Letter From Rachel

Dear Friends,

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Galilee Dreamers: A Remarkable Summer Camp Experience

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This August, the Galilee Dreamers program hosted an extraordinary summer camp at Kibbutz Kishorit , bringing together 20 Jewish and Arab teenagers for an unforgettable adventure in coexistence and personal growth. The camp was sponsored by the William and Irene Weinberg family foundation.

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A Week of Unity and Discovery

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For six days and five nights, these young people lived, ate, slept, laughed, and sang together. They moved freely but responsibly throughout the camp, forging friendships that transcended cultural boundaries.

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Leadership and Guidance

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The camp was led by an experienced team, including board members Roberta Bell Kligler, Desmond Kaplan, Cecil Rimer, and Rachel Ravid. Two program alumni, Barak Maor and Muhammad Ryan, served as counselors, with additional support from Yasmin Masri, a teacher from the Deir al-Asad Comprehensive School.

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Meaningful Volunteer Work

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A cornerstone of the camp experience was morning volunteer work alongside Kibbutz members with special needs. Campers embraced early wakeups and took responsibility for preparing breakfast for the entire group before heading out to various work branches, including the vegetable garden, sheep pen, communications department, and dog kennel.

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Building Connections

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The teenagers engaged in social activities with Kibbutz members, playing games, painting river stones, working with clay, conversing, and singing together. Shared lunches in the Kibbutz dining hall provided another opportunity to deepen these connections. Throughout the camp, Kibbutz members expressed enthusiasm about the profound relationships formed with both Jewish and Arab participants.

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Leisure and Team Building

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The afternoons were filled with swimming and volleyball games. In the early evenings, participants prepared dinner together, fostering teamwork and cultural exchange.

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Evening Workshops and Discussions

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Evenings were dedicated to workshops promoting personal identity awareness and interpersonal relationship building. These included:

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• Creating stool/chairs in traditional Palestinian weaving style, led by Palestinian and Jewish artists

• Identifying milestones and core values in leading change processes

• A playback theater workshop led by Arab and Jewish actors

The group also held discussions on ways to advance shared society projects in the Galilee.

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A Simple Recipe for Peace

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Throughout the camp, the staff observed the natural ease with which young people from different cultural backgrounds formed connections. We recognized the power of love, belief in goodness, hands-on work, friendship, sports, music, and group dynamics in promoting an environment of peace, respect, and care for others.

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The Galilee Dreamers summer camp stands as a shining example of how bringing youth together in a supportive, engaging environment can foster understanding, friendship, and hope for a shared future.

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Warm regards,
 

Dr. Rachel Ravsin-Ravid

Director, Galilee Dreamers