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September 19, 2003/Elul 22 5763, Vol. 55, No. 56
Emissary brings touch of Israel to Valley
BETH OLSON
Staff Writer
Vicky Halfon, an Israeli teenager who is volunteering in the Valley's Jewish community for a year, works with Sydnee Kades at The King David School.
Photo by Tegwin Winterhalt
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To local youth, Israel will be more than just a country they hear about on television or at religious school this school year.
The Young Emissaries program brings Vicky Halfon an 18-year-old Israeli - to work in Jewish day schools, congregational schools and the community for the 2003-2004 school year.
The program, facilitated locally by the Israel Center of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix, is part of the "People to People" project of the Jewish Agency for Israel, which makes personal connections between the Phoenix Jewish community and its Partnership 2000 region in Israel - the city of Kiryat Malachi and the Hof Ashkelon region. Additional funding was provided by the Jewish Community Foundation.
Currently Halfon works four days per week at The King David School and Pardes Jewish Day School, where she teaches Hebrew, Judaics and music. She also teaches at the religious school of Temple Chai and at the Bureau of Jewish Education's Hebrew High.
"It's much better in (the schools) that there is a young person to represent Israel, closer in age to them. It makes a more personal connection," says Eitan Ben-Ami, director of the Israel Center.
Esther Feuerberg, head of school at King David, is excited about the opportunity Halfon's arrival provides for her school.
"Our intent is to have a little touch of Israel at The King David School, and while we have excellent staff and wonderful Judaic teachers and Hebrew teachers, there is nothing like bringing a young, vibrant, engaging individual into the school to make a connection with the youth in Israel," says Feuerberg.
In addition to her duties at the schools, Halfon will help students at the Jess Schwartz Jewish Community High School prepare for their upcoming trip to Israel, recruit young people for Israel trips and assist with various events and programs in the Valley that relate to Israel.
"If (organizations) want more information or they feel that Vicky can participate or bring her Israeli youth flavor to their activities, they're welcome to call us. She'll be happy to visit different places," says Ben-Ami.
This is Halfon's second visit to the Valley. She worked as a counselor at the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center's Camp Shemesh last summer. She returned to Israel to finish her final year of high school and is now participating in the Young Emissaries program as part of a youth movement in Israel, in which volunteers give a year of their lives prior to their army service to serve the people of Israel.
"Before I worked with the Jewish Agency, I never realized how important the connection is. When I saw teenagers my age really connected to Israel, it made me feel really good because I know that I have friends outside of Israel, so I decided to strengthen that connection and make other people know about Israel," says Halfon.
While Halfon is excited about her stay, her visit started out with a challenge. When flying from Israel, she landed at the airport in New York about an hour before the recent blackout. With no money, food or telephone, Halfon was stuck in the airport for almost 15 hours. Ben-Ami eventually called the shaliach in New York, who went personally to find Halfon and took her home with him until she could get a flight out.
"When he picked her up at the airport after so many hours," says Ben-Ami, "he said, 'She's still smiling. She'll be a good shlicha (delegate).' "
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