Wondering why New Years Eve is known as Sylvester in Israel?  Me too.  So I did a little research and came up with basically no explanation.  But I did find some interesting theories regarding where the name originates and was consequentially able to attach my own suspicions concerning how the term came to grace Israeli lips. by Erin Kopelow

This year Young Judea has introduced Olami, a new extension to the Young Judaea Year Course program that brings participants face-to-face with the people, politics, history, and culture of the countries that played a pivotal role in the development of the modern state of Israel. Read Lost Jewish Communities participant Jennifer Apple as she shares her experience in Uganda. by Jennifer Apple

A recent talk by popular Israeli authors Etgar Keret and Alona Kimhi drew students to from as far as Haifa, Be'er Sheva, Tel Aviv and Arad, through rain that would have made Noah double-check his caulking. If the students were expecting unorthodox opinions, they were not disappointed.  At one point, Keret characterized the ties between Diaspora and Israeli Jews as being "like an S and M relationship."  by Josh Spiro

As part of their Monday Israel Experience program Machon Madrichim Achool Laretz took their participants to Hebron, a city physically divided between approximately 800 Jewish Settlers and an Arab population of over 160,000.  "[My program organizers] told us the aim of the trip was to confuse us," participant Daniel Heller said, "but I don't think I was told the truth once." by Erin Kopelow

Six MASA participants were selected from the BFL Seminar Series to participate in the opening session of the Jewish People Policy Planning Institute (JPPPI) Master Class, a think tank comprised of top Israeli students from universities around the country created to “help assure a thriving future for the Jewish People and Judaism.” by Erin Kopelow

B.F.L participant Ella Spivack reflects on her experience at the BFL seminar series, a MAP seminar devoted to the building and enabling of future Jewish leadership.  During the course of the seminar, each participant developed their own personal project to which they applied the skills and exposure gained through the lectures, workshops and tours of the BFL seminar.  by Ella Spivack

The Streams in Judaism Shabbaton was for many a first glimpse into the diversity of Jewish practice today approached through a series of small workshops and larger lectures exploring the complexity of Jewish practice and belief, as well as the collective that holds us all together under one religious affiliation. by Erin Kopelow

See what MASA participants did on their Chanukah break

Upcoming MAP Events Exclusive MAP Event Beaufort film screening with book and screenplay writer Ron Leshem January 17, 2008 MAP Orthodox Shabbaton Israel at Sixty Women's Program January 11-12, 2008    Men's Program January 18-19, 2008 MAP Shabbaton Israel Political Issues               February 22-23, 2008 Exclusive MAP Concert Idan Raichel Project February 28, 2008 Tickets on sale now!! Contact Joey  052.303.3088 / info.joey@gmail.com Shout Out to all those little moments that make each day in Israel unique and oh so worthwhile. SO to the policeman who took the pack of camels on the highway from Ein Gedi to Jerusalem into his own hands.  Herding camels with your police car and siren is genius.  Way to keep our roads safe and hazard free. Submitted January 7th ASO to whoever didn't bother to sponja the floor after showering: You know, maybe you could warn us before you decide to flood the apartment. Submitted December 7th, 2007 SO to the shopkeeper on King George TLV who has the male mannequin dressed in a lycra dress and a drill hanging around it neck in the window for the past 2 and a half weeks! what are you thinking?!?!  Submitted December 11th SO to the genius who wound up leaving their binder and brief case unattended in side the gate heading into the kottel. Only to allow the bomb squad blow it up! There goes a weeks worth of work! And a SO to the bomb squad!  At least we know we can be safe somewhere in this country! Thanks for keeping things on lockdown!   Submitted December 12th To submit your Shout Out (SO) or Anti-Shout Out (ASO) email masamap@masaisrael.org or send Erin a message via Facebook at Erin MasaMap. Step into Israel: Eganu Highlights for MASA According to Co-founder's Tal and Asaf, Eganu is the largest Israeli social networking website focused on Israeli arts and culture.  This edition of Footprints is proud to highlight Eganu's music scene.  So take a look, brouse Israeli bands, sample music, check out upcoming shows, and even join Eganu as a member in order to keep up to date with Israeli culture while in Israel as well as to stay in touch after you leave.  www.eganu.com

Already thinking about how to get back to Israel after your program? If you've been to Israel on a MASA-affiliated program, you can win an El Al gift certficate by recruiting new MASA participants through MASA’s recruiters program Friends Bringing Friends  contact Megan Shif megans@masaisrael.org

Links in the Chain Seminars Reflective Encounters with the Holocaust An experiential educational program that prepares you to confront the challenges facing the Jewish people's future through in-depth study of the Holocaust and related issues. Eight Encounters, 36 participants from across the globe. A lifetime of learning. Join us and become A LINK IN THE CHAIN. elanayael@gmail.com click for more information

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