Information from the conference call

Hello Workshop Families,

Yesterday we had a conference call to give our coordinator in Israel, Leon Schneider a chance to give parents information about the program and some updates about the workshoppers. This was also a chance for parents to ask questions. Since I know some of you were unable to participate I am posting some highlights from the discussion.

The weekly schedule while the workshoppers are on the Boneh (kibbutz) part of the program has several components. They have Ulpan (Hebrew) 8 hours a week along with classes in which they discuss such topics as Jewish identity, Jewish history, and Israeli history among others. They will have a day dedicated to spending time with their own kvutzah and madrichim, doing peulot together and working on their own kvutzah dynamics and relationships. They have work projects once a week. A few times a month the group will go on a siyur (tour) which will be a variety of activities outside of the kibbutz such as museum visits, hikes and volunteer projects. Two new aspects to the program are "project time" and themes. Every 1-2 weeks will have a theme that is planned by the Boneh coordinators. This theme will serve as the focus of the classes, ulpan lessons, and their projects. The chanichim will split up into smaller groups and create a presentation or an activity for the rest of workshop to take part in.

The workshoppers will be sending their time on kibbutz with the shnat chanichim from the UK. On Kibbutz Ein Dor, the workshoppers are in a dormitory building in rooms of 4-5 people per room. Each kvutzah has a classroom where their classes and yom kvutzah will take place. They eat lunch and dinner in the kibbutz cheder ochel (dining room). The dorms have small kitchens and food is bought weekly for the workshoppers so that they can make themselves breakfast. Their laundry is done on the kibbutz and they have access to the kibbutz supermarket, pool and clinic.

Boneh will run from September to mid-December, when they will have an orientation for the second part of the year, kaveret, they will then move into their houses and winter chofesh (vacation) will start on December 23. Besides winter chofesh some dates may change slightly during the year.

Workshop has gotten off to a very successful start and that the workshoppers are having fun and have a really great and positive attitude towards the program. It’s going to be a really fulfilling and fun year.

This is a majority of what was discussed and asked about on yesterday's conference call. Both Leon and I will be updating the blog and I will be in contact with Israel several times a week. If you have any questions feel free to contact me in office.

I look forwarding to being in touch throughout the year.
Shani