One thousand South Africans in Promised Land as programmes resume

A year ago, it was unthinkable that Jewish youth would be able to travel to Israel freely to enjoy the myriad summer programmes that are usually available. Exactly 12 months ago, South Africans were dying in numbers of COVID-19, and not one vaccine had been injected into our arms. So it’s both miraculous and meaningful that hundreds of South African Jews – mostly youth – are in Israel, having the time of their lives.

“It’s incredibly heartwarming,” says Israel Centre Director Liat Amar Arran. “We will really feel the gap of the past two years, but it’s wonderful that about 1 000 people are in Israel on programmes from South Africa right now,” she says. “This includes two Diller Teen Fellows programmes – with 20 kids from Johannesburg and 20 kids from Cape Town; 330 teens on Hadracha Bnei Akiva; 350 delegates at the Maccabi Games; 200 students on the Ohrsom tour; 40 teachers on a trip for Herzlia educators; and 23 youth on Habonim’s Shorashim trip.”

In addition, “Sixty people are making aliyah this week, and we expect the same numbers in August. Many people want to get to Israel before the start of the school year and the chaggim.” And the South African Jewish community will also be feeling the love from Israel, with a number of delegations visiting us in August.

Amar Arran says it’s vital that Jewish youth don’t miss out on these experiences, but unfortunately, that was the case for many teens over the past two years. Still, it’s not too late for them, and she encourages parents to contact the Israel Centre to find out about the many subsidised trips that they can take.

“I sent my boys to Israel for the summer and told them they’ll probably know half the community on the plane!” quips Amar Arran. “To be able to travel so freely is a real blessing. It feels like everyone is in Israel!”

Some Jewish community leaders are still pinching themselves that this is actually happening. “For a long time, in the back of my mind, I didn’t think it would happen,” says Brynn Goldblatt, who heads Habonim Dror’s Shorashim tour for Grade 10 pupils. “We’re out here, mask free, and COVID-19 has largely been forgotten. It’s been really refreshing. We’re making the most of it, because who knows what’s around the corner?

“When you go to places like Tel Aviv in particular, it’s filled with young people. When you experience Israel when you’re younger, you really fall in love with the country,” Goldblatt says. “It’s a country suited to young people, especially in the summertime. It’s an incredible place to be for Jewish youth.”

The Maccabi Games were supposed to take place last year, but were postponed because of the pandemic. Now, thousands of athletes from around the globe are descending on Israel in what feels like a modern-day miracle.

“Travelling to Israel as the head of delegation of the Maccabi 2022 team, especially after all the travel restrictions, has been amazing,” says Farrell Cohen. “The excitement and enthusiasm of all the junior athletes is contagious. Everyone is on such a ‘high’ not only to be representing South Africa at the games, but also to have this long-awaited freedom to travel.”

“It’s wonderful to be back with hundreds of young Jews on the Ohrsom tour after a three-year hiatus,” says Rabbi Jarred Bloch. “The energy is palpable, and it’s amazing to be teaching and travelling in Israel at a time when the whole Jewish world seems to be coming back. We feel tremendously blessed that in the years when COVID-19 stopped travel here, our gap year was still able to run, providing our students with an opportunity to grow and thrive, and in that sense, we’ve always been rooted in Israel.”

For the participants themselves, it’s been powerful and transformative. “Any South African high school student at a Jewish day school looks forward to Grade 10 – the year they head to Israel,” says Hannah Evan, who is on the Shorashim trip. “However, the pandemic caused organisations to cancel their Israel trips last year. I was so disappointed. However, this year, organisations allowed Grade 11s to join their trips. I’m fulfilling a dream.

“I chose Shorashim as I have been a part of the movement [Habonim Dror] for the past five years. I loved the itinerary, which includes religious sites such as the Old City, staying at kibbutzim and a Bedouin camp, as well as fun activities like snorkelling in the Red Sea. It’s an intimate group which allows us to build life-long friendships.

“Now that I’m in Israel, I understand all the hype,” she says. “There’s a reason our trip is called Shorashim [roots]. The closeness I feel to my religion and culture is unexplainable. There’s a sense of community bumping into another 17 year old from somewhere else in the world, visiting Israel for the same reason as me. All Jewish youth should visit Israel. It’s a transformative experience.”

Twenty year old Isabella Jackson is studying in Stellenbosch. “Living in a predominantly non-Jewish town and not coming from particularly religious backgrounds, a lot of us students started to feel a bit disconnected from our religion,” she says. “Not only did Ohrsom completely rehabilitate that, but it has offered us the trip of a lifetime. The pandemic inhibited what was supposed to be the best years of our lives. Having this opportunity to spend two weeks in Israel with more than 150 university students has been life changing. Ohrsom Student has given us the most beautiful, spiritually enhancing, and unforgettable trip with the most amazing staff to guide us.”

Kara Gordon is a madricha on Bnei Akiva’s Hadracha programme. “We know the pandemic has taken a huge toll on the youth. Many felt disconnected, including myself. However, being in Israel on a Bnei Akiva programme after two years of nothing has been truly extraordinary,” she says.

“These types of programmes, specifically Hadracha, are crucial to educate our youth, to build a love for community and our land, and most importantly, to let them be kids,” she says. “Most haven’t had the opportunity to travel with their friends, keep Shabbos, or to even be in Israel at all. To see them fall in love with the land and their Jewish heritage gives us the strength to continue structuring these programmes and empowering Jewish youth.

“The end of the pandemic brings a new era for Jewish youth programmes,” she says. “There’s a different, powerful atmosphere post-pandemic. Our participants want to be here, see all they can, and feel all they can.”

For Samuel Bonner, also on Shorashim, “It was devastating that camp didn’t happen [for the past two years because of the pandemic], so when the opportunity presented itself for an Israel trip that fulfils the craving for a break, I jumped at it. People say that when you go with any Jewish youth programme to Israel, it’s unforgettable, and I couldn’t agree more. Five days into the trip, I’m already a different person.

“Religiously observant or not, going to Israel is a necessity for Jewish youth,” he says. “Coming here, to a land of so much historical significance is something else. Habonim is a massive part of my life, and I’m immensely grateful to experience Israel with my best friends and youth movement. I know many Jewish youth feel the same.”