Diaspora Relations: Strengthening Jewish Identity and Connection to Israel 

MRD was built to create meaningful Diaspora Jewish experiences in Israel for youth as well as adults. It includes a 66-bedroom guest house, classrooms, lecture halls, and a Kosher dining hall.  

The juncture between the ancient port city of Jaffa with over 3,000 years of history and the new, vibrant Tel Aviv, celebrating its centennial in 2009, creates a  microcosm that reveals the entire story of Israel from past to present to future. Jaffa, through MRD’s programs  and facilities (e.g., the guest house), is the ideal place to introduce visitors to Israel’s complex yet enriching mix of cultures, religions, and ethnicities.  

Curriculum Development for Diaspora Teens and Young adults

• To offer a broad-range of programs/experiences for youth/young adult groups to choose from, MRD is in need of funding to develop quality programs. After the curriculum for these programs is developed and tested, the programs will no longer require outside funding. .
• Tel Aviv-Jaffa will be used to examine the Zionist vision and its realization in 21st century Israel, as well as the pressing issues facing Israel today.  Participants will take an in-depth look into their own attitudes about modern day Israel and their own role in the evolving State as well as having the opportunity to meet with and get to know Israeli teens and other Israelis.
• Programs can range from ½ day to several days depending on interest/needs of groups.

Typical of the vibrant type of program that can be offered is “Explore Jaffa- an Insider´s View.”  This structured tour will examine the complexities of Jaffa; a mosaic of ethnic groups, a variety of religions, cultures and languages. During the tour, participants will look at the challenges of living together: Arabs and Jews, religious and secular, immigrants and native Israelis - can it work, does it work and will it work?  Participants will look at different positions discussing pluralism and tolerance in action. Other Topics and Activities to be offered include: , Tikkun Olam in the Community, Israeli Democracy- Challenges and Ideology, Co-Existence Efforts and Challenges, and Israeli Culture.

Tikun Olam -Tel Aviv Jaffa

·         Tikkun Olam in Tel Aviv-Jaffa offers English-speaking college graduates between the ages of 22-27, the opportunity to spend 5 or 10 months in Tel Aviv or Jaffa studying and volunteering in community service and coexistence projects alongside young, Israeli volunteers.

 

·         During their time in Israel, participants take part in a month-long Ulpan orientation period, choose either a community service or coexistence track, and take part in trips, tours and activities throughout their stay in Israel.

·         Tikkun Olam is a partnership between the Bina Center for Jewish Identity and Hebrew Culture, the Daniel Centers for Progressive Judaism, and the Union for Reform Judaism.

 

Congregation and visiting groups Experiences:

• MRD and BD can offer a variety of Friday evening/Shabbat programs to spiritually enrich a visiting congregation’s time in Israel.
• Program examples include: Kabbalat Shabbat- Israeli- Jaffa style with drama sessions of midrash that deal with the meaning of Shabbat, music and a "welcoming the Shabbat" ceremony; Shabbat Dinner in MRD’s soaring dining room; Chasidic Tisch, a joyous celebration of Shabbat through Hasidic songs and melodies, recounting of folk stories, Seudah Shlishit and Havdallah program  where participants can enjoy a third meal ( a light lunch) while appreciating the traditional ceremony that ends Shabbat and opens the new week.
• During the week, groups can also do a “Chevruta (partner)” Style Tour and study and learn Jewish sources and texts while walking the ancient streets of Jaffa. All the programs provided for young adults can also be offered to congregations.
• Once these programs are developed, they will be self sustaining.
   
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