The 2020-2021 school year has not been the easiest for anyone. Around the world, students have had to adapt to learning virtually. Many students have yet to go back to their school building since March of 2020, including me.
Every day I wake up at 7:20 am and get myself dressed and my parents drive me to my friend’s house. We go to her basement where we have two tables set up across the room from each other. We each sit at our own table. We log on to class every morning at 8:20 and have four 70 minute classes. We make lunch and eat outside so get some fresh air.
For lunch we keep kosher and we usually log on to our Jewish Culture Club meetings. At these meetings we have a rabbi teach us about each weeks torah portion. The torah portions bring up many interesting conversations. We usually have some music playing to make it a little more fun as we sit and listen to our classes.
Usually during the day I also talk to some of my camp friends. I attend a Jewish summer camp in the mountains of Georgia. Last summer was supposed to be our last summer as campers but Covid cancelled camp. So our unit has stayed connected virtually and are really looking forward to Israel this summer.
Doing school with a friend has caused less anxiety and stress by giving us some social interaction. Virtual school is not easy but I have adapted and made myself successful.
Each day for me starts when I take my dog for a walk. Because of the pandemic I study some days though Zoom and some in school. So, I wake up every morning according to the way I study that day. Today I’ll tell you about my typical Sundays. American teens may not realize it, but Israelis go to school on Sunday! Our weekend is on Friday and Saturday because Shabbat is part of our culture and Sunday is just a regular day!
School on Sundays starts at 7:45 a.m. so I wake up at 6:20 and take my dog for a walk. When we get back, I quickly get ready for school, eat something and go out. I usually go to school on foot because it’s close to my house. My first class is English literature. English is a language I really like, so I enjoy studying it. After the English class I have a free period that I usually use to finish homework that I didn’t have time to do, eat or just sit and talk to friends. Next I have a two-hour math class and three hours of physics. I study the Bible in school, but other than that, I am not a very religious person. I enjoy hearing different interpretations of the Bible stories since some of these solutions make more sense.
I finish school at 2:50 p.m. When I get back home I eat lunch and watch Netflix or read a book until 4-5 p.m., do my homework if I have any, and after that I usually hang out with friends or go back to watch Netflix. Because of the Coronavirus I don’t have a lot of options for activities after school so my week is usually the same. At about 8:00 p.m. I have dinner with my family, then at 11/12 at night I go to bed. Sunday is a relatively free day for me, so in addition on Tuesdays for example I have an entrepreneurship and computer science course, and on Fridays I usually go to the sea to surf.
Judaism is a big part of my daily life, I celebrate Jewish holidays with my family, and keep the Jewish tradition in our family. For example, I want to talk about my Bar Mitzvah experience. When I turned 13 I did an “Aliyah latora” at the west wall in Jerusalem! After that, we went celebrating my Bar Mitzvah at a big restaurant with my whole family. I would never forget that experience, and to this day I wear the golden David star necklace my grandparents gave me.
The feeling of silence on Shabbat or Yom Kippur is really calming and peaceful. Those are the days when people just stop everything in their lives for a few days.
The holidays are very special for me. I meet my family, eat really good food with them, and feel festive.
When traveling with my family around the world (but also in Israel) we go to alot of places that are related to Judaism and Jewish history, and we feel the power of it.
I also feel the Jewish history in my family’s history. My grandfather and all of his family are Holocaust survivors and today, he is proud to be Jewish, and proud to be living in Israel as a Jewish person.
I am not very religious, but I try my hardest to keep holiday traditions and keep kosher.
Other then being Jewish in Israel, I have many other interests. I like music, hanging out with friends, watching movies and tv shows, and gaming.
As a Jewish educator, I encourage a Gap Year experience to many of the High School teens I work with. It is an experience that is unparalleled for the growth and development of a young person. Not only in their Jewish identity, but in all aspects of life.
Your four-year university experience can wait.
Get rid of the attitude that “I want to just get on with my path, so I can finish and move to the next phase.”
