On June 29, nine incredible kids and two wonderful chaperones from Israel landed at Newark Airport. Three synagogues — the Marlboro Jewish Center, Temple Rodeph Torah and the Freehold Jewish Center — and the Jewish Feder-ation helped make this day possible by raising the money to bring these children in.
Nine families hosted the children and Marty Wallack, chairman of the Marlboro Jewish Center’s Israel and World Jewish Affairs Committee whose vision made this day happen, hosted the chaperones, Michal and Koby, who you have read about (in the News Transcript).
All the families took their guest to New York City, Great Adventure, the beach, movies, bowling, shopping and many other activities. Most of the children were sponsored by camps in the area.
The American children socialized with all the Israeli children at a Friday night Shabbat service at the Marlboro Jewish Center, and a Sunday morning brunch for all the synagogue members to meet the children they sponsored [was] held at the Freehold Jewish Center.
The children came from Arad and Tamar where luckily there are not many attacks; however, they live with it every day. All have gas masks and know not to travel on buses.
For my family it was an incredible experience. Ziv Gross, 14, was the same age as my daughter. To watch her amazement at how large and green New Jersey [is] made it all worthwhile. The sight of a squirrel made her light up.
After seeing the show Phan-tom of the Opera, Ziv’s remark was that if so many people in Israel were in one building at the same time, it would probably be bombed. Several nights we were invited over other host houses and got to know the other families.
July 14 we all met at Laser Galaxy for two games of Laser Tag, which the Israelis won.
Then one of the hosts, Gail Friedman, made a farewell party at her home for all the hosting families. To see the bonds that all the children made with their hosting families and each other was truly heartwarming.
On July 15 the children boarded a bus to Kennedy Airport to start their long journey home.
Meeting and speaking to these children gave me a feeling of who we as Jewish people are and made me yearn to visit Israel soon. My daughter, Tara, now has many friends in Israel and hopefully one day she will see them again.
It is my hope that next year more synagogues and many more of you will have the opportunity to share in this unique experience.
Linda Perchuk
Freehold Jewish Center
Freehold Borough