We recently had the chance to lead Tu B’Shevat and Purim activities around the community. It was a pleasure to participate in the region’s many festivities and share our experiences from celebrating these holidays in Israel with people of all ages.
We’ve started working with Strelitz International Academy’s Primary Years students in their classrooms. We taught them how to say and read new words in Hebrew, shared what Shabbat and the annual “Family Day” looks like in Israel, and led an exploration of Israel’s beautiful landscapes.
We grew up very active in the Israeli Scouts, so we were excited to get the invitation to meet with a group of Girl Scouts in Virginia Beach. It was extraordinary to teach the group about the Israeli Scouts and to learn more about the American Girl Scouts. We even tried the famous Girl Scout cookies.
I (Aya) also had the opportunity to be a counselor in the Israeli scouts’ camp in Los Angeles, California. I worked with a group of 10th graders and led leadership, engagement, and activism activities. This unique experience was an excellent opportunity to hear about the experience of Israelis that live permanently in the United States and see how they infuse Israeli culture into their community.
This month, we are heading back to Israel for a mid-year break. We look forward to returning to Tidewater with more energy, ideas, and program materials for everything we have planned. We hope to see your children and grandchildren at Israel Club this spring and at Israel Fest—a celebration of Israel’s 75th birthday!
To learn more about the Tidewater Shinshinim and how to get involved, go to JewishVA.org/shinshinim or contact Nofar Trem at ntrem@ujft.org.