The last day in the Negev

We played " Treasure Hunt" in the Old City in "Beer Sheva", each group was given a map and clues and had to get to various sites in the Old City. In each site the groups young counselor was waiting and operated the group around the theme that the site represented. For example at the Grand Mosque in the Old City there was a debate whether to restore the mosque and its traditional role, or leave it in it's current position as a museum?
In the afternoon, after the game, we were hosted at "ship of the Desert" near Kibbutz "Revivim". After a traditional Bedouin lunch, the Hanichim, under the guidance of the young counselors summarized the activities conducted with beads. The subject was which string of beads every participant took from "Jitli" project ?
Then we went on a journey to experience riding on camels, We rode in pairs, the ride was definitely a unique experience, The route that we rode allowed us spectacular perspectives of the desert and the lake in "Golda Park" that was foothills stretching down where we rode.
As evening arrived Mr. Gary Jacobs also joined us. He participated the summary conversation at the hospitality tent. The Hanichim took turns telling what they take from participation in the project. It was beautiful to notice that each participant told us his unique insights. Certainly it was clear that the project has affected the participants' changed positions and points of view and stereotypes. We returned to Be'er Sheva to get organized, the next day we drove to Tel Aviv
Questions
1. does the peak of Jitli summer trip belong to shared experience or the immediate personal connection that is established among the participants?
2. Is there something symbolic to end the journey in the Negev by riding on camels?
3. During the summary conversation the Hanichim did not reply to their friends remarks, but added their own personal experience. Does this imply the participants' sensitivity to such experiences or that they accepted each other?


The last morning in Beer Sheva
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98TW2I0YdpY

Camels trip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udlLQdLsXC8

Summary conversation at the hospitality tent
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLhvpfq1fHQ

I'm waiting to your comments

itzik

Lakia Day

LaKia is a very interesting Bedouin town,because it is inhabited by interesting people. The morning opened with a visit to a carpet weaving factory which belongs to Lakia women. They showed us all the steps of taking sheep wool into carpets. In the Bedouin sector this is work for women, and it's a very hard work. We heard about an example in which the women took their fate, they found themselves living independently regardless of the men's world. The rugs were beautiful.
We reached Amal school in Lakia wherethe Lakia Hanichim learnArts & Craft teacher taught us the work of beads and a student made a decorative work of beads Then we heard Prof. Ismail Saad, resident Lakia who teaches at Ben Gurion UniversityHe talked about the state of the Bedouin in the Negev, Bedouin education situation in the Bedouin sector, what men and women needed to meet the progress. Another teacher got is active in social games
We visited the school mosque in which we received an explanation of the Koran, the Islamic prayers. All the girls wrapped their hair with a scarf and appearances were honored. Then came the moment everyone has been waiting Hanichim families' hosting. As expected again, it was a formative experience of relations between people of good food and a great common denominator
At night we returned to Beer Sheva and there Schneider and Nadav shared with us social activities at the end, all participants were worked like a machine and shouted "bananas"
Questions:
1. What makes Lakia a Bedouin town that has something different from other Bedouin towns in the Negev?
2. What is the contribution of a Bedouin Prof. to his community?
3. What do social activities have, that makes them understood without words and bring the students to each other?

Video Clips
Lakiya Day - First Part
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tdyOvCMc6c
Lakiya Day - Second Part
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UG3ZnDwke4

I'm waiting to your comments

Itzik Koren

"Segev Shalom" Day

We went on the road "Beer Sheva" "Revivim", and the driver stopped midway and we went between the hills towards the home of Musa Abu Kaf who is living in the Bedouin Diaspora. His eldest daughter "Smah" participated in Jitli project two years ago, and his younger daughter "Rada" is participating in Jitli project this year. After an explanation about living in the Bedouin Diaspora and declaring that he does not replace his home with any house in the world,we helped Musa build a wall on which later in the day We drew a drawing related Jitli. Girls helped Musa's wife cooking, Falafel, salad, baked pitas. At noon we sat down to eat the delicacies, It was nice and tasty AND interesting.

From there we went to the elementary school in the Bedouin Diaspora, named El-Azazaama B. Abdullah studied there as a child and returned as the school principle. We spoke with Abdullah about the meaning of Diaspora School From there we went "Segev Shalom Community Center" where we met Abir's father who was the first JITLI adult guide of Segev Shalom . The conversation was about the situation of the Bedouin diaspora and in Segev Shalom.

