The Hatikva Experience at Beit Hatfutsot Friday, April 30, 2010
Special Feature
When was the last time you sang "Hatikva"? How would you like to watch yourself singing "Hatikva"?
Join in the tradition! This is part of the Live Hatikva initiative, which has united Jews from around the world to sing "Hatikva" for the past three celebrations of Israel's Independence Day - live and in real time.
Now you can join your voice! The Museum of the Jewish People has provided a space for Jews from around the world to see themselves singing "Hatikva" when they visit the museum in a new and exciting media exhibit.
How can you participate? Record yourself singing Hatikva, upload the video to www.bh.org.il/hatikvaexperience, and send us an email with the date and time you'll be visiting. When you visit the museum, you will meet yourself singing "Hatikva."
Hebrew:
כל עוד בלבב פנימה נפש יהודי הומיה ולפאתי מזרח קדימה עין לציון צופיה
עוד לא אבדה תקותנו התקוה בת שנות אלפים להיות עם חופשי בארצנו ארץ ציון וירושלים
Transliteration:
Kol od belevav pnima Nefesh Yehudi homiya, Ulfa’atey mizrach kadima Ayin letzion tzofiah.
Od lo avda tikvatenu Hatikva bat shnot alpayim Lihyot am chofshi be’artzenu Eretz T’zion viYerushalayim.
English: As long as deep in the heart The soul of a Jew yearns And towards the East An eye looks to Zion
Our hope is not yet lost, The hope of two thousand years To be a free people in our land The land of Zion and Jerusalem.
10th Anniversary Mega Event Videos Friday, January 29, 2010
Highlights and Features
Our 10th Anniversary Mega Event was a celebration of the past, present, and future of Taglit-Birthright Israel and the Jewish people. Watch the videos below to see our participants and founding philanthropists reflect on the last 10 years, and look ahead to the years to come!
10th Anniversary Plane Landing in Israel Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Special Feature
10 years to-the-day after the first Taglit-Birthright Israel flight arrived in Israel, a new planeload of participants lands in Tel Aviv! Check out video of the landing below!
Taglit-Birthright Israel participants set Guinness World Record! Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Special Feature
28,267 Taglit-Birthright Israel participants from 24 countries have collaborated to create an Israeli flag that has been certified as the Guinness World Record-holder for "The Most Artists Working on the Same Art Installation"! Explore the flag below!
And check out our video about the project, shown at the 10th Anniversary Mega Event!
Yachad (together) Friday, July 17, 2009
Special Feature
It was a special day for a group of Taglit-Birthright Israel participants visiting Israel from the United States, Argentina, and countries of the Former Soviet Union as part of their ten-day educational trip. Instead of experiencing Israel in groups consisting solely of their fellow countrymen and women, these 145 young adults had the unique opportunity to interact, travel, sing, and learn alongside their peers from the other participating countries.
This new program, called "Yachad" for the Hebrew word meaning "together", is modeled in part after the successful "Mifgash" program that places Israelis in Taglit-Birthright Israel groups. Yachad, generously supported by the Nadav Fund, aims to make its participants more aware of both the commonalities and distinctiveness of Jewish identity from country to country, and to emphasize the shared Jewish connections that transcend borders.
For some participants, the experience had an element of novelty at first. One American participant admitted "it is very rare to meet non-American Jews." Within a limited timeframe, Yachad organizers sought to break down cultural and language barriers quickly, forming thoroughly heterogeneous groups and planning events that encouraged and emphasized communication and cooperation.
Watch what happens when Taglit-Birthright Israel brings Jewish young adults from North and South America and Europe together to experience Israel as one!
One such activity took the participants to the Neot Kedudim park, which recreates the environment of an ancient farm and garden. Working together, they learned how to draw water from a well and herd sheep, much as their common ancestors had done on the same land generations ago.
For some, their differences proved to be challenging. "We tried to work together and we tried to communicate," an Argentinean said, "we have many different languages." But the groups found ways to overcome these obstacles. "Working together to accomplish one task - that is the essence of the Jews," an American participant said, "so many different Jews everywhere but we can work together to accomplish the task."
In addition to working and exploring together, the groups engaged in dialogues that allowed participants to better understand each other and find common ground in their shared Judaism. There was also a musical jam session that allowed everyone to express themselves in a way unique to their country's culture. "My Jewish identify is a lot larger now than it was before," said an American, adding "I feel like I have Jewish brothers and sisters all over the world and if I went there, I feel like I could go there, I would be welcome and feel at home and I didn’t feel that way before."
Yachad program organizers were greatly encouraged by the success of this pilot program, and are looking to expand it in future rounds of Taglit-Birthright Israel.
