DKJA BLOG - JULY 25, 2014 Israel: How Can We Help? By Morah Sammy Chukran-Lontok As the 2014-15 academic year is fast approaching, and our students prepare to return to Boca after summer camp and expeditions across the globe with their families, I would like to share my personal experience about my recent trip to Israel. I was excited and honored to represent DKJA in an historic gathering of Jewish educators from around the world. I had the opportunity to participate in a four-day conference organized by the World Zionist Organization, the Ministries of Education, International Affairs and Strategy, Jerusalem and Diaspora Affairs, and the iCenter for Israel Education. I was looking forward to engaging in a conversion with other educators from around the world on what is occurring on a global level in the field of Israel education. I arrived prepared to share all the wonderful activities that DKJA is initiating to ensure and enhance the connection between the Jewish people and Israel. What I was not imagining was that this important and amazing dialog that involved field experiences would require me to refresh my memory and skills on how fast, once I heard a siren blast, I could reach the nearest shelter! Operation Protective Edge, TZUK EITAN – צוק איתן, which translates as “Strong / Steadfast Pinnacle,” had begun during my visit. Although I left with a mixture of feelings of frustration, sadness, and desire to cry out enough!, I also felt a “strong pinnacle” of hope and acknowledgment. Throughout history, our people have always remained united. Whether in exile or war, we stay together. Our solution is the ongoing teaching of our heritage and tradition. For this, I still carry the hope that we, the educators — the Melamedim — and education are the keys to inspiring generations of Jewish youth with an enduring connection to Israel and the Jewish people. As a school, we are fortunate to have great educators who bring their heart and minds into ensuring that our future generations receive an excellent education based on values aimed at securing a thriving Jewish future. Such education will also assist in equipping young Jews with the information and motivation necessary to respond to the challenges posed by those who seek to delegitimize Israel. “Day schools have the potential to make a deep impact on Israel engagement and Jewish identity in the next generation of leaders,” said one of my iCenter for Israel Education colleagues and the Head of School of a Jewish Community Day School. I, and my DKJA fellow faculty members and administers, could not agree more! In fact, many faculty members currently are in Israel and plan to stay for the duration of their intended trips. Our hopes and prayers are with them. So how can we help show our continued support? One idea is for us to be there in heart and soul for IDF soldiers through the Shmira Project. The Hebrew word shmirah (pronounced shmeerah) means guarding or protecting. In modern Hebrew, shmira also means guard duty. The Shmira Project is a person-to-person match that everyone can be a part of even if they are located hundreds of thousands of miles apart. It follows the ancient practice of pairing physical effort with spiritual effort. The families of soldiers enjoy the reassurance of spiritual support for their children. Participants enjoy knowing that they bring about unity and connectedness.There are absolutely no fees. Here is the link if you are interested in being a part of this endeavor: theshmiraproject/ By doing this, even far away, we can offer our support to those who are fighting to defend Israel. Shabbat Shalom
Posted on: Fri, 25 Jul 2014 17:38:50 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015