SKILLED
VOLUNTEERS FOR ISRAEL
This
morning, on the way to the Takhana Merkazit, תחנה מרכזית , the Central Bus Station,
two Israelis asked me for directions to the Rakevet Kalah רכבת קלה, the Light Rail that runs
through Jerusalem.
I
answered them in Hebrew. “Go to the
corner, turn right. It’s really
close.” They thanked me and proceeded to
their destination. I am not a stranger in a strange land.
I
came to Israel for one month to have a taste of Israeli life: work, play,
friendship, and new experiences. SKILLED
VOLUNTEERS FOR ISRAEL created the framework for this experience.
My
volunteer assignments include one week at the YMCA Day Camp. This unique English speaking day camp
includes Palestinian, Israeli, and kids from all over the world. It’s fairly typical in its daily schedule:
games, swimming, arts and crafts, drumming.
You get the picture. However,
most of the campers (aged 5-12 don’t speak English fluently. Special counselors speak Arabic, Hebrew, and
English. All campers have instant
translators for their language and their culture. I loved being with these adorable kids.
I
was the camp song leader. I taught them
YMCA, with appropriate camp lyrics:
YMCA
G
YOUNG
MAN, ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?
Em
(I
said) YOUNG GIRL, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE?
C
(I
said) YOUNG MAN, YOU CAN MAKE REAL YOUR DREAMS
D
D
BUT,
YOU’VE GOT TO KNOW THIS ONE THING! (2X)
(COUNT!)
1 2
3 4 5
6 7
G Em
(CHORUS) YMCA CAMP IS FUN AT THE YMCA
C
WE HAVE EVERYTHING FOR YOU TO ENJOY
D
PLAY ALL DAY WITH THE GIRLS AND THE BOYS! (2X)
I
asked them what they wanted to be when they grew up. Architect, spine surgeon, football player
(with a back up plan), teacher, principal, are a few of their dreams.
Last
night, Nina (my hostess) and I had dinner with the new Director of the YMCA,
Amos Gil. He and Nina are close
friends. He’s been in this position for
just over two month. I asked him what he
hoped to achieve at the ‘Y’. First, he
reflected on the ‘Y’s unique history.
Since it’s inception, its goal was to serve three faiths. Cross-cultural concerts were presented in
their fabulous theatre. Amos wants to
reinvigorate the ‘Y’ as a multi-cultural center in Jerusalem. He hopes to bring speakers from all faiths
and create opportunities for dialogue, not with the ‘enemy’ but with ‘partners’. He wants to change the language from
opposition to collaboration. He is just
the man for the job.
MELABEV
is my second volunteer position. MELABEV
is a Memory Center for individuals with Altzheimers. This is a unique social setting for people who
gradually become more isolated as the disease progresses. I’m bringing them music.
I
sing with three different groups: high,
middle, and low. My repertoire includes
songs from the American Songbook, American folk songs, Hebrew/Israeli, Yiddish,
and Ladino favorites. (They’re my
favorites, actually!)
I’m
using similar repertoire for all three levels.
This past week, I wanted to tell HISTORY OF JEWISH MUSIC. I shared this program with Marsha, the
Director. She suggested some minor
changes. I started with This Land Is
Your Land. I said that G-d promised to
bring Abraham to a new land. Eretz Zavat
Khalav was next. This land would flow
with milk and honey.
Music
remains alive when current memory fails. For people who are no longer able to
speak, sometimes they can sing.
My
third volunteer opportunity is at East Talpiot Retirees Club, a (Hebrew speaking) Community . Many of them are my
age. I asked Gittit, their Director, if
they had a tof (Israeli drum). She said
no, but showed me where their rhythm instruments resided. I sing primarily in Hebrew. This past week was really special. When I sang one song, a woman started to sing
another song, I didn’t know. She
continued to sing and I accompanied her on guitar. Then two other women began to sing another
song. This is the kind of engagement I
love. I taught them a few new
songs. There was dancing, and rhythm and
laughter. It was wonderful.
I’m
not permitted to photograph the participants in these programs. These photographs were taken by Marla
Gamoran, Executive Director of SKILLED VOLUNTEERS FOR ISRAEL. You will be paired with a project (English
speaking) that matches your skills. Most volunteer opportunities are for one
month or longer. These are some of the
volunteer opportunities.
Opportunities by Project Type
Opportunities by Project Type
- Animals
- Architecture/Design
- Archives and Cataloguing
- Art & Drama
- Business Analytics
- Business Consultancy
- Caregiving
- Data Analysis
- Disability Issues
- Donor Relations & Communications
- Early Childhood Education
- Editing
- Education
- Elderly Outreach & Support
- English Tutoring
- Gardening
- Grant Writing
- Graphic Design
- Hands-On
- Health
- Higher Education
- Instructional Design
- Israel Advocacy
- Journalism
- Law and Legal Research
- LGBTI Issues
- Library
- Light Maintenance & Building Management
- Marketing
- Medical - Related
- Organizational Support & Development
- Photography & Videography
- Preschool
- Public Health Education
- Public Relations
- Refugees and Asylum Seekers
- Rehabilitation
- Research
- Resource Development
- Social Media
- Special Education
- Translation
- Website Development, Writing and Translation
I
wanted to taste Israel outside of restaurants.
I am meeting people who care for their communities and their
neighbors. I’m riding buses with
them. I’m singing with them and creating
meaningful programs.
It’s
a dream come true. Could it be yours?
Peace
and love from Jerusalem,
Hasha
No comments:
Post a Comment