The Charlotte
Vol. 33, No. 9
Tishrei-Cheshvan 5772
October 2011
An Affiliate of the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte
Partnership 2000 Hadera-Charlotte Teen Leadership Exchanse
Building Bridges, Changing Lives
The Partnership 2000 Hadera-
Charlotte Teen Leadership
Exchange is a four week program
in both Charlotte and Israel with
both Americans and Israelis.
Together they explore cultures,
enhance Jewish identity, partici
pate in social action, and change
lives. Below are five personal
accounts from this summers teen
exchange. For more information
and to participate in next sum
mers program, please contact the
Jewish Federation at info@jew-
ishcharlotte.org.
Ever since my older brother,
Ethan, came back from his trip to
Israel, I was dying to go to the
Holy Land. My mom found out
about this trip and told me about
it. I thought, “To see Israel
through the eyes of some that live
there is a once in a lifetime oppor
tunity being handed to me.” And
boy was I right about that because
while I was there, I felt at home.
Never before have I seen so many
Jewish people and Judaism is the
norm, whereas in America, it is
looked at as a unique way of life. I
met the most amazing, group of
Israelis there and was lucky
enough to see them not only in
Israel, but in Charlotte as well.
This trip opened the world for me
and how I look at things, especial
ly the way the world views Israel.
I highly recommend this trip to
Jewish teens anywhere.
-Jeremy Samarel
There aren’t enough words to
describe this summer when I went
to Israel with five Jewish kids and*
came back with 50 new family
members and a new desire to go
back as soon as possible. My first
memory of Israel was something I
will never forget. Our American
group stopped in front of a school
that had a lot of people waiting
outside. With only a couple hours
of sleep in the past 24 hours, see
ing all these people really didn’t
faze me; that is until I got off the
bus and a roar of cheering in
Hebrew came from this group of
30-40 Israeli teens. At this
moment, it finally hit me, we are
in the Promised Land. On our first
full day in Israel we all went to
Jerusalem. This would turn out to
be one of the best parts of this trip.
No matter what religion you are,
you will recognize a picture of the
Jerusalem skyline; today was the
day that I would get to see it in
person. Our tour guide took us to
an overlook and had the
Americans cover their eyes, when
I opened my eyes I thought that
they were holding a picture in
front of my face. It was the most
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beautiful thing I have ever seen
and probably ever will. That night
at the Rabin guest house, we all
shared different songs on guitar,
games, celebrity crushes, jokes,
and of course, food. I had an
amazing time touring Israel, and
North Carolina, but I will never
forget bonding with my soul
brothers, Robi Davidi, Gal
Karblikov, and Max Malter that
night at the Rabin Guest house.
-Caleb Seidler
Unforgettable. That is the first
word that comes to mind when I
think about the Partnership 2000
experience that I participated in
this summer. I wouldn’t trade it for
the world. From climbing Masada
at sunrise, to naming camels we
rode at the Bedouin camp, I expe
rienced so many new feelings and
learned more about myself than I
thought possible. Aside from visit
ing amazing historical landmarks
and inspirational sights, what
made the trip for me were the
friends I met. Spending two weeks
in the Holy Land with 30 incredi
ble people led to the forging of
incredible friendships and memo
ries that I know I’ll treasure for
years and years to come. I fell in
love with Israel, and its people. I
value my Judaism more than ever
now, and know that no matter
where I go, the Jewish people
there will make me feel like it’s
home. I look at the photps of the
trip and re-live what my friends
and I have come to call the “glory
days.” I crave Israeli food, music,
and culture. It’s an experience that
I take with me wherever I go, and
one that I think about almost too
often. It comes up in conversa
tions, no matter whom 1 am talk
ing to. It is an experience that will
make you open your eyes and your
mind ... and above all, your heart.
- Debbie Rabinovich
There is nothing like waking up
at 4 AM to watch the sun rise over
Masada and, there are no words I
can use to explain the friendships I
made on this trip. I originally
Joined the Tikkun 01am Israel trip
in order to see the country and
experience the history of Israel.
Tsfat was breath taking and Haifa
wowed me with the Baha’i
Gardens. Israel proved to be more
than just a tourist site. The first
time I met my host family I was
nervous and jet-lagged. As I spent
my first night in Anat’s (my
host’s) older sister’s room I just
couldn’t believe where I was
sleeping. Throughout the whole
trip one thing really stuck out to
me. The food is amazing. Almost
everything is grown fresh in Israel
and so everything tastes better. I
tried it all. I also got to experience
Hebrew which, in my opinion, is
the most beautiful language in the
world. I learned a lot. Now that
I’m back in America, I still catch
myself responding to my teachers
questions with ken and lo. Last,
but not at all least, I made best
friends on this trip that I will never
forget. When the Israelis came to
Charlotte I was thrilled to find out
that I was hosting Rivi. We found,
through getting to know each
other that even though we live on
two different ends of the earth, we
are very much the same.
-Carly Ruda
After spending an entire month
with a group of Israelis and
Americans, 1 can honestly say thal
good friends are hard lo find,
harder to leave, and impossible to
forget. When I was packing my
bags, getting ready to come home
to the states, I remember thinking
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