FZY Update

This week the FZY chanichim (participants) continued their seminars. On Sunday they had the choice to learn about one of the following three topics: Ethics in Judaism, Women in Judaism or Pesach. By all accounts it was a very interesting and varied day, with everyone learning a great deal about their chosen topic.

On Monday and Tuesday there was a Shoah (Holocaust) seminar. On the first day, the group went to Jerusalem to Yad Vashem the national Holocaust museum. As all of the group had been there before a programme was put together of different elements, including hearing a testimony from a survivor who was best friends with Anne Frank, and also taking part in an art workshop, which encouraged the Year Coursers to express their views and feelings towards the Shoah. The second day of the seminar focussed on Holocaust Film, theology during and after the Shoah, how to educate about the Holocaust and also different dilemmas which people had to make during the Shoah.

On Wednesday, the group started the first day of a camp simulation seminar. With most of the FZY Year Coursers staffing FZY camp in the summer, the idea is to replicate camp to give them practice at being madrichim (leaders). On this first day of the seminar, the Year Coursers spent their time preparing peulot (activities) which they would be leading to one another over the coming days.

Thursday was the long awaited day of the Jerusalem Half-Marathon and 10k run. It was an early start, with the Year Coursers heading up to Jerusalem in time for the start of the race. Some of the group chose to run in fancy dress, with some people sporting pink tutu's and others dressed as snails. The weather was perfect for the run, and everyone had an enjoyable, but tiring day out. Massive congratulations must go to the entire FZY group for taking part. If you have not yet sponsored the FZY Year Coursers for this run, then you can still do so at: http://www.justgiving.com/FZY-Year-Course

On the Thursday evening, the majority of the Year Coursers chose to go across to Tel Aviv to join in with the FZY 100th Anniversary celebrations. With the guest of honours, Isaac Herzog (Social Welfare Minister), Tom Phillips (British Ambassador to Israel) and Natan Sharansky (Chair of the Jewish Agency) and entertainment from the Tzofim Caravan and a delicious 3-course meal, a fantastic evening was had by all. Approximately 300 people were there to celebrate the 100th year of FZY, with people involved with FZY from every decade since the 1940's until the 2010's.