People Write About Us A Participant in the Hadassah Legacy Mission writes: I am one of the participants of the Hadassah Legacy Mission, and although your letter and summary arrived at my home many weeks ago, I just read it today. (Family illness, I was away). It was a delight to read the material and think back to the exceptional experience which I had in Israel while visiting in March 2002. I want to add my personal thanks for your warmth and hospitality. The Herzog Center is unique in bringing people of many backrounds together. May Peace and Stability come to Israel - VERY SOON, so that you can continue with your wonderful work. Todah Raba. Sondra Wolf From the Ministry of Education STATE OF ISRAEL Ministry of Education Southern District Division of Social and Youth Education December 26, ‏2000 Ms. Gili Zivan Director, Herzog Center Dear Ms. Zivan: Re: Project Atid – Leaders of Tomorrow I would like to express our satisfaction with the very successful cooperation between us during the past two years, in activating the Leaders of Tomorrow project. The success of this program – which brings together youth from different sectors of Israeli society – is expressed not only in the feelings and reactions of the young people who have participated in the program, but in the positive feedback we are getting from supervisors and coordinators of social education, school principals, and advisors to student councils, whose pupils have participated, and are participating, in the project. In the course of selection and registration of pupils for the program this year, the supervisors and principals expressed sorrow that it was not possible to include additional schools and pupils. The program and the framework are too narrow to include all those who would like to participate. I have no doubt that in other areas all over the district, there are principals and educators who would be happy to have their pupils participate in an educational/social/values-oriented experience, such as that which the Leaders of Tomorrow program offers youth. Because the number of schools and pupils now participating are only a drop in the bucket, and because we are well aware of the budgetary problems, I would like to investigate, together with you, ideas for expanding the existing cooperation between us. Meir Malka Head of Social Education cc: Mr. Eli Sheetrit – Director of the Division of Social and Youth Education – Southern District From a Parent of a "Project Atid" Participant: Dear Idit, For some time I’ve been wanting to write this letter, and what prompted me to do so was seeing my daughter Moriah spending time on the Herzog Center website, revisiting the photos taken during the Atid project. Seeing the photos reminded her of the many activities and discussions you had during the year, and of the friends she made, and she was excited to re-tell of her experiences. When Moriah was invited to participate in this year’s Atid, she hesitated, not knowing what type of experience this would be. Now that the program is over, I can report that she totally enjoyed the program, and learned a great deal. I believe that of all, Moriah was especially influenced by the power of discussion, mentioning friendships which were formed between young people whose opinions (slash prejudices?) were strongly opposed to each other at the start of the program. As time went by, the participants learned to listen, to accept, and to empathize. This is a lesson that only first-hand experience can teach. The Tu BiShevat “Seder” was also a very special event. Thank you Idit, and special thanks also to Talia Stern and Shiri Daniel, the group counselors. Please convey my thanks to the entire staff of Project Atid, and the Herzog Center – you do wonderful work ! Kol Hakavod! Sarah Pollack Kibbutz Saad May 23, 2005