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Brandeis: She (and Israel) Will Never Be the Same
by Joanna Schorr
By the time I was on my way back to JFK International airport, I had not found my faith and I had not yet planned my move to Israel. I did, however, gain a first-hand understanding of why Israel is such a moving place to so many people. On our first day a friendly voice said, "Welcome home." The voice belonged to Momo, the President of Oranim, the group I would be traveling with. Despite the greeting, I didn't know what Momo was talking about. He should surely know that America is my home, not Israel. Momo's initial words that first day had finally become meaningful to me. After experiencing the land, Israel was no longer the terrifying media magnet I read about in the newspaper - although my hotel bed was by no means luxurious, Momo got it right; I did feel at home, at last. (Justice)
Toronto Hillel Students Embark on a Tzedek Trip to Uganda and Israel
by Devora Schwartz
In partnership with American Jewish World Service (AJWS) and the Israel Program Centre (IPC) in Toronto, I travelled to Uganda and Israel with a group of 10 Toronto students for a four-week volunteer mission. Our experiences in Israel were equally unique to those in Uganda. We were volunteering in Kiryat Moshe, a predominantly Ethiopian community, just outside of Rochovot. This component of the trip was organized through the IPC in Toronto. Students were housed by residents of Rochovot, mainly of Yemenite descent. The community was warm and hospitable and curious about life in Canada. Our group worked on two projects in Kiryat Moshe. We refurbished a dilapidated building donated to the community by the municipality. It was to be used for events and meeting and volunteering at an after-school program for 11 to 13 year-old youths. (Hillel)
Arizona: From New Orleans to Holon
Identical twins from New Orleans have arrived in Israel to spend part of their summer volunteering in Holon and Bat Yam. Hallie and Marissa Allweiss are no strangers to volunteering. Born and raised in New Orleans, the girls were devastated by the effects of Hurricane Katrina. Although one of the luckier ones (only the bottom floor of their house was damaged - receiving 6/12 inches of water) they gave up their time to do what they could to help reconstruct the city they loved. Marissa even left the University of Arizona in order to help with redeveloping New Orleans. This is the 21-years-old twins' first visit to Israel and they have come with Young Judaea on its one-month summer program for students. Hallie explains why they came: "This is our homeland, we had never been here before and we wanted to come and make a difference. We wanted to volunteer and learn about the culture and environment." (Ynet News)