Mercaz Mediyah:  Tel Aviv  /  מרכז מדיה:  תל אביב

How long was your trip?

Investigate: Load Google Earth to find out. Use the pushpins and rulers to see how many kilometers you traveled. How does it compare to our Walk with Israel (8 km)? How long would it take to walk from your house to Tel Aviv?

Tel Aviv is famous for its hotels, beach and night life. Check out the views from where you're staying: a rooftop pool, gorgeous beach and awesome promenade, and all within walking distance of Dizengoff Square! Use your mouse to click on the images so you can look all around.

There's a terrific university in Tel Aviv called Tel Aviv University.  Attached to this university you'll find Beth Ha-Tefutsot, the Museum of the Diaspora. If you want to find out how Jews got to be spread around the world, there's no better place than Beth Ha-Tefutsot to start your search.

Activity #1:  Finding the Roots to my Mishpachah!

1)  Download the "Roots to my Mishpachah" attachments below.  These are little family trees that you can fill in on your own.  If you have the right software, you can even do it on your computer!  Ask your parents and grandparents for help.  Important:  make sure to include the correct spellings of all last names!  Also important:  if your ancestors changed their last names when they came to Canada, write down their original last names.  Can you track your family's journey from its origins to where you are today?  Google Earth might help!

2)  With your parents or your teacher, visit the Beit Ha-Tefutsot website and fill in a search order for your Jewish family names. You can search for the meanings for up to four Jewish family names.  See if you can find out what your Jewish family names mean.

3)  Within a week, you'll get an email back from Beit Ha-Tefutsot.  They'll tell you which of your Jewish family names they were able to find meanings for.  Once you have that, complete this special activity page about what you found.  Your teacher or your parents will help you.

Activity #2:  Showing the Roots to my Mishpachah!

Using the information from your special activity page, choose one of these three options...

1)  Design a family coat of arms. Your shield should be divided into at least four sections: three (or more) for images that relate to your family history and one for images that relate to you.  You can print off one of the blank coat of arms pages below or design your own (your teacher can help you resize it for the printer if needed).

2)  Be a news reporter!  Choose a partner and write a script where you interview each other.  You may need to be creative by adding extra details to your family search order.  Use the internet for help if you need to.  Be prepared to present your interviews during our school kiddush.

3)  Imagine being one of your own ancestors.  What was life like for you?  What makes you happy?  What makes you sad?  Use your imagination to create a journal or a diary entry.  You may need to use the internet for help.

Deep Thoughts (to be answered during the activity you chose): 

1.  Because of my visit to Tel Aviv, something new I know about my family is...

2.  Israel helps Jews around the world to come together by...