Brian Cohen
  • Making the Grade Blog
  • About Me
  • Tutoring
  • Press
  • Resources to Share

Reflections on my trip to Israel: Educational experiences during a war

8/1/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
I just returned from a three week trip to Israel in which I was staff for a 10-trip called Birthright that brings 18-26 year old Jews to Israel for a free, first-time trip. During the trip we trekked around a majority of the country but had to change some plans as the 2014 Gaza-Israel conflict began. The educational experience these participants had was much like any other Birthright trip - seeing historic and religious sites while interacting with Israelis who visited our group; and processing all the new and exciting things they were seeing. What was so different for them was the constant questions, "is there a siren where we are going?" or "Will we be allowed to visit Tel Aviv?" Many interesting conversations were started that way and continue now on their Facebook group.

Educational experiences of this sort are rare (and for valid reason - no one wants to travel around a seemingly war-like zone). These participants learned a lot about Israeli culture and life by living in the exact conditions Israelis do. We made sure to tell them where local bomb shelters were in case of rocket attacks from Gaza and made sure they knew to ask about them during their free time at lunch. 

What was so interesting for me is the blasé attitude that some members of the trip (including myself) felt about the conflict. Even though we were experiencing it firsthand, all the Israelis we saw and talked to said that life had to go on. While we did not experience a siren ourselves, we were told that you wait 10 minutes, then go back to your regular day's activities. It is a very strange thing to learn as an American that you can be under attack one minute and sipping a latte the next. 

Overall, I would say their trip was successful even though it was mired by the conflict in Gaza: over half of them extended their trip to stay longer, despite the current situation. It was an interesting journey for me to see and discuss all of these experiences with them over the 10 days. I look forward to continuing conversations with them and seeing how we all can learn together in the future.

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    I am a math teacher in the New York Department of Education. I infuse technology and real-world problems into my curriculum in order to prepare my students for the future. I would love for people across the country to recognize we teachers can't do it alone. If you don't believe me, come visit my classroom!

    Picture

    Contact Me

    Picture

    Email Updates

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Archives

    March 2022
    September 2021
    August 2021
    September 2020
    August 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.