By Rhonda Hoffman
Special to the Northeast Times
In a world where stories of division and strife often dominate the headlines, the recent visit of the Israel Scouts Friendship Caravan to KleinLife Theater was a heartening reminder of the power of music, culture and community to bring people together. (The 400-seat theater is housed in the Raymond and Miriam Klein Building located at 10100 Jamison Ave.)
The Israeli troupe, comprised of ten 17-year-olds (five boys and five girls), dazzled and delighted the more than 200 in attendance, ranging in age from preschoolers to senior adults. With both young and old dancing in the aisles, the talented troupe’s message of peace, unity and understanding was literally brought to life as the dancing, singing and storytelling merged seamlessly.
The recent Northeast Philadelphia performance was just one stop on the Caravan’s two-month-long summer tour, which ran from the beginning of June through mid-August and included dozens of sites throughout the United States and Canada. In fact, because so much ground had to be covered, there were actually two Scout Caravans, each composed of ten teens – one designated for the East Coast, the other covering the West Coast.
The youthful ambassadors, along with two leaders in their 20s, traveled in rented vans with attached trailers for equipment. In each community they visited, they were accommodated by host families, mostly with teens already in their households, which added yet another dimension to this American/Israeli cultural exchange and enrichment program.
According to Eran Tzivon, director of the Friendship Caravan Program, which was founded in 1973, joining the troupe is highly competitive, with over 2,000 teens auditioning for a spot among the 20 selected each year. The participants work for five months, meeting each weekend to get ready for the whirlwind summer tour.
“They even give up their phones during their trip with the Caravan, and are only allowed one hour a week to stay in touch with family and friends. Phones seem to take a back seat compared to the face-to-face bonds forged among the young scouts,” noted Tzivon.
The performances, which take place in schools, camps, community centers and other venues, bring Israel to communities that don’t get a chance to see a lot of Israelis, according to Tzivon.
The scouts’ repertoire – consisting of songs in both Hebrew and English – were notably upbeat and inspiring, setting a tone of unity and hope that many theater-goers said remained with them as they exited the KleinLife theater.
One such attendee, Paula Prillman, a KleinLife senior member, noted, “I wish this could be a more than once-a-year event. The excitement and indomitable spirit of the teens was contagious – it was just what we needed to invigorate us, especially with so much discord in the world. We really needed something positive to counter that.”
A 7-year-old Ukrainian KleinLife camper, who was caught dancing in the aisle doing a lively hora (circle dance) with some of her fellow campers, said, “I love to dance and just sway and jump around. It makes me feel so good. I hope they come back next year.”
Members of this year’s troupe will soon set aside their dancing shoes and colorful costumes for military uniforms and boots, as military service is mandatory in Israel when one reaches the age of 18. The camaraderie they shared on stage will, no doubt, serve them well as they will soon be working as a unit in a much different setting.
Echoing the sentiments of his fellow scouts, one teenage troupe member stated, “I think the friendships we formed this summer will continue throughout our lives. I certainly hope that’s the case, and perhaps one day I will return as a leader of the troupe.”
Prior to the hour-long show, state Sen. Jimmy Dillon presented an oversized check for $50,000 to Andre Krug, KleinLife CEO and president.
Obviously pleased with both the performance and the check, that will go toward upgrading the 400-seat theater, Andrea Kimelheim, KleinLife director of senior programming, noted, “It’s always great to host such an awe-inspiring program that brings different cultures and generations together.” ••
