Since they’ve let Gilad free, he said in his interview that Hamas treated him “OK”. I wonder if he was just saying so out of fear because at the time of the interview, he was still being held. But if they did treat him “OK,” then Insh’Allah (pardon me – it just comes natural) your other soldiers are still [alive] and being treated at least “OK” and you will see them again soon someday.

Ayelet Hashachar’s ‘Chavrutah’ program engages 16,000 Israelis in weekly study/discussion sessions by phone. As an organization that dedicates itself to bridging between Israelis in Israel with incredible success, we would like to know if you would have contact or lists of Israeli ‘yordim’ whom we can interest in our “Chavrutah World” Program (see draft proposal ideas)

http://ah.ksr.org.il/news/38-f.....-time.html

AYELET HASHACHAR
“CHAVRUTAH WORLD CITY PROJECT” FOR ISRAELIS LIVING ABROAD

BACKGROUND

Israel – A Divided Nation.
According to statistics, Israel is facing one of it’s biggest crises. It is not the threat from without, but the threat from within. Polarismization has had the effect of creating two Israeli societies, the secular and Ultra Orthodox.

Chavrutah Israel is a unparalleled unique program run by the Ayelet Hashachar Organization who’s aim is to foster friendship and understanding among Israelis of differing cultural backgrounds in a grassroots effort to engender peace and good will.

At present 16,000 individuals (8,000 partners) participate in the weekly phone conversations, sponsored and arranged by the staff in our Jerusalem-based offices. In the space of six years, the program which started as a good idea, has now blossomed into the country-wide success familiar to so many. We expect to expand the Israeli Chavrutah program to 20,000 participants by September 2011.

Established in the Spring of 2005, the overall Director, Riki / Shlomo Raanan, has many years of on-site experience with running and maintaing such programs.

The Israeli Chavrutah Men and Women’s Offices employ 40 staff members, trained to match viable partners according to age, background and educational level.

The Chavrutah Team comprises fully trained men and women who initiate and maintain the matching of study pairs, provide backup information where necessary, maintain contact with each participants including regular assessments and success of their chosen program..

Bridging. It is our experience, that one of the most effective methods of finding common ground is to allow and enourage each pair to alot a portion of their time, usually an hour a week by phone, to self chosen discussion topics. . Subjects might include poetry, literature, history, music, medical ethics, sports or Jewish texts. Material and phone expenses are covered by the organization. Group meetings bring these pairs together intermitantly for face- to-face gatherings. Similarly, tours and social events encourage a sense of the wider community.

Each ‘Chavrutah’ undergoes careful assessment and initial matching, with folloup involving in- depth review with each participant, assessing the relationship and its success at the hands of trained staff who provide guidance and support to each participant. The Chavrutah Team is always available as a sounding board and encouraging support system.

Aims : Chavrutah phone session’s main aim is to bring opposing sides of Israeli society together in an amiable positive atmosphere, leading, in many cases to strong bonds and extended family friendships. This combines the Ayelet Hashachar motto of ‘Bridging, Education and Jewish Identity’.

CHAVRUTAH WORLD CITY PROJECT

Based on our current experience with the highly successful Israeli model, it is our wish to expand this program worldwide, aiming at Israelis living abroad.

Major World Cities – According to our statistics, close to 250,000 Israelis live in Los Angeles alone. In many cases, these individuals have no connection to the general Jewish populace in the way that most American born Jews do. In many cases, Israeli youth and children in particular, eventually loose all connection with their language and culture while never making strong connections to the American community.

Creating an American-Israeli culture – Lacking any connection to the local Jewish organizations, Israelis often feel ostrasized. They struggle with a new culture and language, often poorly assisted by local fellow Israelis, but never quite adapting to their new surroundings. Later, when they wish to return to Israel, as many often do after a number of years, they see they have broken ties and lost connection. This is especially true for their children who may have even been born in the States.

Chavrutah World and Pen Pal Chavrutah World, will provide a network whereby adults and adults and children alike will be able to bond with Israelis in a pleasant and positive way, leaving the door open for their return to their country of birth or, at the least, boosting their confidence through strong and familiar ties with their country of origin.

Reasoning behind Chavrutah World Project. The decision to expand the project to include Israelis living abroad is in response to the vast number of enquires received annually by our offices to include Hebrew speakers from all over the world in our highly successful technique.

PEN PAL Hebrew Speakers Internet Project
Chavrutah equivalent project for Israeli children living abroad to connect them with youngsters their own age living in Israel.
Aim : To give them a strong human connection to their home country
To help them adjust healthily, while maintaining their language and culture
To maintain their Jewish and Israeli identity
To give them the opportunity to learn about their native background

your assistance would be very much appreciated as this promises to be a fantastic project,
many thanks

The link does not work. Can you provide more details on this poll please, preferably a link to the primary source material/results.

Thanks

One problem is that under the current political system an American push to end aid would be political suicide. Assuming the current system will be around for a while, the initiative needs to come from Israel.

My motivation in this is that I want to see an end to American foreign aid, along with an end to American domestic aid as well. One of the biggest burdens America foists on the rest of the world, and itself is the current international transfer state, a state in which the productive are forced to subsidize others for political reasons.