| Nestled in the mountaintop town of Tzfat, in | | | | it easy for me to be part of the group and ease |
| Northern Israel, is Israel's most amazing | | | | into learning at my own pace. The thing is that |
| Experience program imaginable. | | | | the programming, learning, discussions, hiking, |
| Livnot U'Lehibanot To Build and Be Built, has, | | | | singing, singing and singing made wanting to |
| through the years, woven an integrated program | | | | continue my practice completely irresistible! Plus |
| for people coming for one week, two weeks, or | | | | the opportunity to give back to the community |
| several months.....in programs combine hiking, | | | | instead of just observing made the experience |
| seminars, workshops, experiential activities, | | | | even more meaningful. I suppose the best |
| community service work, and excavations of | | | | endorsement I can give is that I wish I were |
| Tzfat's Old Jewish Quarter. The programs allow | | | | going back again this year, and the year after.J.S. |
| participants to come to their own understanding | | | | 2009. |
| of Israel and of the Jewish World. | | | | Hiking |
| There's nothin like a birthright with Livnot | | | | Livnot is famous for its Livnot hikes. Livnot |
| U'Lehibanot. It's been four years since I had the | | | | embodies the belief that to know Israel is to walk |
| pleasure of doing this program and it's still so | | | | it, to climb it, to swim in it, and to feel it in every |
| incredibly vivid in my mind. It really is a life | | | | way, Livnot participants feet part of the land of |
| changing experience and I would recommend it to | | | | Israel in every way. The crowning glory of every |
| anyone. Not only is it a great chance to see the | | | | long (longer than 2-weeks) program is a 3-day |
| land, but there is just so much to learn from the | | | | hike, when the hikers complete the Sea (Kinneret) |
| people at livnot. I'm still in awe that it was a free | | | | to Sea (Mediterranean) hike, trekking through the |
| trip. I actually just can't wait to go back. I hope | | | | valleys, hills, mountaintops and streams of Israel |
| everyone is well.J.K. 2009 | | | | as they learn about Israel and Judaism step by |
| Excavations | | | | step. |
| Livnot began in 1980 with a group of young | | | | Experience |
| English-speakers who came to Tzfat to excavate | | | | Each stage of the Livnot program is experiential, |
| the ruins which lie below the ground. Throughout | | | | and none more so than Shabbat. Livnot is a |
| the years, little by little, subsequent groups | | | | program which encourages participants to |
| renovated the rooms which had been unearthed, | | | | experience Judaism, incorporating the Jewish |
| creating a labyrinth ofrooms which sat snugly | | | | traditions and beliefs which speak to each |
| below the streets of present-day Tzfat. These | | | | individual, and always looking towards how to |
| excavations continue today in a new area below | | | | grow, both individually as a Jew and as a member |
| today's campus. | | | | of the Jewish community at large. Through the |
| I had an incredible experience with Livnot. Like | | | | Livnot Shabbat and other holiday celebrations, |
| they told us over and over, the whole point is not | | | | participants celebrate as a group as well as with |
| to find the answers but to start asking the | | | | families in the community, developing a connection |
| questions. I have so much more knowledge after | | | | with Jewish communal celebrations and traditions, |
| my trip with Livnot and a lifetime's worth of | | | | as well as with local residents of Tzfat. Livnot's |
| questions. It was a wonderful, mature way to | | | | MASA programs are specifically geared for this |
| experience Israel and I would recommend it to | | | | sort of adventure, since they encompass 5 |
| anyone looking for a fulfilling Birthright experience. | | | | months of the year, each of which is centered |
| B.C. 2009 | | | | around a holiday season. |
| Volunteering | | | | In Dec 2004 I attended Livnot's Birthright 153 |
| As time passed, the municipality and local | | | | program, and from that day on Livnot has been a |
| non-profits began to rely on the Livnot | | | | big part of my life. I was blown away by the |
| participants to assist with public service projects. | | | | Livnot staff and their incredible programming. |
| When the campus expanded to Jerusalem, | | | | Livnot has helped me to find my deeper meaning |
| participants of both the Tzfat and Jerusalem | | | | of what my Judaism means to me. By way of |
| Livnot programs led the way in demonstrating the | | | | connecting to my Judaism through nature and |
| importance of volunteerism as part of Israel | | | | community service in Israel has been an amazing |
| programs as they assisted in home renovations | | | | road. I had such an wonderful experience with |
| for the elderly and disadvantaged, worked in soup | | | | Livnot I returned on their 226 Galilee Fellowship in |
| kitchens, packaged packages for the needy, and | | | | the summer of '08. B.W. 2008 |
| helped wherever and whenever their assistance | | | | Livnot is a program which engages all the senses |
| was needed. This model has today been adopted | | | | to provide participants with a Jewish beginning. As |
| by almost all other Israel Experience Programs as | | | | the Livnot founder is fond of saying, "Livnot isn't |
| participants and donors expect that "Tikkun Olam" | | | | for everyone", but for those who 'do Livnot' it's a |
| be a part of Israel programs. | | | | life-changing experience which has the power to |
| Livnot was an incredible experience! I had very | | | | transform and awe those who are open to the |
| little experience with my Jewish faith and Livnot | | | | challenge. |
| opened doors I could not imagine. The staff made | | | | |