The Israeli Forum
LEHAVA (LESHANA HABA'A BE'YERUSHALAIM HA'BNUYA)
The Project
A two-week summer program in Israel for Israeli and Diaspora Jewish youth (ages 18-19), aimed at strengthening Jewish Identity, through a process of dialogue and mutual understanding. The program is preceeded by year-long preparatory process which provides thorough preparation for the participants.
In Israel, recruitment and preparatory activity is orchestrated by a steering committee composed of Lehava graduates and guided by a committee of Israeli Forum volunteers.
LEHAVA, the first youth project of the Israeli Forum, established shortly following the founding of the Israeli Forum, is based on the belief that the awareness raising process as to the importance of the relationship between Israel and Diaspora Jewry, must begin before the participants reach adulthood.
The summer program includes lectures and discussions, trips and tours, social events and home-hospitality.
Facts and Figures
8 LEHAVA programs have taken place.
Approximately 1,000 youth have participated from Israel (including immigrant youth), England, the United States, Canada, Hungary, and the CIS.
The Future
Project Lehava has established the necessary infrastructure for meetings between Jewish youth from Israel and the Diaspora and has contributed to the acknowledgement that the component of the personal meeting is essential in educational programs. At the same time, we are still a long way from the day when every Jewish youth that comes to Israel within an organized framework, is provided the opportunity to really get to know his/her Israeli peers through a period of time spent together, mutual experiences and dialogue.
In order to achieve this goal, the message of LEHAVA must be conveyed and emphasized by representatives of overseas programs during the programs' recruitment phases. In addition, the local recruitment and training infrastucture must be strengthened with the support of the major organizations active in the field.
The Pedagogic Center
Director: Dr. Motti Friedman
Web site manager: Esther Carciente, esthers@jajz-ed.org.il.
Updated: December 23 ,1996