View Slide Show>>

Photo gallery | Video clips (courtesy of Yossi Links)
(courtesy of Yossi Links)

Juliana Stifelmann – 1st year University student

Israel was somewhere I had been hearing about my whole life, and I can't put into words how much it meant to actually be there this summer. Living in the middle of the action and experiencing not only the dancing but an indescribable connection with Israel and the other participants was an experience I will never forget. Having never been to Israel before this trip, I didn’t quite know what to expect. What I learnt during these two weeks isn’t something that one can learn from a book or school, and it definitely changed my outlook on many things. When I Israeli dance now, I’ll be remembering what it felt like to be there.

I can’t even say what part of the trip was my favorite, each having such unique qualities. Arriving in Qyriat Shmona to such a warm welcome and familiar faces was amazing, as well as combining both groups in what was an exhilarating show on July 28th. Karmiel was bursting with inspiration and song, and we danced all night long with people from all around the world. I bonded so much with Or Chadash as well as Hora Goel, and I’m proud to call many of the dancers my close friends, with whom I still keep in touch with. After Karmiel and a sad goodbye to our families, we were on our way to tour Israel for a few days. Dancing and being at the Kotel with the group on Shabbat made me so proud to be Jewish and I felt a great sense on belonging. The whole group is now a family; it is so much more than just a performing group, we all grew together and we have something to share that will last forever. I hope that this will be the first of many trips to come.

Gal Tabenkin – Grade 9 student

This summer I was fortunate enough to have the experience of going on an organized trip to Israel. Although I have been there before it wasn’t like anything I had ever done. I feel that on this trip I saw a whole other side of Israel.

When we were landing from the plane I felt a wave of excitement, not only would I now be in Israel once again but all of Or Chadash would finally see why it’s such a special place. When we arrived on the bus in Kiryat Shemona we were greeted as if long lost relatives were climbing down the steps, not us. We where swarmed by hugs whether you were familiar with the Israelis or not. There were so many new and old faces as I looked around. Whilst in Kiryat Shemona I was able to bond with the Israelis, and those bonds only grew stronger as we shared a living space in Festival Karmel, a four day long Israeli dance festival. By day we danced in shows and by night we walked around the festival, taking in the 24/7 Israeli dance courtyard and the many people we met, whether other dancers in the festival or spectators watching the shows. Wherever we went there was something spectacular and exciting going on, and it was upsetting to leave it behind as we boarded the bus that would take us back to Kiryat Shemona. But more upsetting was that in mere hours it would be time to say goodbye to our Israeli friends. No matter how sad it had been to part with them, we couldn’t help getting excited about the three days of touring coming up.

I thought the touring portion of the trip would be a repeat of my previous visits, but I was extremely wrong. We got the opportunity to do things I had never done, and see things I had never seen. We went camel riding, toured the old city, visited Massada and the Dead Sea Spa. But most memorable was our time at the Kotel. What made it even more special than before was that we were there on Shabbat. Another amazing thing was to see how the other girls reacted to the Wailing Wall. I had personally grown up with The Wall but for them it was something they had only read about in books. I watched as they entered slips of paper containing there deepest wishes into the old walls many crevices, and as they kissed the cold stone. Most were crying, and I couldn’t help but feel my heart swell with pride and happiness that I was part of this nation to which this Wall belonged to. With teary eyes we held hands and brought in the Shabbat swaying and singing. And then we did something truly remarkable, we danced. We danced one of the Israeli dances Brenley had taught us, Sisu et Yerushalim, celebrate Israel. As we danced and sang all around us people clapped and cheered.

I would like to thank you greatly for giving me the opportunity to experience all of the events and feelings I described to you in this summer of this remarkable trip. And I hope that Hora Goel will continue to visit us and we Or Chadash continue to visit them and Israel.

Rebecca Margolick – Grade 11 student

I don’t even know where to begin my blurb of my fantastic trip to Israel. I’m not going to lie, I was a little nervous at first. I had recently joined the group alongside Sarah and learnt the dances in a short amount of time. As to why I was nervous, I have no clue. The night before I left I knew there was nothing to be nervous about, I could not have met a more welcoming group of people.
There was never any moment of boredom on the trip (excluding the 11 hour plane ride). We barely slept because we wanted to get in the most amount of going out and shmoozing possible, and I don’t regret it. I’d have to say though my favourite moments on the whole trip were the Festival K’armiel and touring around the rest of the country staying in hotels and such. The Festival K’armiel was non-stop fun. There were always things to do, such as Israeli dancing all night long. Touring around the country was such an experience. I still can’t believe half the things we did; such as riding a camel, the Masada, the dig etc…
Of course I could never forget the connections we made. The connections were definitely a fundamental part of this trip. Having gone to Israel three times and being welcomed every time I feel as though I could live there in an instant. I can’t thank everyone enough who made this trip possible especially Debbie and the chaperones. It was such a treat and I will never forget it.

