To Israel!

On Sunday Tina will serve as part of a delegation of shagrirot (ambassadors) with 9 educators from our community to Israel for a week of learning, touring and visiting our partners in Haifa. Our partners put together a rich and meaningful program that will benefit the participants, their communities and the greater early childhood community. Upon her return Tina will share her experiences with our TBSCC community. This trip is part of the Boston/Haifa Early Childhood Connection and Tina has been preparing with study, joint learning, and classroom application over the past year. All through the school day you can see evidence of how important our connection to Israel is for all of us. The songs we sing, the Hebrew we speak, the pictures and books we look at, the topics we explore, all give us opportunities to bring Israel to us…and us to Israel. The same things have been happening in the classrooms in Haifa. As we celebrate Hanukkah in Needham the children in Haifa are singing the same songs, and spinning and making dreidels just like us.


Follow along with Tina's itinerary:

Sunday, December 25, Flight to Israel

Monday, December 26, Mt. Scopus overlooking the Old City to say the Shehechiyanu, Descend to the Kotel, Hanukah Candle-lighting

Tuesday, December 27, This Year in Jerusalem Begin the day at the Haas Promenade with a spectacular view over Jerusalem. Discussion on what “Lech Lecha” means in a modern context and whether Abraham passed the test of the Akeda. We then descend to the City of David, where Biblical Jerusalem began. Discussion of Jewish Political Morality in light of the Story of David and Bathsheeba. Walk through the dry Canaanite Tunnel and explore the recent excavations. Visit the Jewish Quarter & Cardo. Then we’ll explore the Machaneh Yehuda fruit & vegetable market and eat some sufganiot (doughnuts). Walk through Nahlaot neighborhood to see Hanukkiot displayed in homes.

Wednesday December 28, What Price Freedom? Ascend Herod’s mountain fortress of Masada by cable car. Delve into issues of the Great Revolt. Explore why the Jewish rebels chose to live here after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. Descend by the cable car. Float in the Dead Sea. En route to Jerusalem, meet Ethiopian families who crossed the desert to Sudan to wait for months in refugee camps before being airlifted to Israel by the Mossad. Hannukah Candle-lighting with our Ethiopian hosts. Hands-on art program “Passover Haggadot” with Kol Ha’ot: Illuminating Jewish Learning Through Art.

Thursday, December 29, Jewish Space Workshop in the newly renovated Israel Museum. Set off for Tel Aviv. Reenact the moving moment when David Ben Gurion declared the establishment of the State of Israel at Independence Hall. Stroll through the Neve Tzedek neighborhood or the Namal (renovated port) area. Continue north along the Mediterranean Coast.

Friday, December 30, Visit partner early childhood schools in Haifa

Saturday, December 31, Shabbat with partner educators in Haifa

Sunday, January 1, School visits and secial program with Mirik Snir, Israeli children’s author, “literature as a second language.” At Hotel. Additional Haifa preschool educators are invited to join. Special program will include a talk, play, and materials exhibit

Monday, January 2, Yom Tiyul-Field trip with Israeli shagrirot to Ramat Ha-Nadiv near Zichron Yaakov. Special interactive workshop on the quality of the environment and promoting health. Walk through winery and main street in Zichron Yaakov.