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Additional Program Elements

The Group Experience

Within the existing structure, there are many opportunities for the group to create experiences that enhance the overall program. There are many educational, cultural, social, and recreational opportunities that the program does not deal with directly. These are most effective when done by the group, for the group. These are a few examples of the many areas in which the group should take lead; there is much room to express your group's creativity. The OTZMA staff serves as advisors and consultants to help facilitate and implement group initiatives.
Some examples are:

Communal Meals  |  Utilizing a participant's expertise to address topics that are of interest to the group  |  Shabbat Dinners
Self-Defense Classes  |  A periodic OTZMA newsletter for familes (your own & adoptive), federations, etc.
Intramural sports competitions for all participants on the various sites  |  Big Brother/Big Sister programs with new immigrants

Optional workshops such as yoga, swing dancing, or cooking As the year progresses, the nature and size of the group changes. Following Part I, the group is divided according to sponsoring federation. During Part III, you are dispersed into groups among kibbutzim and internships.

OTZMA and Jewish Observance

While OTZMA is a pluralistic program - all activities planned by OTZMA will be in accordance with shabbat and kashrut standards. OTZMA does not endorse any particular movement, and encourages its participants to explore the many religious and culturally Jewish institutions available to them throughout Israel.

In all activities, OTZMA will provide kosher food. Participants are requested to respect each other's standards of kashrut and shabbat observance, and work out a system according to the needs of their house-mates.

 

 

Educational Program

As a participant on OTZMA, you are embarking on a remarkable program.  OTZMA allows you to explore and express your ties to Israel and to the Jewish people, young and old, as you work in this society.  We believe that to work most effectively in Israeli society, you should have a broad understanding of the trends and events that have shaped it.  For this reason, OTZMA incorporates an ongoing educational program that helps you deepen your understanding of Israel and of Judaism and enables you to grow as an individual and a committed Jew. The people with whom you will meet are acknowledged experts with excellent reputations in the academic or educational frameworks in which they work.  This should ensure an atmosphere of intellectual challenge which we are sure will prove rewarding. We look forward to your active involvement, as well as your input.

As an OTZMA participant, you will have input in the topics that are discussed.  You are encouraged to alert the OTZMA staff of issues that interest you.  Below is a list of sample topics that we plan to cover during the year through seminars, lectures, or other educational activities:

• The Israeli-Arab conflict
• Israeli Arab citizens
• Holocaust
• Israeli political structure - education, economics, politics
• Israeli Culture – dance, music, art, film industry etc.
• Religion, ethnicity - exploring Judaism in different settings
• Social Justice
• Jewish identity - in Israel and North America
• Israel, the army, and the impact of the army on Israeli society
• North American - Israeli dialogue

In addition, there are field trips, or tiyulim, which allow you to visit the Galil, the Golan and the Negev, as well as Jerusalem.  These trips enable you to gain an overview of Israel's tremendously varied geography and explore the history and culture of Israel through the land itself.  Highlights of the year include a Northern and a Southern Tiyul.


 

Adoptive Families

Each OTZMA participant is "adopted" by an Israeli family where he or she can go for holidays or every few weekends to relax in a home environment.

The goal of this element of the program is to provide the participants with a "home away from home" while exposing them to yet another facet of Israeli society - the home life of young, and for the most part, urban families. An additional goal is aiding in the attempt to strengthen Israeli volunteerism, through adoptive OTZMA volunteers. This directly contributes to the ultimate goal of bridging the gap between Israel and the Diaspora. Some families are familiar with OTZMA while others have limited knowledge about the program and depend on you for more information.

The OTZMA staff tries to match people on the basis of common interests and hobbies as indicated on your adoptive family information forms and on the forms that families fill out.

Often, OTZMA participants have family and friends in Israel with whom they want to spend time. Some participants may choose to use their family or friends as their "adoptive family". This is an option. However, if you choose to have an adoptive family arranged by OTZMA, you need to consider whether you will have time to fulfill your obligation to a new Israeli family, while maintaining contact with your personal friends or family. Be sure that you understand that you have a responsibility to the program first and free time is limited. Many adoptive families become disappointed when their adoptive son or faughter does not have time to spend with them. If you think that you will be spending a majority of your free time with other family or friends, you should request to be "adopted' by them.

 

Vacations

There are three official vacation periods during the OTZMA program. They are tentatively scheduled over the following time periods:

                                                   Sukkot | Winter | Passover


Please notify family and friends of these dates so that if they are planning to visit you during the course of the year, they can make their plans accordingly.  These are the only dates during which you will not be obligated to participate in work, study, educational programming, etc.  If your friends and family will be in Israel at other times of the year, they will be able to visit you only after your work or other obligations are fulfilled.Please take into account that we highly recommend traveling only within Israel throughout the year, except for special family circumstances (which should be brought to the staff's attention well in advance).  Any and all travel outside of Israel, excluding the designated vacation days, requires pre-approval from the OTZMA staff. Any early departures or late returns from vacation periods can serve as grounds for dismissal from the program. Similarly, leaving the program at any time during the year, without permission from the staff can serve as grounds for dismissal from the program.