Hebrew yearly calendar for the entire class decorated with the children's pictures), prepared by Lev Haemek students. Both staff and children were very pleased, and expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the efforts made by Lev Haemek.

The in-class learning was very important and unique. It was also very intense, since we knew that we only had one day. For me, as representative of Lev Haemek, it was very important to cover the entire program we had prepared in order to tighten the connections between us and the staff and students of Talmud Torah.

Acknowledgements:

A huge thank you to Yehoshua Ben Simon, ETT principal, for the wonderful welcome, dedication and concern for us, the mission participants for designing such a wonderful program which helped bring everyone closer and create a true desire to continue working together, and the entire staff of ETT.

Hugs and kisses to the entire "Lev Haemek" staff and Mira Alexander, school principal, for the accompaniment and tremendous support in preparing everything for the trip.

Heartfelt thanks to Dafna Azran, physical education teacher and social and long-school day coordinator for Lev Haemek for her help in preparing the presentation and her artistic ideas, thanks to which the teaching experience in class was so special.

Thank you to the "Living Bridge" staff from Lev Haemek: Bracha Morag, staff coordinator, Ann Toledo, Dafna Azran and Mira Alexander for all their help.

Thank you to Nurit Biderman and Roni Hainebach for their help and good advice in organizing the mission.

Thank you to Sarah Hen, teacher and chaperone from "Emek Hahula" for her work, seriousness, openness and total devotion for the entire visit and especially for having the privilege of being in her company, which made the entire visit a unique and wonderful experience for me.

Einat Fisher- "Lev Haemek"