A delegation of year ten students from Shittim School in the Central Arava spent three weeks of their summer vacation in their twin cities of Melbourne and Sydney Australia.

This, the seventh delegation of its kind was, as usual, subsidized by the Federation.

At their first port of call, the seven students and their teacher, Dalit Abohazira, were given a very warm welcome as the families of students from Bialik School opened up their homes and hearts to the young Israelis.

On the very first evening, after a long tiring journey and a short time to rest the students joined in Kabbalat Shabbat, which was lead by Arava student, Matan Graffi. Student, Amit Hever, told me that this was a very emotional evening for all involved and the start of a very special time in Melbourne.

During their stay, the Israeli students gave a presentation of life growing up in Israel, and more specifically in the Arava. In turn, the Australian students taught them about life in Australian Jewish Communities. They visited the local synagogues and various Jewish schools. In addition to this they took part in cross-country ski, bowling, ice skating, on a trip out of the city.

The jewel in the crown of the Melbourne part of the trip was a Shabbaton at Bialik School .The weekend was a great success and was followed by tearful farewells and friendships which, hopefully, will last well past the time that this visit is over, thus achieving the main objective of the trip, a lasting connection between the youth of the two communities.

In Sydney the warm hospitality continued, this time by students and families of Emanuel School.

The students visited the Holocaust Museum, other schools in the region and spent time with the Australian youth...visiting the city, learning about the history and got an insight to how it is to be a Jew growing up in Australia.

Student, Tzeela Tsorf, celebrated her 16th birthday there with her new friends, which is something she told me that she would never forget. Nor will she forget the twice-weekly assembly, during which all the pupils from the school meet for morning prayer, which she said was very uplifting.

The students told me that it was hard to put into words their feelings about the trip. They had traveled to the other side of the world and yet there was such a strong connection, they felt completely at home.