Rachelle Pullmer – High School Graduate

As I sit on the bus looking out the window at the endless hills and white buildings made of Jerusalem stone, on my way from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, I think to myself how lucky I am to feel so at home here in Israel, the country that I love so much. This is my third time in Israel - having come before on MBI (the Habonim Drorprogram) and March of the Living.

However, this trip was quite different from the previous two. I had the great privilege of going with Or Chadash on the groundbreaking trip to Kiryat Shmona to dance with Hora Goel at the Karmiel Dance Festival and to feel such an integral part of Israeli society and culture. What I experienced in those two weeks will remain engraved in my mind forever - to be re-united with my special Hora Goel friends and to create new memories with them, to be up on the stage in Kiryat Shmona and to feel the warm bonds and connections with the people there and to participate in the excitement of Karmiel with all of the amazing shows, concerts, and dancers. On top of this, I also was thrilled to re-visit many places that I have been to in previous trips, but this time to share it with my friends from Or Chadash. A special memory with Or Chadash was at the Kotel on Shabbat, when we all stood in a circle together with our arms around each other, singing and dancing in the Kotel, and bringing in the Sabbath.

Now that I am staying in Israel for the year on Workshop, the Habonim program, I am so proud and happy to be able to call Kiryat Shmona and the families I have become so close to there over the past few years, my "home". I know that the Gesher Chai that was formed several years ago has had a tremendous impact on my life and will last a lifetime for me personally. Throughout the year that lies ahead, I look forward to going back to Kiryat Shmona as much as possible, and to try and dance with Hora Goel when I am in the Northern area of Israel for the second half of the year.

I am so very grateful to everyone, both in Vancouver and in Israel, who helped make all of this happen - todah rabah ve lehitraot............

Rachelle Pullmer

Rebecca Schwenk – Grade 8 student

Dear Debbie, I want to thank you for so many things that you have made possible. If it weren't for you, there would be no Or Chadash. We would not be able to dance not only in a class, but in a group where we all feel a sense of belonging. You made that happen. Next, the dances are beautiful and challenging, not to mention so thrilling and fun! If it weren't for you, we would not have been able to dance those dances. Once the group was formed and expanded, we dreamed of perfoming in Festival Karmiel. We practiced and fundraised, and practiced and fundraised, untill our dream had finally become a reality. You made that happen.

In Israel, I had the experience of a lifetime. I think the highlight was dancing at the Kotel. It felt like we finally understood Israeli Dancing. At that time, we were really a group. i bonded so much with everyone in Or Chadash. Not only that, but i made amazing friendships with Hora Goel. i have been emailing them and trying to stay in touch, and cannot wait to see them again. I also learned a lot of hebrew. I have been attending hebrew school for 8 years, and in all those years, i don't think I learned even half the hebrew I learned in Israel. The food was great, the sights were beautiful, and we did the most exciting activities, whether it be riding a camel, or rafting on the Jordan River. I will never forget my time in Israel and I cannot wait to go there again. You have been a role model to us because you taught us that if you have a dream and you work hard, your dream can become a reality. Thanks again for everything.

Sincerely, Rebecca Schwenk

Madison Slobin – Grade 9 student

I had the most amazing time on the trip to israel this year. One of the things that made this trip so different from others that I have taken with my friends and family is the realationship that we have with the Hara Goel dancers in Kyriat Shmona. I didn't feel like a tourist visiting the homeland, I felt like I was an Israeli and that I actually had a connection to people living there. I got to see what the country was like not just from a visitors point of view but from the eyes of an israeli child my age. I had a great time and have made so many new Israeli friends as well as visiting an amazing place with so much history.

Sara Harowitz – Grade 12 student

We had been planning and prepping our trip to Israel for months and months. Everyone told me I was going to have the most amazing time, that I would come away with some of the best experiences of my life. Hours before departing, I began to feel nervous - was the anticipation of leaving making me build the trip up to be more than it would? Was I going to come back disappointed? Needless to say, no such fears became reality. Quite on the contrary - prior to leaving Canada I had no real idea what was in store for me over the next two weeks. The entire trip was spectacular and I could spend hours recounting the funny stories and heartwarming moments of my two weeks touring the Homeland. However, one particular event stands out to me as the true pinnacle of the Or Chadash-Hora Goel bond that brought us to Israel in the first place.

