It is always a challenge for American tourists in Israel to have a meaningful interaction with local Israelis. Shutaf welcomed an 8th grade class from the Solomon Schechter School of Greater Hartford this past spring to our Thursday youth group program. Shutaf’s Challenge? How to overcome the language barrier between both groups and maintain the weekly routine for Shutaf kids?
A class of seventeen 8th graders arrived at the Nature Museum to join Shutaf’s regular Thursday activities. Everyone introduced themselves in Hebrew and shared their favorite place in Israel. Language barriers evaporated as each group worked on communicating with each other.
Shutaf kids attempted to “show-off” the English words that they knew and the SSGH kids struggled and succeeded gamely with their Hebrew. The rest of the afternoon was run according to the traditional Thursday schedule, an element critical to the success of the day. Shutaf kids have a routine and an expectation for the afternoon and an important sense of ownership over their Thursdays; they were excited to show off the animals at the museum and their knowledge of their care to the visitors.
One very special connection was made between a visiting 8th grade girl who shared the same Hebrew name as a Shutaf girl. Both girls, named Sapir, were thrilled that they had a common name – it made for a feeling of friendship that built over the afternoon as they sat and played together. This positive and intimate encounter between Shutaf kids and the 8th graders will be one they will remember for a long time. Shutaf kids often ask when they are going to come back for a visit and join their afternoon activities.
Shutaf looks forward to welcoming visitors to our activities in the future.
