What+Will+We+See

Beit Daniel - The Center for Progressive Judaism in Tel Aviv-Jaffa, opened its doors in the autumn of 1991. Since Tel Aviv is the cultural capital and trend-setter of Israel, Beit Daniel strives to be a model of Reform Judaism, pluralistic thought and practice, and community service for the rest of the country. As the only Reform congregation in the greater Tel Aviv area, it serves more than its congregation. By providing a multitude of Jewish education programs, life cycle events, and tikkun olam social outreach programs along with Reform religious services, Beit Daniel serves a broad constituency. The activities at Beit Daniel are funded by the Jewish Agency, the Tel Aviv municipality, the Los Angeles Federation and various other donors. Source: http://www.beit-daniel.org.il/english/default.asp (adapted)
 * BEIT DANIEL [Tel Aviv]**

Bet Shean's location has often been strategically significant, as it sits at the junction of the Jordan River Valley and the Jezreel Valley, essentially controlling access from the interior to the coast, as well as from Jerusalem to the Galilee. During the Hellenistic period it had a Greek population and was called Scythopolis. In 64 BCE it was taken by the Romans. The city contains the best preserved Roman theater of ancient Samaria as well as a hippodrome, cardo, and other trademarks of the Roman influence. During the British Mandate of Palestine, Bet Shean held about 5,000 residents. In 1999 it was incorporated as a municipality. The Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) reported the city had a total population of 15,700 as of 2001. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beit_Shean (adapted)
 * BEIT SHEAN**

The David Yellin College of Education was established in 1913 by the educator David Yellin and his colleagues who were pioneers in teaching in modern Hebrew. At present, the College has 2400 enrolled students, together with teachers in in-service training programs. The student body is comprised of students studying to become teachers, teachers completing their education towards a B.Ed. degree and teachers complementing their education in professionally relevant topics. The student body represents Israel’s pluralistic society: Jews - secular and religious; Arabs - Muslims and Christians; and new immigrants from all over the world. Source: http://www.dyellin.ac.il/templateEnglish/default.asp?maincat=1 (adapted)
 * DAVID YELLIN COLLEGE OF EDUCATION [Jerusalem]**

Merkaz Harmony was founded in 1986 by Joan Shrensky. At the request of parents of children with special needs, this integrated gan was started on a shoestring budget. Coming from her position as Special Needs Coordinator for Tri-State Regional Head Start Program in the northeast United States, Joan parlayed Merkaz Harmony's integration program into a success story. Utilizing state-of-the-art methodologies in special education and inclusion, the team at Merkaz Harmony excelled and forged ahead creating a wonderful model school. The Center has grown from the original single class consisting of 13 children to a present day waiting list of 30 children. Municipalities across Israel, professionals and parents of special children from around the world turn to Merkaz Harmony on a constant basis in search of guidance in their challenge to help children with special needs to succeed. Merkaz Harmony offers a variety of programs dedicated to individuals with special needs and their families, opportunities and activities towards better inclusion in school, society, and life in general. Source: http://www.ganharmony.org/ (adapted)
 * GAN HARMONY [Jerusalem]**

The Haas Promenade was constructed by the Jerusalem Foundation from contributions by the Haas family in the years 1982-1987. It is also called Armon Hanatziv Promenade (meaning "the commissioner's palace promenade"), because the house of the onetime British commissioner lies further down the road. This house was used since 1948 as the headquarters for the UN observers. The promenade houses a large forum, a coffee shop, benches and awnings. The site overlooks most of Jerusalem: the Mount of Olives, Mount Scopus, the deep bed of the Kidron stream running between these ridges and the walls of the old city. It also offers a beautiful view of the City of David, with the new city laying ahead on the left. Source: http://www.about-family-travel.com/travel/israel_jerusalem3.htm (adapted)
 * HAAS PROMENADE [Jerusalem]**