After around four days of rehearsal, Or Chadash and Hora Goel put on a show in Kiryat Shemona, the town where the members of Hora Goel live. None of us really knew what to expect, it being our first time performing in Israel. I remember distinctly the first dance that Or Chadash did without Hora Goel - "Sisu". The music began and instantly the crowd started to cheer. Throughout the dance the audience clapped along with the music, and Hora Goel cheered for us from offstage. I have never felt such a rush as I did dancing that first number with the rest of Or Chadash. In particular, having Hora Goel chant for us made me truly appreciate the friendships and bonds being formed between the two groups. There is something unique and special about feeling truly accepted in a new country and I felt such things to their greatest extent in Israel that night. At the end of the dance the crowd cheered and applauded, and I stood there on stage with a rush in my body that I had never experienced before. I have performed onstage numberous times, but looking back nothing compares to that one dance, that one moment in time where we were the stars, the heroes. I think back to that moment and instantly those feelings of belonging and acceptance rush back to me. I am truly honoured to have been part of such a fantastic building bridge between Galil and Vancouver, and I hope that my Israel trip is not the end, but only the beginning of countless trips to come. Rak B'Israel!

Fri August 10

Shabbat Shalom:

Just think exactly one week ago we were attending Kabblat Shabbat service in Jerusalem at the Kotel. Just close your eyes and bring back that wonderful feeling we all had together, singing, embracing, connecting and dancing by the Kotel.

I would like to thank all of for the privilege of taking you on this groundbreaking trip to Israel. For me it was a dream come true. The finale of many years of hard work and planning. Seeing you and Hora Goel on stage in Kiryat Shemona, having you sleeping together in the classrooms at Karmiel, and finally getting a touch of the Israel I love. You had the chance to experience the "real Israel" living with and truly being part of Israeli society. Being part of Festival Karmiel at such a young age was truly an experience that was unique. I hope it will inspire you with your dancing and trickle down to all the participants of Festival Ha'Rikud.

I hope this trip will inspire you to continue other "Jewish Journeys" in Israel, with our partnership region in Etzbah Hagalil and of course in our own community here in Vancouver.

Shabbat Shalom. Love Debbie

Fri August 10

Todah Rabah to everyone in the Etzbah HaGalil who made this mifgash between Hora Goel and Or Chadash happen. I know it took hours of hard work and dedication. I especially want to thank Miri Biton for her work arranging all the details. Also to all the families who opened up their homes and made all of us feel the warm Israeli hospitality. A special thanks to Haim Barbivai, the mayor of Kiryat Shemona, Shimon Biton the executive director of the matnasim in Kiryat Shemona, Elad and all the staff of the Arthur and Ancie Fouks Community Centre, we felt like we belonged. To Nurit and all the Magbeet Canada team for the arrangements. To Hedai, Lorne and all of the Canada Israel Experience for making everything run smoothly. A very special thanks to my friend Kfir Maoz for his continuing help. This was truly a unique experience for the members of Or Chadash, I know the memory will stay with them for years to come.

We returned home safely with all the participants speaking about future visits to Israel, especially to Etzbah HaGalil.

I would also like to thank the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver and the P2K Committee for their continuing support and confidence in achieving the goals of this Gesher Chai Mifgash. In addition a special thanks to the JCC for supporting the vision.

L'hit Debbie

Day 10 Fri August 3

Shabbat Shalom. Karmiel Festival was amazing. We have never seen anything like this in our lives. From beginning to end we experienced the most fantastic, moving, emotional and proud moments of our lives. From watching over fifty youth performing on stage to the moving performance of able bodied and disabled performing together on the main stage.

At the closing ceremony last night we sang Hatikvah with over fifty thousand Israelis, something I will find very hard to forget.

We opened the Festival marching in and performing with Hora Goel. Hora Goel and Or Chadash slept together in classrooms sharing stories way into the night or morning shall I say. We also learned a lot about Israeli dance and I am sure this will inspire the group to new levels with the ultimate goal of getting more kids involved with Or Chadash and Festival Ha'Rikud.

We had two fabulous performances. The one yesterday was especially great, having lots of support in the audience.

We are now back in Kiryat Shemona and about to leave for the matnas and a farewell breakfast. I am preparing myself for lots of tears as these kids have really become connected and like I, feel that they have a home here in Kiryat Shemona.

It's time to go. Not sure I will have internet access in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Shabbat Shalom.

Debbie and all the Or Chadash participants and chaperones

Day 5 Sun July 29 9:00 am

What a show last night. A wonderful example of Gesher Chai. Over 600 people from throughout the Etzbah Ha Galil came to see the connections Hora Goel and Or Chadash have made. After many hours of rehearsal when I thought the girls and Gabe would melt from the heat it all came together. Hora Goel and Or Chadash opened the show with a number called Kiryat Shemon. There must have been over 50 kids on that stage. It was video taped so we will see it when we return. They were fantastic. The crowd was great. It was a great feeling to give back to this community what we experienced in Vancouver last year.

