UJIA Israel Experience begins summer training

Jerusalem, Israel

The UJIA Israel Experience department is once again in full swing as they prepare for another successful summer of Israel tours.

Last week saw over 140 Youth Movement leaders come together in Israel for a week long training seminar led by skilled UJIA Israel Experience staff.

UJIA Israel Experience Director, Richard Goldstein explains, "The aim of the seminar is to prepare the madrichim (leaders) for the enormous but rewarding task of leading Israel Tour. The seminar covers all logistical, educational, practical and personal aspects of running Israel Tour. We bring in the Israeli madrichim (leaders) who join the British madrichim (leaders) so they can spend quality time together planning their programmes."

The seminar begins with a weekend where each individual tsevet (tour staff team made up of 2 British madrichim and 2 Israel madrichim) spend Shabbat together in different hotels to get to know each other on their own terms. What they discuss and what they do is all a tsevet decision. Richard continues. "Whilst this prospect is somewhat nerve-wracking for the madrichim it was an enormous success. It speeds up the process of them becoming familiar with each other and facilitates effective team work more rapidly."

As with all UJIA work there is a strong educational emphasis. Each morning the madrichim take part in educational sessions focusing on different aspects of Israel such as literature, music and social action. "On a more practical level we take the madrichim out on a tour simulation activity and allow them to practice their role as madrichim and address some of the unique challenges that presents," explains Richard.

The seminar also deals with the social and welfare side of leading Israel Tour. This type of training covers areas such as bullying, discipline, sexual behavior and gender. The aims of the social and welfare training sessions are twofold; firstly to give the madrichim information and strategies when dealing with specific issues. Secondly there is an opportunity in each of the sessions for each tsevet to discuss the issue and plan their individual approaches to it.

This seminar is a true cross communal event with all movements from right across the religious spectrum.