Early afternoon the Hanichim dispersed to home hospitality , they came back happy and full of experiences.
Questions
1.Life in the Diaspora are filled with problems of water, electricity. Why in our one-time life , people cling to anything they have and are not willing to give up for their own benefit?
2. Life in the Diaspora, on the other hand, has a lot of protecting the environment and using resources. If so why doesn't the government make it easier for these people?
3. Bedouin food is simple but amazingly tasty, what makes this food so tasty?

video clips

The first half day in Segev Shalom

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WamZoTJyvdM

The second half day in Segev Shalom

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4psm-b2RIg

waiting to your comments

itzik

Friday Saturday Shaar Hanegev Days

I woke up early, everyone was still sleeping in sleeping bags, boys here girls there, only Abdullah was up, he got up to pray. We organized quickly, breakfast was delicious, and we started walking toward the "Ein ovdat" nature reserve. Walking distance of one kilometer in the morning was refreshing. We sat at the entrance to the parking area, the rangers filed a complaint against the guide that we came into the reserve without permission. There was great anger we expected the ranger to understand our situation, that we slept outdoors and got there a little early. Because the ranger did not cancel the complaint, we gave up on the visit. instead we climbed to see David and Paula Ben Gurion tombs, the first prime minister of Israel and his wife. The view from the place was amazing, we talked a bit about Ben Gurion and his love to the Negev his personal example and his image as leader of the country.
Towards the afternoon we went to "Shaar Hanegev". The first stop was viewpoint "Black Arrow" which is located east of Gaza. There, Gon explained about Shaar Hanegev Regional Council, and its people living in the shadow of the Qassams, From there we drove to kibbutz "Mefalsim" synagogue. Gon's dad Yosi explained the major principles of Judaism and the similarities and differences between Judaism and Islam. He spoke of the belief in one God, man is the center of the human existence and has a mission to be a good person, about the significance of the choice, the importance of time in Judaism, we must not waste time, that Judaism is against the missionary, the importance of democracy in Judaism The importance of learning and the need to do good things without the need to tell about them. The lecture was very interesting at the end he showed us the Holy Ark and the Torah. Then we met the mayor Alon Schuster accompanying Jitli project for many years and he talked about the importance of leadership and the importance of Jewish Bedouin coexistence for the Negev region. The group dispersed to families' home hospitality, which included Friday dinner. Hospitality was amazing it brought the students closer. The students spent the night in a hostel "Beit Yatziv" in Be'er Sheva. The next morning there was a meeting that included a workshop with members of the "one voice" Palestinian Jewish cooperation " Create the future today, two-state to two nations, one voice" The meeting was interesting, their URL: http://www.onevoice.org.il/ .
At noon we returned to "Shaar Hanegev" to "Ibim" students village where there is a memory point to San Diego student that was killed in a terrorist attack .
We conducted social activities, we learned the song of the Beatles "all together now" Jitli version. Then we swam in the swimming pool of "Kibbutz Mefalsim" It was nice to see the Bedouin girls enter the water wrapped with their long clothes and enjoyeding the situation.
From there we went to Gon's house and the team from San Diego made a Monopoly game with which we got to know San Diego city and the important places to that Hanichim group. The game was done with a lot of attention, and with a lot of experiences.
After an argument where to eat dinner: in "Sderot", in "Rahat", or at the gas station restaurant in "Kefar Aza". We decided to eat in "Kefar Aza." So, while buying food incident occurred at the border and we heard gunshots and lighting bombs. This all lasted a few minutes and then the quiet returned. Some Hanichim came to fear and hysteria. It was live practice of the meaning of living by the border.
Shaar Hanegev" participants tried to reassure and explained that now there will be quiet We finished eating and went back to Be'er Sheva. Chen said that after she saw the natural fear reactions of her friends, she was shocked at her condition of accepting such a shooting event as norma ot was bothersome to her, and shed light on the abnormal situation where she lives
In Beer Sheva we gathered to talk about the experiences we went through that day.
Questions:
1. Is there a better way of learning than to experience the event and participate in it? Home hospitality?, an event at the border?
2. Are home hospitality the culmination of Jitli project?
3. can co-parenting/ parent involvement contribute to the success of the project?

I received a link of an interview conducted by Michael with Gary and Jerry Ann about Jitli project that wasuploaded to YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwCTXEwOkyA&feature=sub
our videos

Reaching Shaar Hanegev
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUWABhAa0ZY
Mefalsim Synagogue
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtBPOvJCI7M
Gon Father
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxbhzHdp5CA
Alon Shuster
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zghRC7g-xxg
About Us All Togather Now
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rP6JUA0f2M
Shabat Afternoon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vk53nA5138o

