A new way of seeing Israel
“What an amazing place! Everyone is Jewish! Even the taxi drivers are Jewish! Even young children speak Hebrew!”
While clearly not all of the taxi drivers are Jewish, one of the most overwhelming experiences for a Diaspora Jew visiting Israel is the sense of being in a Jewish majority in Jewish space and in the total Jewish environment which is Israel. And yes, children of all ages do speak Hebrew!
While it is somewhat inconvenient for some tourists that shops are closed on Shabbat or holidays, this too is a powerful statement to the Diaspora Jew. Here there is Jewish time as well as Jewish space. Sure, many Israelis are on the beach on Shabbat and holidays. Sure, other Israelis are hiking in nature or traveling on these days! Sure, many Israelis are observing and celebrating the Shabbat and holidays by praying in Synagogues or celebrating at home. But the overall statement is that this is Jewish space and time. “Even our hotel is Kosher and observes the rules of Shabbat! Wow, this is clearly Jewish space and time.” “Did you notice the number of people of all ages kissing Mezuzot?” “Did you notice that this gas station gives out free Chalot if you fill you car on Friday?”
‘The calendar is Jewish.” Time is measured not only by the weekly Shabbat but by the High Holidays and Succot, and Chanukah, and Purim and Pesach and more and more.
The Israel experience for most Diaspora Jews is not about another tour somewhere in the world or another holiday. The Israel experience is about exploring and discovering personal identity. When we hear the oft repeated words, “this was a transformative experience for me” the words refer to the power of the Jewish environment and sense of enfranchisement that Israel provides even the most casual visitor.
Strangely enough, the Diaspora Jew often sees the “Jewishness” of Israel more clearly than the average Israeli. To the average “secular” Israeli it is only natural to live in Jewish time and space. There is nothing unique about this. “Well of course I speak Hebrew with my kids. What language would you have me speak? Of course my life cycle is governed by the Jewish calendar and holidays. This is my culture! Of course my child will marry a Jewish partner! Who else do you expect him/her to marry?” What is natural and so taken for granted by the average Israeli is so obviously Jewish and unique to many Diaspora Jews visiting Israel.
For the Diaspora Jew the Israel experience is about his/her Jewish identity. Israel serves as the environment or if you will, the laboratory, in which the Diaspora Jew explores personal Jewish identity and or growth. The Israel experience is less about Israel per se and more about feeling more strongly identified as a Jew.
Some have said that if you were to simply “drop” a Jewish tourist in Israel for two weeks or so without any tour program, itinerary
http://www.israelcelebrationtours.com/
or plan, the overwhelming message of Israel and of Jewish identity would make its natural impact.
Though there may be some truth in the above statement, there would also be, without a doubt, a major “missed opportunity.” In such a charged environment; at a moment of such high potential impact and motivation; at a moment so open for a life changing experience; at a moment of potential identity transformation, we must be ready to engage the moment and to engage the visitor by focusing on and entering into the a dialogue of heightened sensitivity related to Jewish identity. Potential moments like this are rare and unique and must be transformed into educational opportunities.
Israel Celebration understands that we must “maximalize” the Israel experience for the Diaspora Jew through a careful selection of Israel venues and the concomitant Jewish value concepts that are embedded within these sites thus allowing for this experience to have its maximum impact.
To achieve this, we at Israel Celebration Tours understand that our tour guide must be first and foremost committed to Israel and to the Jewish people and its culture; secondly s/he must be committed to his/her tourists and their process of Jewish identity formation; s/he should see the site as the means to this end and not to relate to the site as the end in itself. Finally the tour guide must understand that he/she is first and foremost a “shaliach” of the Jewish people performing a “holy” educational task.
In order to achieve our goals, ICT understands that an Israel program must have a underlying curriculum (plan) that allows for the cogent telling of our story; for the presentation of the Jewish values that emerge from the story and for constructing a program that flows from site to site; from hour to hour and which leads to engagement as well as identity with the Jewish people.
Israel Celebration Tours invites you to share our story. פורים שמח
Strangely enough, the Diaspora Jew often sees the “Jewishness” of Israel more clearly than the average Israeli. To the average “secular” Israeli it is only natural to live in Jewish time and space. There is nothing unique about this. “Well of course I speak Hebrew with my kids. What language would you have me speak? Of course my life cycle is governed by the Jewish calendar and holidays. This is my culture! Of course my child will marry a Jewish partner! Who else do you expect him/her to marry?” What is natural and so taken for granted by the average Israeli is so obviously Jewish and unique to many Diaspora Jews visiting Israel.
For the Diaspora Jew the Israel experience is about his/her Jewish identity. Israel serves as the environment or if you will, the laboratory, in which the Diaspora Jew explores personal Jewish identity and or growth. The Israel experience is less about Israel per se and more about feeling more strongly identified as a Jew.
Some have said that if you were to simply “drop” a Jewish tourist in Israel for two weeks or so without any tour program, itinerary
http://www.israelcelebrationtours.com/
or plan, the overwhelming message of Israel and of Jewish identity would make its natural impact.
Though there may be some truth in the above statement, there would also be, without a doubt, a major “missed opportunity.” In such a charged environment; at a moment of such high potential impact and motivation; at a moment so open for a life changing experience; at a moment of potential identity transformation, we must be ready to engage the moment and to engage the visitor by focusing on and entering into the a dialogue of heightened sensitivity related to Jewish identity. Potential moments like this are rare and unique and must be transformed into educational opportunities.
Israel Celebration understands that we must “maximalize” the Israel experience for the Diaspora Jew through a careful selection of Israel venues and the concomitant Jewish value concepts that are embedded within these sites thus allowing for this experience to have its maximum impact.
To achieve this, we at Israel Celebration Tours understand that our tour guide must be first and foremost committed to Israel and to the Jewish people and its culture; secondly s/he must be committed to his/her tourists and their process of Jewish identity formation; s/he should see the site as the means to this end and not to relate to the site as the end in itself. Finally the tour guide must understand that he/she is first and foremost a “shaliach” of the Jewish people performing a “holy” educational task.
In order to achieve our goals, ICT understands that an Israel program must have a underlying curriculum (plan) that allows for the cogent telling of our story; for the presentation of the Jewish values that emerge from the story and for constructing a program that flows from site to site; from hour to hour and which leads to engagement as well as identity with the Jewish people.
Israel Celebration Tours invites you to share our story. פורים שמח
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