Bridging the cultural divide around the globe

Twinning Network brings HAFTR together with Israel

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Once upon a time, students used to communicate with overseas pen pals by snail mail, letters, sent in distinctive light-blue envelopes with red-and-blue borders. The smartphone has brought penpalling into the 21st century, with students messaging one another instantly through Whats App, including students at the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway in Cedarhurst.

HAFTR is part of the Global School Twinning Network, which is part of the Jewish Agency’s Partnership2Gether program. Since 2011, the program has connected students in kindergarten through high school in Israel with their counterparts around the world. It now encompasses 600 schools on six continents.

Ninth-grade Hebrew language honors students at HAFTR have been communicating with two schools in Israel since last December. The school was paired with the Orot Yehuda Yeshiva for boys in Efrat and the Oriya Ulpana for girls in the Gush Etzion Region.

“These meaningful experiences take them from learning about the topic to being part of the topic,” Mia Rubin, the Hebrew language teacher at HAFTR, said. She added that some students are planning to visit Israel this summer and meet their pen pals. “Twinning programs promote the sense of Jewish peoplehood and shared responsibility for students in schools around the world and Israel schools alike,” reads the Twinning Network’s website. “Students have the chance to meet each other for dynamic conversations around issues such as Jewish Identity and social responsibility. Twinning programs, likewise, link educators for professional and personal enrichment.”

Rubin said that the 38 students involved in the program write in Hebrew to their Israeli friends, who respond in English, sharpening their language skills. They communicate through a group chat on WhatsApp, as well as individually. Students aim to exchange letters about one letter per month.

HAFTR High freshman Emily Silverstein described the experience so far as being “exciting, fun and really interesting.” She communicates in the group chat and has a pen pal in Israel named Temima, who is also in ninth grade. “One thing I’ve learned is that people from all the way across the world are basically the same as us over here,” Silverstein said.

Samantha Accurso, a HAFTR special- education teacher, said that the students also understand how to develop long-distance relationships through the program. “Through the undertaking of joint programming, educators and students engage in vibrant dialogue that deepens their understanding of Jewish and Israeli identity and their sense of connection to Israel,” she said.

The relationship “allows insight and understanding for kids to stay updated and aware of a different countries status, culture and day-to-day life,” said Rami Rudensky, a ninth-grader. He corresponds with Shachar Sharadi, 15, of Orat Yehuda, and has sent two letters to Israel so far.

Rubin, along with two English language teachers in Israel, Nellie Klein, of Orat Yehuda and Roochie Sinai, of Oriya Ulpana, run the program, and are aiming to enhance communication in the coming months through video and joint study among the students.

“I really want them to learn more about life in Israel and about Zionism,” Rubin said. “Their Jewish identity will get a stronger definition and importance when they are in constant touch with Israel and its young ambassadors.”