Waiting to your comments

Yitzik Koren

Last day in Jerusalem on the way home

We saved our last morning in Jerusalem for community activities. The activity was in a school for deaf children in the city, A school where deaf pupils from all parts of the city are learning together. We divided into small groups, and we received the task to improve school yard: Creating a garden, recreational facilities for children, painting facilities in the school yard. The children helped us, and we managed to perform all tasks. Towards noon the kids prepared us drink and bread and salad and we ate together. We gathered in the gymnasium where the children danced for us and we, with Shosi Israeli's help, danced flamenco dancing for the children. Again the immediate connection between deaf children and Jitli hanichim was amazing.
At noon we went to visit Yad Vashem. The demand to visit Yad Vashem came from the Hanichim who saw the need to recognize the Holocaust period in Jewish history. The Bedouin Hanichim were not properly prepared for the experience of visiting the Holocaust Museum and the visit was very difficult for them, at the end of the visit each participant withdrewto himself and a proper conversation after the visit didn't develop.
We said goodbye to Jitli Peace Maker students as they went to the Wadi Ara and we went to the Negev. We Reached Ein Ovdat there we met ten Jitli alumni they guided us to walk along the Huvarim Wadi. In the evening, after walking for three hours, we reached Ein Ovdat parking place. There we ate dinner and had social activities organized by the alumni. Sitting around the campfire, the conversation about topics related to co-existence, with the darkness around created a very warm atmosphere Late at night the Hanichim entered the sleeping bags, sleeping under the sky that was lit with thousands of stars.
Questions that came while writing the post:
A. The combination of giving and receiving is a winning one, can we have a combination like that in the education system over the years we spend in the system?
b. What should be the goals of the visit in Yad Vashem of mixed groups of Jews and Arabs? What topics need to be developed for post-visit discussion?
c. Trip in nature, camping outside, what makes these activities so special?

Volunteering at the school for the deaf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65ozxy5ideY

Before and after the visit atYad Vashem
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjMZRYsAfCM

Wadi Huvarim walk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_xNniOQcSU

Oscar Ceremony Jitli Summer Trip 2010

Hi friends
I upload the videos' clips created by Jitli participants during the third day summer trip in the Banias river sources.
The videos' clips are without names, you are welcome to add the missing details and select the video clip that you like and to tell us why.
1e
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1QAorZ4L8M

2e
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahW79cnb6LU

3e

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Usiaq5Em32Q

4e
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6PnTdJ722Q

5e
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q9VmF6aciM

6e
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA0aN4-bjxw

8e
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPwHmwK8GhE

I'm waiting to your comments.
Itzik Koren

Me and my Land in Jerusalem

Me and my Land in Jerusalem
After a long night in the Western Wall tunnels, the next wake-up was a bit late, We went to the Haas Promenade We stopped at a statue of tolerance,Israeli Poland cooperation the artist :teschello dezavigaz. From there we reached the entrance of a water channel that was dug under the mountains , Underground water rench was dug to Jerusalem, 1 km long. Today, walking along the dry channel illustrates the water problem of Jerusalem throughout the generations. We left the channel near the building that was the British Governor's Palace. We walked along the Schreiber promenade, the Old City of Jerusalem, the mosques, spread out before us, looking spectacular.
From there we went to Willy Brandt center. Willy Brandt was the Chancellor of West Germany and was a friend of Israel. He strove for peace in his country, Germany that was also divided to two countries. Willy Brandt Center is located at the border between western and eastern Jerusalem. On one side of the building the new modern Jerusalem, on the other side – the neglected east part of the city . This striking difference demonstrats the problems of Jerusalem. In the Horizon we saw the wall separating the various parts of the city. During lunch, an argument developed between the students: should we visit the Shalit family's tent and express support for the family suffering as another victim of violence in our area? The debate was sharp, at first the Bedouin youth resisted, They completely identified with the Shalit family's pain but because it can be perceived political activity they needed the approval of the families. Finally it was decided to write a letter supporting the family on behalf of all Jitli members. In the afternoon we visited the Begin Heritage Center in the city. Begin Center was very interesting. The visit to the museum sections was of limited time and we could not be delayed to comment and ask questions. It was impossible not to notice the change in Menachem Begin over the years - he has become a symbol of peace in Israel.
The human side of the man during his last years was especially emotional. Towards evening, we went to Mahane Yehuda market to mix with Jerusalem citizens and to eat something authentic from the market.
We went back to school and heard a lecture and participated in a workshop by Martin Sesler on the similarities and differences in Judaism and Islam by stories in the Bible and the Quran, The subject interested the students and although it was held after a busy day of activities participation was remarkable.
The evening ended with the Oscar ceremony of the films prepared by hanichim groups in the third day in the Banias River.
The three facilitators led by Ahmad got the the students laughing to tears and declared the winner, you can see the video clip movies, and I will be happy to hear your opinion about them.
Questions which arose while writing the post:
1. Is it possible to be a religious man and an independent thinker?
2. Is it possible through technological means at our disposal to make the water issue a blessing and not a war?
3. should studying the various religions' similar stories be mandatory in schools to meet the other on the origins and beliefs?

video clips:

Me and my Land in Jerusalem morning hours
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvo3mfJPTSs

Me and my Land in Jerusalem afternoon hours
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWAjSUfDRoE
Gilad Shalit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAcC6diTKw8
Martin Sesler
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_RhTgsmufw

THE OSKAR VIDEO CLIPS WILL BE HERE SOON