CLEVELANDER AT HOME VOLUNTEERING IN BEIT SHEAN: PART II
Zohar Aviv, 23, graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a degree in computer science last year. He is currently spending two months volunteering in Beit Shean as an English tutor. He also volunteered in Beit Shean in the summer of 1999 through the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland and Partnership 2000 as a camp counselor in the Kefiada English Camp

At a period when suicide bombings are so frequent that many Israelis receive instant alerts on their cellular phones informing them of the latest terror attacks, would not seem like the best time to visit Israel. Yet here I find myself after more than a month of volunteering in Beit Shean feeling focused in my work, in spite of concerns which are only normal.

I am volunteering in Beit Shean as an English tutor through the Partnership 2000 program, which links Cleveland and Beit Shean as "sister" cities. Though no position matching my specific criteria was available at the time of my inquiry, the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland and its counterpart in Beit Shean quickly created one to accomodate my particular needs.

In addition to helping teach English at the Ort Clali High School in the city of Beit Shean, I also privately tutor the "Naale" students at Maoz Haim, a kibbutz in the region, where I am currently living. "Naale" is a unique program in which a select group of gifted students move to Israel before their parents from countries such as Russia, the Ukraine, and Argentina in the hope that not only the students make aliyah, but also their families. In addition to being extremely bright and talented, the Naale I have been working with are also very friendly and a lot of fun. They instantly welcomed me with open arms and it's been an absolute pleasure working with them.

This is not the first time that I'm volunteering in Cleveland's sister city. I first fell in love with the region and its people four years ago, when I volunteered as a camp counselor as part of the Kefiada English Camp program (also through the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland and Partnership 2000). The "matzav" in Beit Shean, and Israel in general, has changed a lot since then. Due to the security situation, as well as the struggling economy, many clubs, restaurants, and tourist attractions are now eerily empty or have gone out of business. At a time when Israel needs them most, tourists and volunteers are scarce.

I arrived in Beit Shean approximately one month after terrorists attacked the city's Likud Party voting station during the primaries, taking the lives of 6 innocent Israelis and injuring dozens. Despite the tragedy, the people of Beit Shean are just as warm and kind as I remember them. Embodying the "sister" spirit, they immediately welcomed me and have treated me as family, and I have received nothing but support from the students, teachers, and the rest of the great community here throughout my stay. They are happy to have me here, and I am glad to be here.

Some do question my timing, however. The question I am most frequently asked is, "What are you doing here?", to which I simply reply, "I'm volunteering." "Aren't you scared?" usually follows. I admit that, yes, I am a bit scared, but I have work to do just like everyone else, and I can't allow a little fear to interfere with my plans. I usually sense that my answer echoes the attitudes of those who asked the question.

Despite the current situation, life goes on for the people here, including myself. On the weekends, though I exercise more caution than I did in the past, I go out and have fun just as I normally would. On some weekends I travel to Jerusalem or Tel-Aviv to visit friends and relatives, while on others I stay in the Beit Shean area. One night I hang out at a coffee shop for a few hours, then head out to a dance club or go over to someone's house in the city to watch a movie with friends before finally returning to the kibbutz in the early morning. Then the next day, I head into Haifa to watch a soccer game. People have fun and enjoy themselves, and do what they need and want to do, regardless of the present conditions here.

And this is the attitude I urge anyone wishing to visit Israel, either as a tourist or volunteer, to take. The situation here may not be ideal, but don't allow your fears to dissuade you from doing what you want to do, from following your heart. Remember at least that you always have a family in Beit Shean, and always will.

Shalom,
Zohar Aviv

Adar Aleph 5763 - February 2003