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THE CENTER'S
New* from the Atlanta Jewish Community Center, Inc.
Is Israel in Your Teenager’s Future?
According to the recent Atlanta Jewish Popula
tion Study conducted by the Atlanta Jewish Feder
ation, over 3,000 Jewish teenagers live in the Metro
area. This figure should grow over the next decade
due to the rapid growth of the Atlanta Jewish
community specifically, and the general Metro
Atlanta area over all.
It is estimated that 20 percent of our Jewish
teens will have visited Israel in their teen years; of
course, the down side of this figure is that 80 percent
will not visit as teens, and most of them will perhaps
never visit. These statistics are dramatic and they
raise the question: “Why not?”
Some answers to the question are: Many fami
lies cannot afford it”; “My teenager will not enjoy
being so far away from all the comforts of his/her
home”; “We’re concerned about safety”; “My son/-
daughter is not mature enough”; etc. etc. etc.
While there is perhaps some small grain of truth
in these and other answers to the question (notwith
standing that there are many families that truly
cannot afford it), Israel and what it has to offer,
more than makes up for any doubts and uncertain
ties which parents (and teens) may have. I have been
the leader of two extended trips (eight and nine
weeks respectively) with teens to Israel and can
vouch for the “miracles” that took place. A few of
these teens (a total of 68) came back determined to
make Aliyah; many of them vowed that they would
return again and again; some of them “adopted”
Israeli families; All of them came back with an
enriched Jewish identity, an enhanced sense of self-
worth, and a commitment, which I firmly believe is
a lifetime commitment, to the state of Israel and the
Jewish people.
Atlanta offers many fine opportunities for teens
to experience Israel. Included in these are: the High
School in Israel” program offered by the Atlanta
Bureau of Jewish Education, BBYO and Young
Judaea programs, Synagogue and Temple Youth
programs, and programs organized by the Ameri
can Zionist Youth Foundation.
The AJCC now offers two youth programs to
Israel; Kesher, sponsored by the AJECOMCE
committee, and the Yehud Exchange Program.
Kesher was started during the summer of 1986 and
provided a wonderful six weeks for our teens
including extensive touring, camping and living for
short periods with Israeli families. The outstanding
leader appointed by the AJCC was a decided factor
in the success of the Kesher program.
The Yehud Exchange Program is unique, and
has become a model for other communities to emu
late. Last summer, after four successful years, the
program did not take place, however, the summer
of 1987 will be the fifth year of the exchange.
Aside from touring Israel, the uniqueness of the
exchange program lies in the fact that our teens live
with Israeli families in Yehud (Yehud teens live with
families in Atlanta), and thus really experience
what it is like to live in Israel. They become a part of
their “adopted” family’s life, doing what the family
does and becoming a regular family member.
Over 350 Atlantans and 350 from Yehud (Atlan
ta’s sister city in Israel) have developed deep bonds
of love and friendship through the Yehud Exchange
Program.
The Center is proud to offer Kesher and the
Yehud Exchange program for our teens; we hope
that you will consider these or any of the other fine
programs for your teenager this summer. It’s an
investment in the future of our Jewish community
and an experience for which your son / daughter will
be eternally grateful.
* * *
The AJCC Special Events Department and the
Israel Program Center are pleased to present the
1986-1987 Jewish Film Series. The series will
include:
Nov. 2 — The Dybbuk (1970 version)
Dec. 7 — Amos Oz’s, “My Michael” (In Hebrew
with English subtitles)
Jan. 4 — The Jazz Singer (original A1 Jolson
1928 film, refurbished)
Jan. 8 — West of Hester Street (the settling of
Jews in America)
All films to be shown at the Peachtree Building
at 7:30 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the door: $3 a
person; students and seniors, $2. For information
about a Film Club Plan at reduced rates call Chana
or Itzhak, 875-7881.
The Westin Peachtree Plaza
Atlanta
How come we^re so good
at kosher catering?
"Vtfe know how to observe
the laws tastefully.
If only it were enough to be Atlanta’s
only hotel with a completely kosher
kitchen! After all, ours is sanctioned
by Orthodox rabbinic authority. And
a mashgiach oversees every superb
is
so well, we can follow them faithfully
and still prepare exciting dishes that
will be the envy of all your friends.
Our catering department at 659-1400,
extension 2458, can tell you all about
our kosher catering. They can also tell
you about our excellent facilities for
bar mitzvahs, bas mitzvahs, weddings,
receptions, fund raisers —whatever.
You could simply make your next
event a kosher one. Then again, you
could make it kosher and have it at
The Vfcstin Peachtree Plaza.
AGE 13 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE October 10, 1986