Friends, this is part of your path. It not a GAP in your path. It is part of your journey.
When we were looking into this opportunity for my first child, the director of Nativ, Yossi Garr, said “It is not a year off. It is a year on.” That has stuck with me ever since.
As a parent, I could not be more satisfied and feel truly fortunate that I was able to provide this experience for both of my children, currently aged 26 and 23.
I had mixed feelings of excitement and sadness as we were at the airport as they were embarking upon their year experience in Israel. I will never forget the shifting around of items in their huge bags to make sure that each weighed 50 lbs. or under! But that is an article for a different time!
I felt they were safe, secure, and very well taken care of the entire time they were there. We kept in contact with each other with ease. Back a few decades ago, when I was away in Israel for a year, I clearly remember lining up at the pay phone with a token each week to call my parents! Thankfully, times are vastly different now, and we can talk to our children in a variety of ways.
Every time I heard my WhatsApp tone on my phone, I would know it was Natan (or 3 years later, Ilana) sharing news or just saying hi.
I lived vicariously through their excursions and experiences. We were fortunate to be able to visit each of our children while they were there, and they proudly and confidently showed us around. It was a joy seeing my children acting as tour guides in Israel.
Confidence and growth. Those were the most evident outcomes I witnessed in my children.
And they have friends for life. Shared backgrounds and a shared immersive experience created bonds that cannot be broken. I remember my daughter telling me that these people “just get her. They are like me.” Hearing and seeing them interact with their Nativ friends all these years later is evidence of the value of these relationships.
I will never forget when we were moving my son into his Freshman dorm room at the University of Michigan, he said to us how easy it was. He said “I have already done this. I have learned how to live on my own, cooked my own meals, made my way through a new city. I am looking at these other first year students and feel so much older and experienced then they are.”
Both my son and daughter have become impressive leaders in their respective communities. Of course, there are other things that contribute to these qualities, but the experience they had during their year in Israel between High School and College is a big influence.
I was born in Israel and I live in Israel so naturally I’m Israeli and I’m proud. Living in Israel has its ups and downs but after reading the paper and watching the news about the life of Jews in other countries it seems to me that I live in a wonderful place without antisemitism and prejudice. In Israel we are all Jews that is what I see at school when I look around me. Of course there are other nationalities and religions in Israel but still Israel is a country for Jews. It is like an oasis in the middle of the desert.
In Israel being a Jew is not unique. My family and I eat kosher food and don’t mix dairy products with meat. We do it even without thinking and without special intention. When we go to the supermarket the meat we buy is kosher and so are the rest of the groceries. On Shabbat my parents don’t work and we don’t have school because Israel is a Jewish country. Sometimes we need to intensify the fact that we are Jewish so we do that with special little rituals like the ritual of the challah baking on Friday morning.
I’m not religious, but on Friday mornings I like to get up early in the morning and bake challah bread with my mother. This is a small but an important ritual that takes place in my house. The challah baking ritual began even before I was born with my sister, Maya. Now that my sister is in the army, I find myself baking the challah with my mother only almost every Friday. This ritual got me closer to my mother and when we sit together to eat Friday night dinner we look proudly at our challahs, knowing that we did something special for the Shabbat.
Before this past year, one of my favorite Jewish traditions was going to Synagogue on Saturdays. I would dress up, grab my beloved Siddur I received from my bar mitzvah, and spend 3-4 hours praying in Hebrew, listening to the Rabbi’s Dvar Torah, and gossiping with fellow members of the congregation, all for the reward of some truly incredible bagels and lox. However, with the start of this pandemic, this ritual hasn’t really been possible, so I’ve had to find other ways to connect to Judaism. I go to The Weber Jewish Community High School in Sandy Springs, Georgia. It’s an egalitarian school, so prayer isn’t mandatory. I don’t usually go; they’re very early and as a 17-year old kid, my self-inflicted sleep deprivation makes anything in the early morning pretty difficult.
