Since camp began, the community has been abuzz about the SCA’s Israel leadership training program, I-LEAD. The trip included an intensive hands-on journey through Israel, in a fashion both unconventional and intense. The Sephardic Community Alliance (SCA) wanted those involved to embark on an experience of self-discovery; to learn more about what it means to love the State of Israel, and to know what it means to be a leader. The five week intensive course, as it is called, traveled Israel in its entirety, exposing the select group of 20 boys and 20 girls to a side of the country that would never be seen on a typical bar mitzvah trip.
The trip is meant to be a transformation, a five week experience that will push campers to their limits and broaden their horizons. The Galilee, Safed, and Jerusalem made up the bulk of the first half of the traveling, and the Negev, army base training, Caesarea, Hadera, and Tel Aviv made up the second half. The activities in such places however, were far from the expected. Many days consisted of hikes in which the participants were left up to their own devices to navigate through the Israeli wilderness. At the Kineret (Sea of Galilee), the group was given raw materials and told to make a boat to get across; and a Shabbat was spent beneath the scorching sun and stars of the desert.
The SCA promotes the program as a leadership transformation, something that will inspire growth and self confidence in its participants. In its declaration of values, the organization states that they “recognize G-d’s providence in the establishment of the State of Israel, fully support its security and prosperity; in prayer and indeed celebrate its existence”
The program’s directors, Joey Harari and Rabbi Shilo Plesser, have dropped in on I-LEADERS frequently throughout the course. They, as well as the program’s founder Jeffrey Beyda, have a deep love for the Land of Israel. This devotion has been passed on to former I-LEADERS and will hopefully be passed on to this year’s group, as well. If nothing else, the SCA has managed to inspire a love for the Land of Israel that goes well beyond the realm of tourism. There is no doubt that a hands-on experience through the country gave the participants a wider understanding of what it means to be a supporter of Israel.
Our community has heard from its founders that it is a spectacular program, and we’ve heard how proud the group’s parents were to have children who could accomplish such a feat. What’s truly interesting, however, is the account of the girls and boys who have actually experienced it. Several former I-LEAD campers told IMAGE Magazine how and why I-LEAD is something to be talked about.
When asked why they first decided to go on I-LEAD, all former campers did not hesitate to answer. “I was used to the normal every day routine,” commented Stacie Cabasso, “I wanted to step out of the ordinary.” Many campers expressed a similar attitude.
One of the goals of the SCA is to take the campers out of their comfort zone, and to expand their minds on a cultural level. The people they met along the way provided a better understanding of life outside the United States. “The people we’ve seen,” commented an I-LEADER who preferred to remain anonymous, “never had a selfish thought. It was all about Israel and what they could do to make it a more comfortable place to live.”
The trip was fully loaded with emotional and physical challenges. Whatever the campers had been waiting for, this certainly superseded expectations. “The five days of army training taxed my emotions on an insane level,” said former I-LEADER Danielle Khezrie. “Our brothers and sisters in Israel go through this intense training for three years; I only had to endure it for five days.” She confided that the impact of this realization has never truly left her; it has been a point of intense revelry ever since.
Many campers recounted nights spent asleep in little other than dirt, others remembered hikes that lasted for almost eight hours. It is therefore remarkable that they spoke of it with such fondness. “Nothing was too challenging!” exclaimed I-LEADER Jack Cattan enthusiastically, “though there were times when I missed being clean.” Among all the former campers, there seemed to be an earnestness to prove that the harder the conditions, the better the experience. The less comfortable they were, the more they had to look back on with pride.
To each camper, there is at least one unforgettable moment from the trip that affects them more than any other. Often when questioned, even I, the interviewer, was struck by the intensity of the emotion behind each of these stories. From an outside view, it was hard to imagine where else but in Israel such experiences would have been possible. “Children whose entire families had been wiped out from terror attacks spoke to us one day,” remarked Raquel Kassin. “They lost everything and yet they still found a reason to push on. It helped me put my own losses into perspective.” Other campers related stories of terrifying code reds in Sderot, they spoke with tremendous respect for the families who had to bear life-threatening assaults day in and day out. The weekend spent in the settlement opened their eyes to the fortunate lives many of us lead here in Brooklyn, and even more importantly, to the perseverance of spirit. “The selflessness of the community was astounding. I’ve never known people to be so dedicated in any area of life,” remarked Inez Sharaby.
This year’s I-LEAD trip left in early July. Excited campers were eager to share the growing anticipation for a trip they had heard so much about. “I’m nervous as can be,” said Jacqueline Sasson, “I’ve heard it’s the most amazing trip you’ll ever go on.” Campers from last year remember the excitement and remark almost humorously that they were in no way prepared for what was coming. “Everyone’s been telling me I have no idea what I’m in for,” said soon-to-be camper Deborah Dweck.
Not only did the trip inspire responsibility, selflessness, and leadership in its campers, but also a tremendous love and appreciation for the State of Israel. “I feel an emotional attachment to the land,” said Denise Zami. She continued, “I’m going next year to learn and there’s just a feeling you have when you go there. I was never able to experience that before this trip.”
Collectively, the group was in awe of the overall character of the Israeli culture and came away with a deeper appreciation than ever before. The trip was not only a great experience, but an eye-opener. “This trip,” said Danielle Khezrie, “is for those who want change, who are ready to see more than what they are used to, and are ready to push their limitations.” I-LEAD certainly prepared its campers to be ready for any challenge thrown their way in the future.
The SCA provides young community members with a strong sense of community values. I-LEAD is just one of the projects offered by the SCA to better the community as a whole. From just a few short weeks, those who participated in I-LEAD developed an appreciation for the world outside of Brooklyn, New York, gaining a more sophisticated outlook overall. I-LEAD is just another example of how the SCA will continue to strive in order to make the community one that is knowledgeable and well informed. The experience will undoubtedly provide former participants will the necessary skills and sophistication needed to become the community’s future leaders.
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Sally Mizrachi recently graduated from the Yeshivah of Flatbush. She will be attending Hunter College in the fall. She is currently an intern at IMAGE Magazine.
