NESTO - Native English Speakin Teen Olim
Junior NESTO • What's up in Bet Shemesh?
B”H Junior NESTO is currently learning Pirkei Avot I:VII. In this Mishna,
Chazal warn us to avoid an evil neighbor. First, we discussed how we can
internalize this lesson. Later, we focused on how to implement this lesson
in our day-to-day lives.
Senior NESTO • Senior NESTO had a theater activity. The more props they
used in their plays and the more creative the scene was acted out - the
more points the team received from our gracious panel of judges. The
winning team was 'G & G' who, although made a fool out of themselves (and
we have the pictures to prove it), were amazing!
Chave has left us for a few months. We just wanted to say how much we will
miss you! Also, we can't wait for the first NESTO baby to arrive! B’sha’a
Tova.
That's all from us for now Shabbat Shalom
The Israel Center's youth program for Anglo-Israelis • tel. 566-7787 ext.
250 • fax: 561-7432 •
chaveabrahams@hotmail.com • Chaim Pelzner, Director, Chave Herschberg,
Coordinator, Mimi Edel, Bat Sherut, NESTO is partially funded by the
Jewish Agency for Israel
Israel Center Notes: -
Re: The Israel Center and Torah Tidbits
NOTICE: The OU Israel Center and Torah Tidbits do not necessarily endorse
the political or halachic opinions of its advertisers, nor do we guarantee
the quality of their service. Nor do we endorse any party or candidate.
The Israel Center's Beth Din to adjudicate and arbitrate monetary
disputes, according to Jewish law There is a registration fee of 200nis
per case No other charges for this service Please call 566-7787 ext. 204
for further information We have forms for two types of cases: Those where
both parties agree to submit their dispute to the Beth Din, and those
where a complainant wants the Beth Din to summon the second party. Yitzhak
Fund, Esq. • Rabbi Emanuel Quint Chairpersons , Ita Rochel, Administrator
Kashrut Questions
If you find a discrepancy between the Hebrew labeling and the original
packaging... or if you have any other OU kashrut questions, call this
toll-free number (from Israel to NY) 1-800-949-0123 From 4:00pm -
midnight, you get a human; other times, leave a voice- message OU Kashrut
in Israel office at the Center: 5667787
Israel Center Cafe
After nourishing the soul, come nourish the body serving coffee,
sandwiches, toasts, pizza, french fries, salads, eggs, stuffed potatoes,
lasagna, soups... and more Located on the lower level of the Israel Center
Hours: Sun.-Thu. - 10:00am - 3:00pm Ask about our catering services on or
off the Center premises
Thirsty? We now have a hot drinks machine with coffee, tea, & hot
chocolate located on the ground floor, and a cold drinks (cans) machine on
the first floor near the library.
The Arnold Abroms Memorial Lending Library: Hours - SUN., MON & WED: 10-5,
TUES: - 10-4; THURS: 1-3,MON & WED eve.: 5-8pm
The Israel Center is looking for Sherut Leumi Girlsfor the year 2003/4to
assist with its youth programs. Interested? Contact: Koranit: 055-952-930
or Chaim: 056-564-254, Fax: 02-566-0156 •
koranit_lanksner@hotmail.com
Want to Do a Mitzva?
Contribute (old) dishes, and more to the Israel Center’s Beit KharkovKeep-a-Kosher-Kitchen
Campaignfor Russian Olim.
Many of us come across dishes that will have to be thrown
out or made into planters. Therefore, we’d be very happy to receive any
donated dishes, pots, and old wedding gifts that aren’t in use and are
just taking up extra storage space, because the new Olim have no means to
buy new items.
Thank you, Donations can be made to the Israel Center (att. Ahuva)22 Keren
Hayesod, Jerusalem(tel. 566-7787 ext. 242)
Our “American cousins” came for a visit...
It is not often in OU circles that we say that history is made. However,
when a group of NCSY Regional Directors, on their recent visit to Israel,
visited the OU Israel Center's Makom Balev youth program in Ramle, a new
page was turned in the annals of NCSY.
"Absolutely awesome," noted Glenn Black, Regional Director
of Canada. "Who would have believed it?" added Ari Solomont from New
England. For sitting in a large circle in a rather bland hut - the
headquarters of this Jewish enrichment youth program in Ramle - were some
40, mainly Ethiopian children, nervously giggling at their North American
cousins who presented these 5th and 6th graders with quaint Hollywood rag
dolls.
The Makom Balev project operates in 14 development areas
in Israel from Nahariya to Kiryat Gat. Children from grades 5-12 are given
a taste of the beauty of Judaism by advisors "with a big heart," notes
national project director of the Makom Balev youth clubs, Yisrael Goren.
So Yisrael described the program to the group of nine NCSY Directors who
came to see at first hand the problems of Jewish identity in the Jewish
state.
The children in the project are generally, but not
exclusively, from disadvantaged neighborhoods. After-school enrichment
programs and leisure activities are but "part of an educational package
that includes Shabbatonim, short camp experiences, tiyulim, and the like,"
Yisrael notes. Many of the other children in the project are graduates of
the Gesharim Bar/Bat Mitzva program now operating in 5 towns with schools
that range from "chiloni" (secular) to orthodox. In all, both projects
have 1500 participants - and are growing.
The Israel Center staff hosted the NCSY Directors for a
gala dinner before their departure westward. At that time various members
of the Center described the critical kiruv work being undertaken by the
various branches of the Israel Center. These included the "Zula" project
for street kids, the Beit Kharkov program for teenage Olim of the OU-Kharkov
community program in the Ukraine, the NESTO youth program for teenage
English-speakers, and the high-school student's enrichment project
(together with the Koby Mandell Foundation).
The regional directors had many questions to ask and were
interested in the many similarities among problems and methods used by
advisors both in Israel and North America, despite the cultural gaps
between the countries. All present at the meeting were happy to note that
a joint project was recently launched to twin NCSY chapters in North
America and Canada with Makom Balev and NESTO chapters in Israel.
The meeting was also an opportune moment for the staff of
the Israel Center to reflect on their own work and achievements in a
society which is currently in a large state of flux due to social,
cultural and security developments. Meanwhile, the work goes on…