I go to classes like Hebrew and Modern Jewish History. I’m lucky to have those classes and it’s been great to express my Judaism through learning and studying. I believe connecting with my Jewish community and learning about Judaism are just as important as praying or reading Torah. Since one of those things can’t be traditionally done as I’m stuck at home, I’ve been connecting and studying like never before. I’m involved in organizations like BBYO and Young Judaea, as well as the AJC and the Jumpspark fellowship program. These really are the highlights of my week; They offer a break from the monotony of school, homework, video games, exercise, and sleep.
One that stands out, however, is the Jumpspark program. With Jumpspark, I work with Israeli teens just like me to tell our stories of Jewish identity in America and Israel. I’ve learned a lot about Israel from my Israeli friends in Jumpspark or otherwise. My work in Israel advocacy is one of my most beloved connections to other Jews in Israel, but talking to Israeli friends helps me get new perspectives, and they’re all wonderful, interesting people. My greatest friends live at home, in the USA. I connect with other Jews in the US, as many others do, through groups like BBYO. I’m the Mazkir, AKA communications czar, for my local BBYO chapter. It’s a good bit of work but incredibly rewarding, when we can all get together in zoom or in an open park and just hang out. In lieu of in-person religious involvement, I’ve found meaning and depth in just connecting with other Jews.
Judaism is the main part of my identity. I think the reasons for that are: that in my close community everyone celebrates the holidays whatever their beliefs, my family does kiddush every week before Friday dinner. Also, my grandfather was a holocaust survivor and his story impacted the way I see Judaism and my need to be part of Jewish people.
For me, being an Israeli means contributing to the community, speaking Hebrew, and celebrating our civilian holidays like Independence Day.
Judaism and Israeli history are really woven together in my school work. In school every morning we stand to Hatikvah. Through school we travel across Israel and learn stories from history or the Torah. Also in history class, I am learning about the Holocaust and that has made such an impact on my Jewish identity. A couple of years ago my school took my class to Mount Herzl Cemetery. Mount Herzl Cemetery is the site of Israel’s national cemetery and other memorial and educational facilities. There we learned about the people that lost their lives for Israel. It was very emotional and gave me a new perspective on what it means to be an Israeli.
Outside of school I volunteer for Krembo Wings (https://www.krembo.org.il/en/), a youth movement for children with and without disabilities. Youth movements are the way that a lot of teenagers contribute to the community here in Israel.
Although being Jewish is the main part of my Jewish identity, I also spend time reading, meeting friends, drawing, or doing homework.
You’re on a path. If you’re like most, that path includes going to school, building your resume, working to get good grades, getting into a good college, picking a major, and hopefully landing a rewarding and lucrative job. It’s a proven and certainly expected path, but… it’s not always the right one for everyone.
Nowadays, many students choose to take time “off” before heading to college. A gap year after high school enables you to focus on your education outside the classroom, experience a different culture, learn a new language, and become a global citizen. You will meet a network of like-minded people who will become lifelong friends. And you will develop skills in areas of interest to you and maybe discover interests you didn’t even know you had.
Studies show that students who take a gap year are more successful in college. In fact, admissions directors report that they prefer students who have taken or plan to take a gap year, as these students tend to be more mature and focused, better leaders, and adept at managing their time and money, travel and roommates before they ever step foot on campus. And after college, your gap experience will continue to be an advantage as employers will appreciate the courage, service-mindedness, global awareness, and teamwork that you acquired through your extended overseas experience.
For Jewish students, one of the most exciting options is a year in Israel. In Israel, you can explore your heritage and connect with locals while you volunteer, intern, study, travel, and deepen your Jewish identity. You will live in the “Start Up Nation,” learning about the early pioneers and about advancements that continue to improve the world. And you will inevitably forge your own path that will be more meaningful and uniquely enriching.