The Dizengoff House that would eventually become Independence Hall is the birthplace of Tel Aviv. On this site sixty-six families gathered on April 11, 1909 to conduct a lottery for plots of land in a new Jewish neighborhood to be known as Ahuzat Bayit. Meir and Zina Dizengoff acquired plot number 43, on which they built their home. Meir Dizengoff served as the head of the new neighborhood council. As the neighborhood grew and became a city, Dizengoff became the first mayor of the city of Tel Aviv. In 1910, at a general meeting, the residents of Ahuzat Bait, inspired by Theodor Herzl's book Altneuland (translated into Hebrew as Tel Aviv), unanimously decided to rename their neighborhood to Tel Aviv. In 1930, after the death of his wife, Dizengoff donated his house to his beloved city of Tel Aviv and requested that it be turned into a museum. The house became the Tel Aviv Museum of Art in 1936. In May 1948, David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the establishment of the state of Israel in the main hall of the museum. The proclamation took place at 4pm, eight hours before the British mandate over Palestine (Eretz Yisrael) was due to end. It occurred in the presence of the members of the people's Council and the People's Executive, as well as the leaders of the Jewish community in Eretz Yisrael. After David Ben-Gurion declared Independence, Rabbi Fischman (Maimon) recited the She'heheyanu blessing and the Declaration of Independence was signed. The ceremony concluded with the singing of Hatikvah. In 1978, Independence Hall was restored and opened to the public. Sources(adapted): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_of_the_History_of_Tel_Aviv-Jaffa_and_Independence_Hall
 * INDEPENDENCE HALL [Tel Aviv]**

Founded in 1965 and located near the Knesset (Israel’s seat of Government) in Jerusalem, the Israel Museum has in a relatively short time achieved world class status. It houses collections ranging from prehistoric archaeology through contemporary art, with a dynamic roster of temporary exhibitions, publications, and educational activities. It is the leading cultural institution in Israel and is one of the largest encyclopedic museums in the world. Its terraced complex, comprising nearly 50,000 square meters and a six-acre sculpture garden within its twenty-acre campus attracts over 950,000 visitors each year, about a third of them international tourists and including nearly 100,000 children in the educational programs at its Youth Wing. The Museum is committed to the preservation, study and display of its collections. It fosters education for its public from within Israel and abroad, utilizing its extensive holdings of the world's pre-eminent collection of the archaeology of the Holy Land, Judaica, the ethnology of the Jewish people around the world, and its fine art holdings from Old Masters in European Art through international contemporary art. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Museum (adapted)
 * ISRAEL MUSEUM [Jerusalem]**

The city is believed to have been first built and founded by Canaanite peoples. During this Canaanite period (3000-1200 BCE), Jerusalem had the name Urušalim, meaning "the city of peace.” King David expanded the city to the south, and declared it the capital city of the united Kingdom of Israel. It thus became the capital of the Jewish kingdom of Israel in the First and Second Temple periods (1004 BCE – 70 CE). By 19 BCE, the Temple Mount was elevated and the Second Temple was expanded under Herod the Great, a Jewish king under Roman rule. In 6 CE, the city came under direct Roman rule. The Great Jewish Revolt resulted in the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE. The city served as the national capital again for almost 3 years during Bar Kokhba's revolt against Rome; it was sacked in 135 CE. For hundreds of years thereafter, the control of Jerusalem changed hands many times. Finally, in 1517, the city and its environs became controlled by the Ottoman Turks. In 1917 while the country was under Ottoman (Turkish) rule, the British Army led by General Allenby captured Jerusalem. After this, former British Prime Minister Arthur Balfour issued a letter to Lord Rothschild, also in England, who was seen as a representative of the Jewish people. The letter, known as the Balfour Declaration, stated that the British government
 * JERUSALEM**

“view[ed] with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.”

