Friends Across the Sea

"Friends across the Sea" is implemented in Modiin for many years. It has entered all elementary schools in town and is already a stand-alone program. As a result of the initial start, we created, while putting the program on the municipal agenda, a wider view of the area. This brought about the leverage and creation of an overall school program about Jewish-Israeli identity in Modi'in. The rationale for "Friends across the Sea" states: "until recent years, the Israeli education focused on the goal of rooting the connection and affinity with the country and the state. Currently there is a growing feeling and understanding that an Israeli Jew will not be rooted in his/her country and homeland if he/she will not be rooted in the Jewish people". Learning about Diaspora Jews caused the Israelis to better understand who the Diaspora Jews are, are we connected to them and how – "kol Israel Arevim ze laze", and also – who am I? What is my identity? An educational program, as good as it can be, must have spiral continuity in order to keep and strengthen what already exists. It has been decided to move forward to the next level in the program: Therefore the idea was to turn to 7th or 8th grade students, who learned at the 5th grade the program "Friends across the Sea" and offer them a new program, composed of several meetings or a peak program in the area. Meeting between various kinds of schools for joint discussion or activity. Seminary for parents-students regarding the connection with Diaspora Jews. Every school is entitled to choose a new project for the year to come as long as it will be according to the ideals.