"We'll Be Back For More!"
By Lydia Aisenberg
December 18, 2007
On a far from lazy but extremely hazy day in mid-November, thirty four members of the English Speaking Residents Association (ESRA) from the central region of Israel spent a mutually enlightening seminar at Givat Haviva and toured the Wadi Ara area.
At the end of the day the participants agreed they had learned a great deal and were already planning a return visit to the campus and environs. The staff of Givat Haviva’s International Department gleaned an opportunity to hear about some of the ESRA projects the volunteers are heart and soul involved with – and one can safely say that both seminar participants and staff went home with a feeling of having broadened their horizons that day.
The ESRA visit to Givat Haviva - of whom only two folks had previously visited, although the majority lives in Israel between twenty to forty years – began with an explanation of campus activities and general background regarding the region of Wadi Ara and environs.
The group also met with lecturer Mohammad Darawshe, a former Givat Haviva staff member who is nowadays with the Abraham Fund. Darawshe gave an enlightening talk about the Arab citizens of Israel and answered questions briskly fielded by his attentive audience.
Following lunch on campus the ESRA folks undertook a tour of the Amir mountain range but unfortunately a heat haze somewhat blocked much of the view. Even so, participants were impressed with the limited sites and sights, particularly with Barta’a village down below.
Walking through the crowded streets of Barta’a to the ditch that was the pre-1967 border between the State of Israel and then Jordaninian controlled West Bank, many questions were directed at the Givat Haviva guide accompanying the group.
“I had no idea there were Palestinian people living on the Israeli side of the security fence,” commented one lady after discovering that the security fence passes behind the 4,000 plus Palestinians of East Barta’a.
Veteran olim (immigrants) from many different countries, the ESRA group are amongst over 900 volunteers involved in ESRA community projects servicing thousands of needy new immigrants and other sectors of Israeli society.
Set up some thirty years ago primarily to ease the entry of English speaking immigrants into Israeli society by helping them get involved in their local communities, ESRA has become one of the largest and most effective voluntary organizations in the country today.
Through the ESRA Community Fund scores of educational and welfare programs have been created in order to respond to the needs of disadvantaged families, disabled youth and adults, immigrants from distressed countries and more.
Following their successful seminar and tour ESRA programs committee member Bess Hoffman sent us an email:
“Thanks for a most informative and enjoyable day. Many have requested that we set up another visit to Givat Haviva, which we will do,” wrote Bess.
“My compliments for a fascinating day,” emailed Joan Frankenthal who has written an article about the seminar for the bi-monthly quality ESRA magazine.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the day. I was amazed at how many new facts I learned, am able to remember and relate to whoever wants to hear!” emailed Frankie Cronin who also posted a short summary of the seminar and visit to Barta’a on the yahoo groups ESRA list.