Jewish National Fund’s Gap Year, Frontier Israel, is one such program. With the benefit of JNF’s vast resources, Frontier Israel participants spend extended time living, volunteering, and learning in the north, the center, and the south of Israel. Each Frontier has a different feel, different culture, and different experiences, and each is amazing in its own way! Live like an Israeli, explore the country, help others, and make your own path on Frontier Israel. For more information, please contact me at mnadolne@jnf.org. Limited spots are still available for the 2021-2022 Full year and Fall semester programs.
I’m forever grateful for the experience of having participated in an Israel gap year and the perspective that year gave me. While on Year Course I learned so much about myself, my Jewish identity and my place in the world. I learned that I am capable – I had to navigate an unfamiliar society, including new currency, language and expectations. Did I misstep? Yes! So many times, but I learned, grew and gained confidence in myself. I came to understand that Israel, while unfamiliar, was also a home for me. The friendships formed through those experiences endure through today. I came to understand what it meant to be a part of something you believe in and I felt like my contributions were important. I didn’t know it then, but these lessons would shape the person I was to become.
I remember people would ask why I wanted to “take a year off” before college. I never felt like it was a year off. I felt like it was a year to grow and experience life! I learned so much by immersing myself in Israel for those months. I lived with a moshav family in the Golan Heights and reflected on what it means to be a community. I worked in the community gan (preschool) in the Arad absorption center and learned to welcome someone with a genuine smile because words were not available. I became a braver more confident version of myself. I rode buses back and forth across Israel- by the time I arrived in Athens the UGA buses were a cinch. I managed my expenses in sheckels, so keeping track of dollars was manageable. I made choices how to celebrate and observe Jewish traditions with my community and found my own joy in these experiences. The lessons from my gap year experience inspired me, taught me and prepared me for a life of adventure and service founded in Jewish values. I am truly grateful for those experiences.
Do you need Shabbat dinner inspiration? For their final project our Amplifying Israel teen fellows for February, Lulu Rosenberg and Shaked Nitka, created a joint cookbook of Shabbat dinner recipes:
“We were able to show how even thousands of miles away, we all share the connection of our Judaism and especially through our Shabbat dinners and meals! We hope you enjoy seeing our recipes and that you might even try them out!” Shaked & Lulu
Shaked’s Recipes from Israel!
Oven-baked rice with chestnuts and cashews
Ingredients:
★ 2 cups of rice
★ 2 packs of chestnuts cut into cubes
★ Cashew
★ Chopped medium onion
★ 2 of tablespoons of soy sauce
★ 2 of tablespoons of date honey
★ 1/4 cup of oil
★ 4 cups of water
Instruction:
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees
Put the cashew and chestnut onion rice in a baking pan and mix
Add the soy sauce and date honey and mix
Add the oil and mix.
Add the hot water and mix
Put in the oven for 1 hour
After baking, use a fork and gently open the rice
And the rice is ready😋
Pita with za’atar
Ingredients:
★ 1 kg flour
★ 700 m”l of cold water
★ 1 teaspoon of dried yeast
★ 15 grams of salt
★ A little flour to flour the surface
★ Olive oil to grease the bowl
★ Za’atar and olive oil mixed together
Instruction:
Put water, salt, and yeast in the mixer bowl and stir. Turn on the mixer and add the flour gradually
Grease a bowl with a little olive oil and transfer the dough to it. Cover and soak overnight in the fridge.
Remove the bowl from the fridge and bring it to room temperature
Divide the dough into eight equal balls and place in a mold And let the dough apple for 2 hours.
Prepare a work surface and sprinkle flour generously on it.
Flatten the dough ball with your hands
Spread as a tablespoon of the za’atar and oil mixture on each pita
Bake in the tabun at a temperature of about 500 degrees for 2 minutes
Bon appetit😋
Sfinj
Ingredients:
★ 1 kg white flour
★ Fifty grams of fresh yeast
★ 1/2 cup white sugar
★ 1/2 teaspoon of salt
★ 800 m”l water
★ oil for frying
Instruction:
In a large bowl mix together flour and yeast
Add sugar and salt and mix
Add half the amount of water and put the dough for a minute
Gradually add the remaining water and continue kneading for another minute
Cover the bowl and wait until the dough is twice as large
Mix the dough with your hands to remove the air Cover and wait again
Make a little ball out of the dough and make a hole in the middle of it
Fry the ball in the oil until it gets a golden color and dip in sugar
Continue throughout the rest of the dough
Bon appetit!
