Groups like Yachad are driving an interest in an alternative Israel experience

At some point in the last couple of years, the Jewish community in Britain shifted. Where once
a single monolithic ‘community’ spoke with a single voice, what we now see is a plethora of
mainstream organisations catering to every facet of Zionist ideology – from Yachad to the Zionist
Federation, Brits for Peace Now to the Board of Deputies. A number of theories have been given
for this development. Some say it shows the rise of a confident young ‘Americanised’ Jewish
community that is proud of its identity and embraces differences rather than smoothing them
over. Or perhaps it is a reaction to successive Israeli governments who in some eyes have made
traditional Israel advocacy increasingly more difficult. We need only look at the controversy of
Mick Davis’ comments regarding the apartheid analogy in 2010, or the more recent debate of the
Union of Jewish Students’ Liberation campaign to see that the UK has a Jewish community that is
exploring its relationship with Israel in a far deeper way than ever before in the past.

However, one area that has remained relatively consistent is the long-term Israel programming
available to students and young adults. Gap year programmes in Israel, and initiatives such as
Taglit-Birthright, offer young people a chance to have some amazing experiences in Israel –
from volunteering in Israeli schools, working for Magen David Adom, to volunteering for the
IDF. Despite these great opportunities, there is one area notable by its absence – a real and
meaningful engagement with the largest minority group in Israeli society: the one and a half
million strong community of Israeli Arabs. Givat Haviva, an educational wing of the Kibbutz
Movement, is seeking to change this with their Intensive Arabic Semester.

The Intensive Arabic Semester is a five and a half month programme offering a vibrant,
challenging and unique experience, allowing participants to get to grips with complex
relationship between the Jewish state and its Arab minority. Students gain an excellent
knowledge of the Arabic language – alongside volunteering in local Arab villages, experiencing
authentic Israeli kibbutz life and taking classes on Middle Eastern, Islamic & Jewish history.
In partnership with the Jewish Agency and MASA, the programme is an Israel experience like
no other – and scholarships are available to allow the British Jewish community to come and
discover the reality on the ground for themselves.

The Jewish’s relationship with Israel is deep and complex, and now there is a programme
that allows individual British Jews the chance to come and experience the cutting edge of
Israeli society – no holds barred. The Intensive Arabic Semester will challenge, excite, and
ultimately strengthen the relationship between Israeli society and the diaspora. If you are
considering coming to Israel for a programme, then consider doing something different this
time by experiencing the uncensored and cutting edge of Israeli society. I guarantee it will be life
changing.

You can find more information on the Intensive Arabic Semester at
www.intensivearabicsemester.org

For information on scholarships for UK participants please email givathavivauk@gmail.com