Netzer Year Director, Michael Vainberg, writes about the powerful shift in his perspective on Yom Hazikaron that he gained upon making aliyah to Israel from Venezuela.
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Would I do it Again?
By Rebekkah Karp, current participant on Netzer Year and volunteer with Magen David Adom
As part of her experiences on Netzer Year, Rebekkah had the opportunity to spend two months training and volunteering with Magen David Adom (the Israeli Red Cross) while living in the city of Karmiel. Read her poignant thoughts on her experience, which she describes as “really truly amazing. Something real and fun and down to earth and, dare I say, magical… I saw and experienced things I will never forget. There were hard times and things that were tough to deal with.”
Reflections on Diaspora Judaism vs Israeli Judaism
By Rebekkah Karp, Netzer Year participant
This is my first time in Israel, and being an American Reform Jew, I’ve heard a lot about the culture here. Good and bad, from NFTY in Israel participants, community members, random strangers, various rabbis, and lots of other people. As controversial as the topic of Israel is today, everyone seems to have an opinion, not only of the politics, but the culture as well. For example, I knew to watch out for the yogurt (it’s delicious, but not as healthy as it seems). Some things don’t surprise me, like the superior quality of the falafels. One thing in particular, however, did surprise me.
Netzer Year Participants speak about Reform Judaism
Check out this great video, live from Israel, featuring Netzer Year participants speaking about what Reform Judaism means to them.
Netzer Year Participants Respond to Gilad Shalit’s Release
Many of us have been following the news about the imminent return of Gilad Shalit. After more than five years in captivity, all of Israel is holding a collective breath until he returns safely home on Tuesday. After arriving in Israel last week, participants on the Netzer Year program were part of a recent celebration in Jerusalem. Having been in Israel for less than a week, they are already experiencing the challenges of life in Israel as the joy at the return of Gilad is tempered with the understanding that the release of more than one thousand terrorists is not universally supported by all Israelis. Read here the reflections from one of the participants, and see some of the participants in a BBC News report.
The Unique Global Experience of Netzer Year
On Netzer Year, participants get the unique opportunity to take part in an international and cross-cultural exchange with peers from North America and around the world, all-the-while living, learning, and volunteering in Israel. Of course, the program is also a fun, challenging and stimulating way for recent high school graduates to spend a year in Israel as a member of an exciting and vibrant group. But beyond that, alumni return home with an expanded worldview, an appreciation of pluralism and multiculturalism, and an enriched background in Reform Judaism and Reform Zionism.
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