This may truly the next-best thing to living in Israel. An entire school has closed its doors for two weeks, and almost the entire student body and teaching staff, as well as some parents, have transplanted to Israel for the duration. The Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy of Greater Washington arrived here yesterday, in a trip organized by Jewish Agency educational emissary Eli Aidelberg, who is a teacher at the Hebrew Academy.
The program is a "learning" mission developed by the Torah MiTzion Kollel, which has been an important part of the school for six years. Close to 200 students - 90% of the student body - as well as 40 teachers and parents, are taking part.
The purpose of the special Israel trip is to strengthen the participants' bonds and understanding of modern-day Israel and Jewish history, via hands-on visits to various places where important events occurred. In addition, the administration announced, "we wish to show our solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land, especially during a time where so many choose not to visit Israel."
The students will be visiting educational sites in Jerusalem, Meron, the Golan Heights, Tzfat, Ceasaria, Zikhron Yaakov, Massada, Arad and more. The students will be given choices of different areas to focus upon: Nature, People of Israel, Agriculture, etc. On Nov. 27, a festive "thanksgiving dinner" will be held - a reunion of all past and former MJBHA students presently learning or living in Israel, as well as previous Torah MiTzion Kollel members.
The trip was made possible by large contributions by two sets of parents, who also collected additional necessary funds from other sources. "Zionist education must take place in the State of Israel," the donors explained, "which is the place where Zionism happens."
The educational division of the Jewish Agency has been developing new programming intended to renew the flow of young visitors to Israel, which has dropped severely since the start of the Oslo War.
The parents said they hoped the trip would form the basis for the students "to feel strongly committed to Israel for the rest of their lives, and that the trip would lead other Jewish schools to follow their lead and bring their students to Israel as well."
The program is a "learning" mission developed by the Torah MiTzion Kollel, which has been an important part of the school for six years. Close to 200 students - 90% of the student body - as well as 40 teachers and parents, are taking part.
The purpose of the special Israel trip is to strengthen the participants' bonds and understanding of modern-day Israel and Jewish history, via hands-on visits to various places where important events occurred. In addition, the administration announced, "we wish to show our solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land, especially during a time where so many choose not to visit Israel."
The students will be visiting educational sites in Jerusalem, Meron, the Golan Heights, Tzfat, Ceasaria, Zikhron Yaakov, Massada, Arad and more. The students will be given choices of different areas to focus upon: Nature, People of Israel, Agriculture, etc. On Nov. 27, a festive "thanksgiving dinner" will be held - a reunion of all past and former MJBHA students presently learning or living in Israel, as well as previous Torah MiTzion Kollel members.
The trip was made possible by large contributions by two sets of parents, who also collected additional necessary funds from other sources. "Zionist education must take place in the State of Israel," the donors explained, "which is the place where Zionism happens."
The educational division of the Jewish Agency has been developing new programming intended to renew the flow of young visitors to Israel, which has dropped severely since the start of the Oslo War.
The parents said they hoped the trip would form the basis for the students "to feel strongly committed to Israel for the rest of their lives, and that the trip would lead other Jewish schools to follow their lead and bring their students to Israel as well."