In 1922 the League of Nations, the precursor to the United Nations, issued a mandate that was intended to serve as an implementation of the Balfour Declaration concerning the establishment of the Jewish National home. This period saw the construction of new garden suburbs in the western part of the city and establishment of institutions of learning such as the Hebrew University, founded in 1925. As the British Mandate of Palestine was expiring, the 1947 UN Partition Plan recommended that "The City of Jerusalem shall be established as a corpus separatum under a special international regime and shall be administered by the United Nations." However, this plan was never implemented and at the end of the 1948-49 War, Jerusalem found itself divided between Israel and Jordan. The 1949 cease-fire line between Israel and Jordan (the Green Line) cut through the center of the city from 1949 until 1967, during which time the western section of Jerusalem was part of Israel, and the eastern section of Jerusalem was part Jordan. From 1950 to 1967, the capital was comprised of western Jerusalem. Israel captured eastern Jerusalem from Jordan in the 1967 Six-Day War, and Israel has administered the entire city since that time. Sources (adapted): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem#History, http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/mandatetoc.html, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine_(mandate), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balfour_declaration, Ben-Sason, H.H., A History of the Jewish People, Harvard University Press, 1976

GERMAN COLONY** The German Colony of Jerusalem was one of several German colonies built in the Holy Land by members of the Temple Society [Templars]at the second half of the 19th century. The colony was built in the form of a typical German village of the period. However, unlike a typical German village, the houses of the German Colony of Jerusalem were built of the local stone (and not of wood and bricks). It is considered a well established and wealthy neighborhood. Its main street is still Emek Refaim. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Colony_of_Jerusalem (adapted) The neighborhood of Talbieh is one of the most beautiful in the city, and is thought of as one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Jerusalem. The wealth of the city can be seen in the number of buildings of important government officials like the President's House, the National Academy of Science, and the Van Leer Institute. In the early 1970s the Jerusalem Theater was established in the neighborhood. In Talbieh it is possible to see a rich variety of buildings from the Mandate period, as well as authentic Arab homes that have been expanded or have had additions made to their original structures. Many homes have been declared historical preservations. This is a quiet neighborhood with one-way streets and green gardens. The famous Rose Garden can be found on Pinsker Street. The neighborhood is located at the edge of the center of Jerusalem, between the neighborhood of Rehavia in the north and Old Katamon in the south. It is also a few minutes walk to the German Colony. The neighborhood of Talbieh is located near the Inbal, King David & David Citadel Hotels, and a short walking distance from the Old City of Jerusalem. Source: http://www.welcome-home.co.il/eng/info/Neighborhoods.asp (adapted) Old Katamon, built at the time of the British Mandate and known as the "Flower Garden of Jerusalem," is located between the neighborhoods of Talbieh to the north and the German and Greek Colonies to the East. The two streets that constitute the center of the neighborhood are Rachel Imeinu, which runs in the east-west direction, and Kovshei Katamon, which runs in the north-south direction. These streets connect with the stylish and cosmopolitan Emek Refaim Street to the south and Palmah Street to the north. In the early 1970s, a general process of renewal began in this area, and many of the inhabitants realized their dreams of having stone courtyards, fences, quality porches, tiled roofs and where major renovations were carried out, architectural styles not previously seen in the area. The neighborhood of Katamon has a romantic, sentimental style, with small, artistic houses with yards and all located within close proximity to the center of town. In addition, there are many schools, pre-schools, and synagogues in the neighborhood. Source: http://www.welcome-home.co.il/eng/info/Neighborhoods.asp (adapted)
 * JERUSALEM NEIGHBORHOODS (selected)
 * TALBIEH**
 * KATAMON**

Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu is situated in the fertile Beit Shean Valley not far from the Sea of Galilee. Sde Eliyahu is a religious Zionist kibbutz named in honor of Rabbi Eliyahu Gutmacher (1796-1875) who was one of the first Zionist rabbis. The founding members came to Israel in 1934 with the Youth Aliyah from Germany. After a training period they settled in the Beit Shean Valley in May 1938. The initial years of settlement were difficult. As in other "Tower and Stockade" settlements, guards had to be mounted on the central tower day and night and a large part of available resources had to be devoted to defense and security. At the same time, natural conditions made life even more difficult for the pioneers. Malaria swamps took their toll, the oppressive heat in summer and freezing winter nights added to the hardship. These conditions also made it difficult to find crops suited to the harsh climate. Today, there are extensive green lawns and giant trees in which varied and beautiful birds build their nests. Fish ponds also attract their share of birds as the kibbutz is situated on a main migratory route and is a haven for bird watchers. Sde Eliyahu is now home to 300 members and an equal number of children, and combines an Orthodox Religious Jewish way of life with the principles of kibbutz life and a devotion to the land and people of Israel. Sde Eliyahu considers itself a classical kibbutz. Members eat in the communal dining hall. Medical care, education, housing, laundry are communally supplied according to need. Each member is allotted a personal budget for clothing, vacationing and various cash expenses. The "general meeting" convenes once a week and constitutes the supreme authority of the kibbutz. Sde Eliyahu is unique in that it supports itself solely though agriculture. Many of the field crops and fruit are grown according to the principles of organic agriculture. Source: http://www.seliyahu.org.il/eAbout.htm (adapted)
 * KIBBUTZ SDE ELIYAHU [Beit Shean Valley]**

The Kotel is a retaining wall in Jerusalem that dates from the time of the Jewish Second Temple (515 BCE - 70 CE). The Kotel is part of the larger religious site in the Old City of Jerusalem called Har ha-Bayit (the Temple Mount) to Jews and Christians, or Al-Haram al-Qudsi al-Sharif (the Noble Sanctuary) to Muslims. It is also known as the Western Wall. The only visible stones still left from the Second Temple period are the bottom seven layers. There are still more than 17 layers buried under the ground. One can see some of them when entering the Kotel Tunnels. During the years between 1948-1967, when Jordan controlled the old city, they did not allow the Jews to come and pray at the Kotel. It was only after the recapture of Jerusalem in 1967 (during the Six Day War) that Jews could return here once again. The many buildings in front of the wall were taken down, and a large plaza was built. It is one of the holiest sites for religious people in Israel. It is a tradition to deposit a slip of paper with wishes or prayers on it, into the cracks of the wall. Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Wall, http://www.campsci.com/iguide/kotel.htm (adapted)
 * KOTEL [Jerusalem]**

The Mandel Foundation believes that exceptional leaders—inspired by powerful ideas—are key to improving society and the lives of people around the world. The mission at the Mandel Leadership Institute (MLI) is to partner with these leaders and train them to channel their creative energies into practical endeavors aimed at enhancing the vitality of Jewish communities worldwide and contributing to a thriving Jewish and democratic State of Israel. At the Jerusalem-based campus, Mandel Leadership Fellows hone their social and educational visions by examining the great figures, ideas, and works of western and Jewish civilization, and by learning to translate these visions into practice. MLI Fellows acquire the skills needed to establish and lead the institutions that will implement their creative solutions to educational and social challenges with which society and their communities are faced. The world-class faculty composed of leading academic figures from both Israel and abroad, works with Fellows to articulate their individual visions. Joining the ranks of the Mandel Leadership Institute entails much more than participating in a short-term program. This means embarking on a lifelong relationship. The Graduates Unit supports alumni throughout their careers, offering consulting, mentoring, and coaching services to serve graduates in the invaluable work they are trained to do in the field. The Mandel Leadership Institute in Jerusalem was established by the Mandel Foundation in cooperation with the Israel Ministry of Education. Source: http://mandel.mli.org.il/MandelCMS/English/AboutUs/ (adapted)
 * MANDEL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE [Jerusalem]**

"Mar'ot - Looking at Israeli Art" is a program designed to help young children observe and explore the work of noted Israeli artists. Through the study of the artwork, children learn about the artist, the media, Israel and themselves. The word Mar'ot means both "sights" and "mirrors." Mar'ot is a co-production of the Preschool Division of Israel's Ministry of Education and the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. Source: http://www.jafi.org.il/education/child/global/classroom/marot.asp (adapted)
 * MAR’OT [Israel Museum, Jerusalem]**

