Hands reaching out in friendship

The Israeli Scouts came to entertain and spread a message of peace and friendship as they performed on the bima of Hewlett East Rockaway Jewish Centre.

Donovan Berthoud/Herald

Rabbi Andrew Warmflash thanked the Tzofim Friendship Caravan for coming to perform.

Donovan Berthoud/Herald

The Temple was full as members of the Tzofim Friendship Caravan performed their first number.

Donovan Berthoud/Herald

The congregation rose to their feet and joined the Caravan members in

Donovan Berthoud/Herald

Scout Uri Golan danced with Makenzie Osder, 2, Charlie Horton, 5, Corey Flyer, 4, and Chase Samelson, 5.

Donovan Berthoud/Herald

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

The Hewlett-East Rockaway Jewish Centre welcomed the Tzofim Friendship Caravan on June 3.

The Tzofim Friendship Caravan is a summer delegation of 10 Israeli teenagers who travel the U.S. and Canada bringing Israeli culture, music and dance, along with a message of world peace. The Caravan is made up of five girls, five boys and two Caravan leaders from all over Israel. In order to be in the Caravan, these teenagers went through a highly competitive selection process and were chosen based on their maturity, fluency in English, and performance skills. As shlichim, or Israeli delegates, these teens have a love for Israel and a desire to share that with North Americans.  The teenagers stay with host families, allowing emersion in strong personal bonds to be formed.

The Caravan is a part of the Friends of Israel Scouts, Inc., an organization that seeks to promote relationships between Israelis and Jews around the world, particularly in North America. They desire to educate others on Israeli culture and portray Israel in a positive light.