After the show we all went to Beit Vancouver. I was so proud. What a great facility. The house is designed to be a "hang out" place for teens and teens at risk. It is divided into many rooms. A large Auditorium, a games room with billiard tables, and ping pong. There are also a computer room, and a "gymboree" type of room. Local teens form the IDAN program here run the programs for the children in Kiryat Shemon. They have movies with popcorn on a weekly basis. Teens learn how to run birthday parties for kids in the community and much more. It was wonderful to see our kids dancing, playing billiards and just hanging out with the local youth. I have to go now as we are leaving for Tiberias in a few minutes. I hope I will be able to write updates from Karmiel.

Love Debbie and all the Vancouverites

Day 4 Fri July 27 11:30 pm

Shabbat Shalom. WOW!

Another wonderful day. Thanks to our great photographer Nadine Frame and our "technological" expert Rhonda Sacks we now have visual testimony on the wonderful time we are having and the bonds we are creating.

We started the day at the Hula Valley Nature Reserve with a great movie about the migration of birds. We continued on to River rafting along the Jordan River. The groups combined their efforts to reach our destination. After a great lunch we continued our rehearsals for the big show tomorrow night. Special thanks to chaperone Sara Mikelberg and Brenly Rosenblatt for keeping the kids focused on their dancing even though they are exhausted.

The kids are spending Shabbat with their host families and if their dinner was anything like mine, it was truly a culinary experience. I can't eat another thing after a great Shabbat feast.

Love Debbie and all the Or Chadash participants and chaperones

Day 3 Thur July 26 - evening
Kiryat Shemona

What a day! No time for jet lag! We started the day with a visit to an army base on the Lebanese border. It gave the kids an opportunity to see how close we live to a hostile border. After that we went on a fantastic hike in River Senir. We walked by the river and has many opportunities to swim in the refreshing water.

We have some fantastic photos but are having a bit of difficulty sending them by email. We are still trying. Keep posted.

After a short rest we went on to our first rehearsal. It was a bit trying at times. Not easy having more than 30 dancers in one room! After that the girls went to a wrap concert at the community centre. They are all exhausted. Tomorrow we are planning to take it easy.

Love Debbie

Day 3 Thur July 26 - morning
Kiryat Shemona

I am just having my morning coffee on a beautiful sunny day in Israel. I hardly slept from all the excitement from last night.

On behalf of the Jewish Community Centre, Or Chadash and myself I would like to thank all those here in Kiryat Shemona who have worked hard to make this "mifgash" happen. Shimon Biton, Executive Director of the matnasim in Kiryat Shemona and his wonderful staff, Miri Biton and Elad Hershvocitz. Kfir Maoz for his continuous support. All the families who have opened up their homes to our children with their warm hospitality.

I will be meeting all the kids at 9am and will report back after the trip and rehearsal we have lined up for today.

L'hit Debbie Tabenkin and Or Chadash participants

Day 2 Wed July 25
Kiryat Shemona

This has been one of the best days in my life. We arrived in Tel Aviv right on time at 4:00pm and were greeted by Lorne and Hedai from the Canada Israel Experience and dozen of roses from our family in Kiryat Shemona. We proceeded on our 4 hour bus ride to the north.

I wish I had the words to describe the welcome we received. We were greeted with a sea of familiar and new faces. We hugged and kissed, as long lost relatives would. We went to a fantastic welcoming ceremony. Chaim Barvisai, mayor of Kiryat shemona gave a heart warming address. Nurit Biderman representative form UJA asked all the Canadian as to stand as we could not tell the Canadians and Israelis apart as we are truly family.

Of course we need to thank Miri Biton for her endless hours of work as well as Elad Hershovitz and Kfir Maoz. Pictures will follow as a testimony of what we experienced today. Please pass on to all the families

Regards Debbie Tabenkin, chaperone

Day 2 Wed July 25, 2007

Hello all, We arrived this evening at the Arthur & Ancie Fouks community centre around 8pm. Almost 24 hours after departure and everyone wide-eyed and excited! We experienced the most heart-warming welcome from Hora Goel, their friends and family, the executive director and staff of the community centre and the mayor of Kiryat shemona!

Tomorrow we will visit an army base, go for a hike and begin rehearsals for the festival! As I look out the window from my friend Kfir's house in Metulla, I can see Lebanon literally across the street. What a relief that the times are more peaceful than last summer and what a privilege to be here with your children! We'll keep in touch. Don't hesitate to email with any concerns and I'm happy to pass on messages to your kids.

Best regards, Rhonda Schwenk, chaperone