By Zack Fox, grade 11 student
This summer I was in Israel on a program called the Diller Teen Fellows. It is a Jewish leadership program, affiliated in Toronto with the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, focused on building leaders as well as Jewish identity. A main feature of Diller is that each North American city is partnered with an Israeli city, and the fellows have a short exchange. First, the Israelis come to Toronto and live with us for a week. They learn about the Jewish community in Toronto, volunteer, and have fun while staying in another fellow’s home. Then, as part of the three week trip, the North American fellows stay at their Israeli counterpart’s home. For the Torontonians, living in Eilat-Eilot for a week was full of new experiences, as I’m sure it was when the Eilatis came to Toronto in the dead of winter. As you can see, it is quite the impressive program.
A major part of the program was learning about leadership and how each of us can become better leaders. While at the International Congress, we had a panel with thirty amazing leaders where we discussed techniques and what makes someone be a leader. I look forward to implementing the leadership skills and ideas I learned during my last two years in high school and beyond.
[callout template=”Quote”] “It was a culmination of my education, both in elementary school and Or Chaim. YOC has taught me not only to love Israel, but to feel connected and know the land.”[/callout]
This summer was my first time in Israel. So everything was a new experience. The first day in Israel really resonated with me. After landing, we went straight to the North, to the Kineret. Personally, this was breathtaking not just for its beauty, but also because it was something coming to fruition. It was a culmination of my education, both in elementary school and Or Chaim. YOC has taught me not only to love Israel, but to feel connected and know the land. So when I was overlooking the Kineret, I knew all about it because I had learned about it, and yet felt a connection to those before me who had enjoyed the same view of a beautiful place.
Another moment that connected everything for me was while I was in the Diller International Congress. This was when 500 fellows from 4 countries were together for 6 jam-packed days. On Shabbat,an inspiring Carlebach minyan took place. Diller is a pluralistic fellowship, so I found it amazing to be in Eretz Yisarel, with so many other incredible leaders from different backgrounds, taking part in a special Kabbalat shabbat. This program was a great example of the Bnei Akiva/Or Chaim ideals of Torah, Avodah, Eretz Yisrael. After a week of volunteering in Eilat-Eilot as well as working with the community, we experienced this meaningful Shabbat, incorporating the Jewish values I had learned through my years of education.
Thank you to UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, the Helen Diller Family Foundation and everyone that made my summer asmemorable as it was!
– Zack Fox, grade 11 student