Midreshet Ein Hanatziv of the Religious Kibbutz Movement was established in 1986 on the initiative of young women eager to study Torah and deepen their faith. The Midrashah is designed to meet the needs of every young woman seeking to base her religious world upon commitment to halahah. This goal is attained by serious and intellectually open study. The program of studies is varied, facilitating acquaintance and engagement with many fields in the world of Torah. Throughout the year, many Shabbatot of unique spiritual experience are spent at the Midrashah preceded by "With the Bible in hand" hikes. The Midrashah is situated in Kibbutz Ein Hanatziv in the Bet Shean Valley. The atmosphere provided by life within a religious community, and with many volunteering opportunities in the region in addition to the deep learning, creates "Life of Torah.” Source: http://www.midrasha.org.il/ (adapted)
 * MIDRESHET HABANOT OF KIBBUTZ EIN HANATZIV [Beit Shean Valley]**

Ancient Modi'in was the place of origin of the Jewish Hasmonean dynasty that ruled Judea in the first and second centuries BCE, and it is where the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Greeks started. The cornerstone for present-day Modi'in was laid in 1993. It is a modern planned city and the highest standards of urban planning, environmental concerns, and planning for future growth were taken into consideration during its design. Large greenspaces were incorporated into the city's layout and comprise 50% of the area within the city's limits. The long term projection is for the city to be home to about a quarter million residents, thus becoming one of the largest localities in Israel. A brand new Israel Railways rail line (including a large underground station in Modi'in) is currently under construction that will connect Modi'in directly to Ben Gurion Airport and Tel Aviv by 2008 and later to Rishon LeTzion, Rehovot, and Jerusalem (via transfer). The city is “hot” for young Israelis and their families. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modi%27in
 * MODI’IN**

Neot Kedumim, the Biblical Landscape Reserve in Israel, halfway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, is a unique endeavor to re-create the physical setting of the Bible in all its depth and detail. Far more than a "garden" showing various biblical plants, Neot Kedumim embodies the panorama and power of the landscapes that helped shape the values of the Bible and provided a rich vocabulary for expressing them. Neot Kedumim draws on a variety of disciplines, such as Bible scholarship, botany, zoology, geography, history, and archaeology to bring the Bible and its commentaries to life. Literally with the Bible in one hand and a spade in the other, Neot Kedumim has constructed a network of natural and agricultural landscapes bearing names that indicate their textual source: Thousands of tons of soil were trucked in and spread on the eroded hillsides, reservoirs were dug to catch runoff rainwater, and ancient terraces were restored. Habitats were created for such varied species as cedars from the snow-covered mountains of Lebanon and date palms from Sinai desert oases. Hundreds of varieties of biblical and talmudic plants; wild and domesticated animals; ancient and reconstructed olive and wine presses, threshing floors, cisterns, and ritual baths bring to life the literal roots of the biblical tradition in the soil of the land of Israel. A non-profit organization in Israel, Neot Kedumim has received international recognition as a model of restoration ecology — the reclamation of ravaged landscapes. In 1994, Neot Kedumim won the Israel Prize, the highest honor awarded by the State of Israel, for its special contribution to the society and the state. Source: http://www.n-k.org.il/public/english/what/what.htm
 * NEOT KEDUMIM**
 * the Forest of Milk and Honey
 * the Dale of the Song of Songs
 * Isaiah's Vineyard
 * the Fields of the Seven Varieties, and many more

