Counterpoint Israel 2008 has begun - an educational summer-camp program both for Israeli development town teenagers and US college students.

Taking place in two southern-Israel development towns, Yerucham and Dimona, the camps began on Wednesday of this week. They are run by 22 college students who decided they want something more than the usual "summer in Israel," for some 110 Israeli teenagers who might otherwise while away the summer with little to do.

The "Counterpoint Program," designed by Yeshiva University's Center for the Jewish Future (CJF), says the camps are designed to "empower and build the next generation of Israeli youth by providing them with important life skills."  Though they are run by religious college students, half of whom are from Yeshiva University in New York, no religious programming is in the schedule.  Rather, the goal is to run "creative programming promoting positive self-image and self-esteem... based on Jewish values and identity."

The activities include music, fashion, language, arts, dance, sports and even driving safety classes. Known to the local residents as English-language camps, after the language of instruction, they have had waiting lists for several months. 

Learning Goes Both Ways
The college students are likely to be profit even more than the Israelis during the program.  During their several days of orientation last week before the camp began, they toured the Old City of Jerusalem, visited the Retorno facility for youth at risk, took part in English-teaching workships, spent time at the Holon Blind Museum where they were "treated" to the experience of being blind for nearly an hour, and had two days of preparations featuring learning sessions and workshops.

Improvement of English writing and speaking skills is an important feature of the programs, at the specific request of the local municipalities that wished improve the teens’ chances of high school graduation and college acceptance.

Shuki Taylor, Counterpoint Director, speaking with Arutz-7 on only the second day of the camps, said, "The first thing that impresses me this year is the tremendous response and interest shown in the program by both the participants and their families.  We did not greatly publicize our work until now - this is the third year of the camp in Yerucham, and now we have begun in Dimona as well - but apparently the word got around."

In addition, he said, the discovery and cultivation of individual talents is emphasized. The various workshops close with a high-profile event attended by the public, where the teens perform and/or exhibit their work and are awarded trophies and prizes.

Shuki explained that a typical camp day is divided into three parts: "The first part is classes, given in English, on self-image, social relationships, how to choose friends, priorities, and the like. So far, we have seen that the participants have so much to ask and say that there is simply not enough time. The second part are chugim, activities such as music, fashion, and the like.  In the late afternoon, we have recreation, such as trips, games and the like, in which we try to conbine values and fun."

The Yerucham Camp is funded by the Larry and Leonore Zusman Family, while the Dimona Camp's benefactors are the Charles and Lynne Schusterman Family Foundation.