Goals of the program:

·      To develop a relationship between Jewish education in Israel and in the Diaspora

·      To develop a love for Israel

·      To reinforce and develop the relationship between our students, the people of Israel and our common heritage

·      To provide students and teachers on both sides the opportunity to learn about our two regions (the Galilee Panhandle and British Columbia)

·      To extend pupil knowledge of dilemmas and challenges due to current events in Israel and in the Diaspora

·      To share/promote mutual enrichment in learning experiences

·      To generate interest in Jewish life on both sides of the continent

·      To make new friends and personal acquaintances

Outcomes:

·      Classes have shared mutually agreed upon projects throughout the year based on holidays and other curricular content

·      Teachers have called each other via telephone or communicated via the Internet

·      Plans have been developed for special projects

·      Several of our families have visited the school when visiting Israel

·      Representative teachers have visited in teams of 2-3 spending a minimum of one week teaching in the school and also visiting the local area

·      Video conferences have taken place between classes which have been very exciting for all involved allowing the opportunity to meet each other and strengthening our bond

·      A number of individual pen-pals have developed

·      Students are excited to receive mail, postcards and projects from their partner class

When teachers visit each other it feels as if we are “going  home” to our own family. We are so warmly welcomed by everybody at Alei Givah School and into teachers’ homes. We have made many new personal lifelong friends.