It was a typical Sunday evening, January 18th of this year. Many of the New York yeshivot were enjoying their winter vacations. Many of their Sderot counterparts were living with the realities of running for cover, caring for younger siblings and remaining indoors. For one group of yeshiva students and one group of Sderot teens this was an evening that significantly changed both of their lives.

For the past seven years, the Joel Braverman Yeshiva of Flatbush High School has sponsored a week long chessed mission to Israel. This year, through Connections Israel, they agreed to add a Sderot component to this most intense and worthwhile adventure. With limited time and the outbreak of Operation Cast Lead, the decision was made that if you can’t bring Flatbush to Sderot, bring Sderot to Flatbush!

And so, this past Sunday evening, through discussion, presentations, a guided activity and small group programming, these two diverse groups came to appreciate that they are all one. They may look somewhat different; their school schedules may be as different as night and day; their living conditions may be completely dissimilar. But they are all proud Jews; they are all teenagers; they are all passionate about their families, Israel and the Jewish People and they are more complete now that they have come together.

On the first day of the fragile, unilateral ceasefire, the Sderot teens were supposed to board a bus for Jerusalem and enjoy some leisurely time out in the open. As rockets came reigning down on greater numbers, the Sderot municipality forbade buses to leave or enter the city in an effort to protect the masses. But Connections Israel would not be deterred – this important interaction would take place! So taxis were arranged to shuttle the Sderot teens out of the city where their bus awaited them and they were off to the Kotel.

They had much to say to the Divine presence which hovers overhead. Prayers for those suffering from shock and prayers for the wounded chayalim; prayers for a safer, more stable future; prayers for strength and prayers of thanksgiving for the many miracles they themselves had witnessed over the past eight years of rocket attacks.

Simultaneously, in the Inbal Hotel’s conference room, the Flatbush students were getting a briefing on the events of the day; they were beginning to understand just how complicated a simple one hour bus ride for an activity could be. In essence, they were being transported into an unfamiliar zone.

A hush fell over the crowd as the Sderot teens entered and the group automatically rose and applauded their peers as they entered. No sooner had they arrived that questions were being shouted in every direction and the familiar noise of teenagers filled the space.

The Sderot teens, who are in leadership training programs, addressed their cohorts and described life, school, their volunteer work with younger children in bomb shelters etc. The Flatbush kids were full of questions. A short clip was aired that brought home just how short a 15 second red Alert warning truly is.

This was followed by an interactive activity which ended in small group discussions. Each group had independently brought along gifts for the other and email addresses were exchanged as photos were being snapped.

As the evening ended and each group went their separate ways the resounding message was: We each have so much to give to and learn from the other. Let’s do this more often!

If you are interested in having such an experience, please contact Connections Israel and “Get up close and Personal!”

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