Lulu’s Recipes from Atlanta!
Shabbat Chicken
Pound chicken flat and dip it in Jason’s seasoned bread crumbs until both sides are covered and then saute in olive oil until brown, flip, and cook until brown again (chicken will not be fully cooked at this point). Put the chicken into a baking dish, (we use a 9×13). Pour chicken soup stock to cover chicken (typically 1-2 cups is enough to cover- we use the parve Better than Bouillon Chicken Flavor). Then, add 2 cups of mushrooms on top (drained), cover and cook at 350 for at least 40 minutes. The longer you cook it, the more tender the chicken becomes!
This is a Shabbat staple in my house. This chicken always reminds me of warm meals in my house with my family and friends!
Lemon Garlic Chicken and Pasta
4 chicken breasts
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 lemons- 1 thinly sliced and 1 juiced
3-4 cloves of garlic minced
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Ground black pepper to taste
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Coat a large baking dish or skillet with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Arrange lemon slices at the bottom of the dish or skillet. In a large bowl, combine the remaining oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper and toss to coat. Place the chicken in the same bowl with the olive oil mixture and coat thoroughly and then place in the dish or skillet. Pour any remaining olive oil mixture over the chicken. You can also add a lemon slice on top each piece if you like. Roast covered for skinless or uncovered with skin for 50 minutes.
While chicken is cooking, cook a packet of whole wheat spaghetti per the instructions on the box. Save 1 cup of the pasta water before draining. Add the water back to drained pasta, drizzle olive oil on it and also add a few pinches of pasta spices- (we like dried oregano, dried basil, dried thyme and garlic).
Put pasta on a plate and top with chicken and a lemon spice!
Rugelach
½ cup + 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
1 package of active dry yeast
½ cup of warm water
¼ cup of margarine
1 teaspoon of salt
2 eggs, beaten
4 cups of all purpose flour
In a large bowl, stir 2 teaspoons of sugar with ¼ cup of warm water until dissolved. Sprinkle in yeast; let stand until frothy (about 10 minutes). While you are waiting, heat remaining water in a small saucepan, add the rest of the sugar, margarine and salt until the margarine is melted. Let cool until lukewarm and stir into yeast mixture. Add the beaten eggs. Then stir in 3 and ¼ cups of the flour, about 1 cup at a time. Knead until smooth on a lightly floured surface- about 10 minutes or so. Add extra flour if the dough is too sticky. Transfer to a large bowl greased with oil and turn dough to grease all over. Cover with plastic wrap; let rinse in a warm draft-free place until doubled in bulk- about 1- 1 and ½ hours.
Roll out the dough, cover lightly with oil, sprinkle cinnamon-sugar or sweetened cocoa. Cut into triangles and roll from large end into peak of triangle. You can brush with beaten egg mixed with water. Let rise again for 45 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10-15 minutes until the rugelach are medium brown.
This is my great grandmother and Bubbie’s recipe- it is my favorite!
Below are some examples of NSCY Summer Programs to Israel:
Euro— Travel around Europe for two weeks before journeying to Israel to visit Safed, Eilat, Tiberias and many more cities and sites on this co-ed trip.
Euro GO (Girls Only) – Travel with great girls from across the country around Europe for two weeks before journeying to Israel to visit Safed, Eilat, Tiberias and many more cities and sites on this co-ed trip
GIVE — Girls Israel Volunteer Experience (GIVE) is for exceptional high school girls who want to experience Judaism firsthand through the art of giving back in Israel.
Israel ID – Israel ID is a co-ed program that travels through the land of Israel.
