CLICK Society

From Australia to Israel

Two girls from Australia have arrived in Israel for ten months, and are volunteering at the Neve Ne'eman children's center. We discussed Zionism, the Maccabiah disaster, the weather, and Israeli men.

The two girls arrived from Australia after a 24 hour flight, with a stop in Bangkok, in order to live in Israel for ten months and volunteer together with other young men and women. They came under the auspices of "Netzer" (Zionist Reform Youth) that is active in the Australian Jewish community. The two 18 year olds are Janet Meyers from Sydney and Gali Lincor from Melbourne.

I met them at the children's club that is now running a summer camp for children from stressful homes. They eat and sleep at the club, and the conditions are pretty hard for two girls who come from well established families. "That's just part of the whole experience", they said.

The connection to the Neve Ne'eman center was made by Linda Mosek, Director of CLICK. "Before I arrived to Hod Hasharon", says Linda "I worked in the Neighborhood Improvement project which was adopted by the Jewish Community and Netzer. That is how I had the connections to arrange for the girls to volunteer at our club. This summer I will be visiting Australia to raise additional funds for CLICK."

What brings two young girls like you to visit us from the other side of the world?
Gali: "We're active in Netzer and one of the goals of this youth movement is to support society, the community and our people."
Janet: "The goal of our movement is to help children and all Jews everywhere in the world."

The tragedy of the last Maccabiah games is still very fresh for the Jewish community in Australia. "The whole story of the bridge, Sasha Alterman's battle for her life and the fights in the courts against Maccabiah don't add honor to Israel".

What do your parents say on your coming to Israel?
The girls are very honest. "They warned us of the dangers in Israel", says Janet, and Gali adds "Everywhere we go there are soldiers and police with weapons. You don't see that in Australia."

Janet and Gali are part of a group of 20 youths whose trip to Israel was sponsored by the Jewish Agency and the Australian Jewish community. After visiting Israel for 10 months, they will return to Australia as active leaders in Netzer.

What have you been doing with the children at the summer camp?
Twenty-six children, from grades one to six, come to the center from troubled homes. Linda Mosek, the Director of CLICK explains that the goal of the summer camp is to provide a nurturing environment for these kids. Gali adds; "We teach the kids English through games and puzzles that we prepare by ourselves."

How have you been received by the children?
"They really love us" says Janet. "They appreciate the fact that we've come from far away Australia just to help them."

And what do you think about Israeli men?
The girls smile, as if expecting the question, but the answer won't put smiles on the men here. "The men whistle at us, push us and aren't well mannered," says Janet.

What about Aliyah?
Janet: "I really love Australia. Here in Israel, even the weather is crazy. Too hot or too cold. It's never that extreme in Australia." Gali: "I don't know, maybe. But in the meantime I want to study Biology. Then we'll see."