Staying Healthy While Away from Home

You have been in Israel for a week, adjusting to new surroundings and making new friends. The Chagim are around the corner and you may begin to feel blue. You are not alone. Many of the feelings that you have are feelings that students in campuses around the world feel as well. You may not have as much pressure this year school wise-but there are other pressures.
Take a few moments to read this great article about the 5 Big Health Issues that Students Face.
And please do not hesitate to be in touch with us.

Debra and Daniella
here4theyear@gmail.com

The Current Security Situation in Israel

One of things you may have learned and experienced this year is that the Middle East is a quiet yet somewhat volatile region. We are safe but yet we must always be careful. These past few days have demonstrated this. A flotilla of boats tried to sail to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinians. Israel is not at all opposed to delivering aid and does also provide aid and support to that region. However, the country has a policy that all shipments must first dock in Ashdod and be inspected and then can continue escorted. Unfortunately, Israel has had the experience where humanitarian aid was in the form of ammunition.
The flotilla had been notified and warned several times during this past week. They chose to break Israel security law and continue sailing. This left Israel Defense Forces with no choice but to board the ships. They were not prepared for what insued, as has been described "a lynch mob" Israeli soldiers defended themselves and in the course of this defense both our soldiers and people on the ship were injured and some of those members of the ship were killed. The response from the world has been a denunciation of Israel's actions. As a result, there has been an increase in rioting and other violent responses on the part of the Arab population in Israel. Today many Arabs in the Old City are on strike.

During this period of unrest it is best to be careful. Stay in groups and stay away from areas where you may confront a difficult situation.

If you have planned a trip to Turkey it is recommended by the Israel Government to stay away from that region at the present time.

Keep safe and make this end of the year memorable.

Debra and Daniella

End of the Year Closure

It is hard to believe that many of you will be going home in just a few weeks. Last night I attended a Barnard Alumni Event with over 30 young women, who deferred their admission to Barnard to spend the year in Israel. Dean Denburg, Dean of Barnard reported that 7% of the incoming Barnard class has spent the year in Israel-astounding! And how welcoming the Dean is of these young women, to the point of traveling to Israel to meet with each of them and help ease their transition.
And that is what closure is about-Looking Back and Moving Forward. This is time for you to reflect upon your year in Israel. It is a time to think about what you gained from your year in Israel. What will you be able to carry with you during the coming year. Some of you will be attending secular colleges and won't have the opportunity to study Torah so many hours each day. This is the time to think about what you can work into your schedule-even if its 5 minutes!
Daniella and I would love to hear about some of your reflections of your year and what you plan to take with you as you move ahead.
Behatzlacha!

Debra