Neve Tzedek is a neighborhood in the City of Tel Aviv, Israel. It was the first Jewish neighborhood to be built outside the walls of the ancient port of Yafo. In 1887, 22 years before the 1909 founding of Tel Aviv, Neve Tzedek was established by a group of Jewish families seeking a more peaceful life outside of the Yafo's teeming streets. The residents constructed mostly colorful, short buildings along narrow streets. Residents' homes featured many contemporary luxuries like private bathrooms and kitchens. For years, the neighborhood prospered, as Tel Aviv (the first modern Hebrew city) grew up around it. As time went on, its buildings became abandoned or neglected and fell into disrepair. By the 1960s, city officials deemed Neve Tzedek incompatible with bustling Tel Aviv. However, their plan to demolish the historic neighborhood to make way for high rise structures was ultimately cancelled as many Neve Tzedek buildings were placed on preservation lists. The old, worn-out neighborhood became a patch of the pastoral amidst the greater urban center. By the end of the 1980s, efforts began to renovate and preserve Neve Tzedek's century-old structures. New establishments were housed in old buildings, most notably to the Suzanne Dalal Dance and Theater Center and the Nahum Gutman Museum, located in the artist's home. Its main streets became lined once again with artists' studios alongside trendy cafes and bars. The Tel Aviv subway, which is expected to pass near Neve Tzedek, will make the neighborhood even more accessible for visitors and residents alike. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neve_Tzedek
 * NEVE TZEDEK [Tel Aviv]**

Religious Zionism is based on a fusion of Jewish religion and nationhood, and it aims to restore not only Jewish political freedom, but also Jewish religion in the light of the Torah and its commandments. For Religious Zionism, Judaism based on the commandments is essential for Jewish national life in the homeland. In 1902, in response to the decision of the Fifth Zionist Congress to consider cultural activity as part of the Zionist program, Rabbis Reines and Ze'ev Yavetz established the Mizrahi organization (mizrahi being the Hebrew abbreviation of merkaz ruhani - "spiritual center"). Mizrahi held its first world convention in 1904 and composed the movement's platform, which concerned itself principally with observance of the commandments and return to Zion. In Palestine, Rabbi Avraham Yitzhak Hacohen Kook gave Religious Zionism his personal and spiritual endorsement, regarding settlement in the Land of Israel as the beginning of Redemption. Religious Zionism has pledged much of its efforts and resources to constructing a national-religious education system. Hapoel Hamizrahi branched away from the main movement (1922) to focus on Orthodox rural settlement in Palestine under the slogan "Torah va­'Avodah" (Torah and Labor). In 1956, the two movements, Mizrachi and Hapo’el Hamizrahi, united under the umbrella of the National Religious Party, active in Israeli politics today. Source: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Zionism/Religious_Zionism.html (adapted)
 * RELIGIOUS ZIONISM [Sde Eliyahu]**

Rehov Sumsum was the first Israeli co-production of Sesame Street. The brainchild of Dr. Lewis Bernstein, who initially pitched the idea in 1979, the first episodes debuted in June 1982. 195 episodes were produced over several years, and remained popular in re-runs. The series starred porcupine Kippi Ben Kippod, and Moishe Oofnik, the Israeli counterparts, respectively, to Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch. The set of Rehov Sumsum was the central location for Shalom Sesame, a co-production between the series and its American counterpart, shown to American audiences. In the later 1980's Rehov Sumsum began to include a Palestinian component to show the diversity of life within Israel. This program included two parallel streets called Rehov Sumsum (Israeli side) and Shara'a Simsim (Palestinian side). The two cultures interacted in crossover segments. The show also aired on Al Quds Educational TV in the West Bank and Gaza. After the Second Intifada, it was no longer realistic to show the two cultures interacting on parallel streets. Thus, Sesame Workshop and their co-production teams in the Middle East decided to air an animated show called Sesame Stories. This show included animated tales from each culture aimed at teaching respect and understanding. The show also included live action films showing children from both cultures in their every day lives. Sippurei Simsim in Hebrew and Hikayat Simsim in Arabic aired in Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian territories in 2003 and 2004. Due to the unending violence, the shows are not currently collaborating, but they promote values of respect and understanding. Source: http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Rechov_Sumsum (adapted)
 * REHOV SUMSUM [Tel Aviv]**

