Ronit Jacobs gushes when she talks about the Tzofim Israeli Friendship Caravan that will perform at Israel in the Gardens.
“Growing up in Israel and being part of the Israeli Scouts, I know firsthand how wonderful an organization this is,” says Jacobs, director of Israel in the Gardens. “I see it not only as a great upbeat performance, but also as a way of strengthening the ties between the American Jewish community and the Israeli community.”
Ten Israelis, ages 16 and 17, will help fortify those bonds with a “high-energy musical program suitable for the entire family” as they kick off their U.S. tour in San Francisco.
The scouts, five boys and five girls, “involve the audience in various songs and dances, and the Israeli scout movement is based on similar educational themes that America’s youth are taught: democracy, tolerance and social responsibility,” Jacobs notes.
More than 70,000 Israeli teens learn these shared values in a coeducational setting as part of the only pluralistic and nonpartisan youth movement inside Israel. Jacobs said that for teens to be accepted into the performance troupe, “they must pass an extensive interview process, exhibit leadership qualities, have a high level of scouting skills and an extensive knowledge of Israeli and Jewish history, and speak English fluently.”
Among the high-achieving and extraordinarily skilled Tzofim performers is Aya Erel, a 16-year-old from Ramat Gan whose specialty is singing classical and jazz music.
Another performer, Roy Hirsch, who lives 15 miles outside of Tel Aviv in Shoham, attends two public high schools where he focuses on science and computers, enjoys movies and parties, and sees his trip to the United States as a way to “share the love and spirit of our friendship.”
And there is Shiri Livneh, a globetrotting 24-year old caravan leader, who served in the Israeli air force, lived in England for two years, and traveled to India and Nepal.
“My main hobbies are dancing and cooking,” Livneh says. “I also love nature and I make efforts to find time for hiking. I love having the opportunity to work with such talented kids.”
Jacobs says this year’s trip is the earliest one the talented friendship caravan troupe will make to the United States. “Usually they are out West in August and most of the community misses out on their visit,” she says.
Their visit, which includes dazzling dance routines set to Israeli, Jewish and American songs and multicolored costumes, includes more than just an enthralling performance. The caravan members also will be available at 12:30 p.m. in the Teen Area at Israel in the Gardens for an hourlong question-and-answer session about the current security and political situation in Israel through the eyes of Israeli teens.
During the caravan’s 2008 tour, the scouts crisscrossed 35 states and visited 250 youth camps, community centers, churches, senior homes and schools. They performed for nearly 100,000 people in total.
“Israel in the Gardens is all about bringing the grassroots side of Israel to the Bay Area for a celebration,” Jacobs says. “We did not want to miss such a great opportunity to have them on board. People can expect a high-energy dance and song performance with a message of peace and friendship, as well as discussions about growing up in Israel, their views of the world and much more.”