JOLT Israel– Our leadership program will show you Israel in a whole new way while you create and run a 10-day camp for Israeli kids in need.
JSU GO Atlanta – Travel and see Israel in this once in a lifetime adventure for Atlanta public school teens.
Kollel — Spend an unforgettable summer in Israel filled with intense learning, world-class sports, and great trips.
Michlelet — An extraordinary program for teenage girls looking to spend their summer in a productive way by learning Torah and touring Israel.
NFTY in Israel is a chance for teens to experience the true culture and history of Israel through a variety of social and educational opportunities. Focusing on all that Israel has to offer, this trip is for the teen who is ready to explore their progressive Jewish values from a whole new angle! Come discover yourself on the adventure of a lifetime and make lifelong friendships along the way.
Touch ancient ruins visited by your ancestors for thousands of years. Eat delicious pita fresh off the fire. Climb sand dunes. Hike mountains. Swim in the Mediterranean. Float in the Dead Sea. Wander with your friends and meet amazing new people. Explore your progressive Jewish values from new angles. Discover yourself on the adventure of a lifetime.
Choose from several specialty trips, including a deep Hebrew immersion, a trip through the lens of social justice, a sports trip for athletes, and a sci-tech Israel trip.
For over 60 years, USY has provided Jewish teens with transformative travel experiences, opening their eyes to new places, different ways of life, and some of the world’s most spectacular sights.
On a USY Summer Experience, you will gain independence and a better sense of self, form lifelong bonds of friendship with teens from across North America, be immersed in other cultures and see the world from a different perspective, develop a deeper understanding of global issues and conflict, repair the world in local communities through volunteer work and service, and discover the joy of Jewish living through fun, meaningful experiences that create a lasting impact.
Now, it’s YOUR turn to have the summer of a lifetime in the U.S., Canada, Israel, Europe, or the Dominican Republic. See where USY Summer Experience takes you, and register today.
Ramah Israel Seminar is a six-week travel program in Israel, designed for entering 12th graders who are graduates of the ten Ramah overnight camps in North America. For over 50 years, Ramah Seminar has been an outstanding way for teens to experience Israel. Seminar is an intensive experience of study and travel, combining hiking and trekking throughout Israel with text study, challenging discussions and hands-on learning. Seminar participants travel Israel from north to south, gaining an in-depth perspective of Israel’s history and future. Seminar is an opportunity to live the Ramah life in Israel, combining all that is central to camp – community, connection and growth.
Discover Israel’s many treasures on a transformative journey with a focus on historical exploration, exhilarating adventures in nature, and cultural connections.
Travel from the far north in the Galilee to the deep south at the Red Sea as we visit ancient Jerusalem, modern Tel Aviv, the lush Golan Heights, the vast Negev Desert, the unsinkable Dead Sea, and the stark mountaintop fortress of Masada. Along the way, you’ll take part in an authentic archaeological dig, sample the world’s very best falafel, spend a night sleeping under the desert stars, and experience the innovative energy of Tel Aviv first-hand.
More than a tour, this is an opportunity to understand Israel’s dynamic society first-hand while finding your own connection to this storied land. Explore what it means to be Jewish from an Israeli point of view, understand the complex politics of the Middle East with real-world insights, and practice Jewish values through hands-on volunteering and Shabbat experiences.
Some of our Israel Journey trips will have the opportunity to attend The Maccabiah Games. Often referred to as “the Jewish Olympics,” this is the world’s largest Jewish athletic competition that takes place every four years in Israel.
Travel from the Golan Heights to the shores of Eilat and everywhere in-between. Swim in the Kinneret, visit archeological digs, hike through the mountains and float in the Dead Sea and much more.
Explore your Jewish Heritage
Judaism will come alive as you pray at the Western Wall, hike up Masada and visit all the holy sites Israel has to offer. Connect to the past and discover your future.
Meet Other Jewish Teens
JSU GO is designed for public school teens looking to learn more about their Jewish heritage through hands-on, meaningful experiences.