Tel Aviv-Yaffo is the second largest city in Israel and is located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It is also the main part of the largest and most populous metropolitan area in Israel, Gush Dan (Dan Bloc). The settlement in the area of modern southern Tel Aviv (the neighborhoods of Neve Shalom and Neve Tzedek) was started in the 1880s as a substitute for the relatively expensive Arab neighborhoods of Yaffo (often referred to in English as Jaffa). In 1910, the common name of Tel Aviv was adopted. At its founding, Tel Aviv was intended only to be a suburb, a bedroom community, with the workers commuting to Yaffo. However, disputes between the Jews of Tel Aviv and the Arabs of Yaffo in 1921 led the inhabitants of Tel Aviv to create a new central business district. Owing to its proximity to the port of Yaffo, and its status as the first Jewish community that immigrants saw when coming into the country, Tel Aviv quickly grew to become the centre of Israeli urban life, which it remains to this day. In 1950 Tel Aviv and Yaffo were united in the single municipality Tel Aviv-Yaffo. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tel_Aviv#History (adapted)
 * TEL AVIV**

Tiberias is a town on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, Lower Galilee, Israel. It was named in honor of the emperor Tiberius. Tiberias was built at about AD 20 by Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great on the site of the destroyed village of Rakkat, and it became the capital of his realm in Galilee. Following the expulsion of all Jews from Jerusalem after 135 C.E., Tiberias and its neighbor Sepphoris became the major centers of Jewish culture. The Mishnah, which grew into the Jerusalem Talmud, may have begun to have been written here. The community of masoretic scholars flourished at Tiberias from the beginning of the 8th to the end of the 10th centuries. These scholars created a systematic written form of the vocalization of ancient Hebrew which is still used by all streams of Judaism. In the 18th and 19th centuries Tiberias received an influx of rabbis who established the city as a center for Jewish learning. During this time Tiberias became one of the Jewish Four Holy Cities, along with Jerusalem, Hebron, and Tz’fat. Today, Tiberias is Israel's most popular holiday resort in the northern half of the country. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberias (adapted)
 * TIBERIAS**

The Preschool was founded in 1981 with the supervision of the Ministry of Education. Its educational philosophy is child-centered, emphasizing flexibility and individual freedom of choice, self-experience and self-expression. The teachers respect each child’s needs and individuality, encouraging creativity. More than 130 children learn at the preschool. Located within the premises of the YMCA in central Jerusalem, it has the advantage of easy access to unique facilities, such as the indoor swimming pool and other sports areas, and enjoys the special environment of dignity and respect for all which permeates the entire institution and creates an atmosphere of peace. The preschool goals are: • To provide a high-quality preschool education that stimulates children intellectually, emotionally, socially and physically, in the tradition of the YMCA ideals of balanced spirit, mind and body. • To facilitate coexistence between Arabs and Jews on a daily, ongoing basis as a normal part of life for children and their families. • To expose the children to other cultures, languages and religions, enabling the development of tolerance and understanding, while preserving the uniqueness of each child and its community Source: http://www.jerusalemymca.org/ENG/Programs/PreschoolMain.html (adapted)
 * YMCA GAN [Jerusalem]**

Kehillat YOZMA is a young and vibrant Reform community in Israel's newest city of Modi'in. Affiliated with the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism (IMPJ), YOZMA is more than just a place to pray: it is a spiritual, educational and cultural community. Founded in 1997, under the leadership of Rabbi Kinneret Shiryon, Israel's first female rabbi, and a core of dedicated activists, YOZMA offers an appealing option to Israel's all-or-nothing approach to Judaism by presenting an egalitarian and progressive approach to Jewish ritual. By providing a spiritually relevant, values-based community for today's Israelis, YOZMA is responsive to the dynamics of both Reform Judaism and Israeli society. Kehillat YOZMA is in the right place at the right time. In developing and living a model of Reform Jewish life in Israel, Kehillat YOZMA embraces a three pronged approach to community by offering religious services, formal educational programs, and informal activities. Source: http://yozma.org.il/eng/index.htm (adapted)
 * YOZMA**