Goal:

To present a picture of Eretz Yisrael 100 years ago in terms of the desolate state of the land and the small size and concentration of the Jewish population.  This description should serve as a backdrop to the future discussions on reclaiming and  rebuilding the Land of Israel.

Project TvA

The state of the Land - Eretz Yisrael 100 year ago

Introduction:

In order for the chanichim to understand the massive achievements and miracles achieved in developing Eretz Yisrael it is important to begin with what was in order to appreciate what is.  A little over one hundred years ago the land of Eretz Yisrael was barren and the small Jewish population was concentrated in the cities and did not work the land.

In the famous travels of Mark Twain to  Eretz Yisrael in 1867, he wrote of what he saw as he traveled the length of the country:

      "Desolate country whose soil is rich enough, but is given over wholly to weeds - a silent mournful expanse...a desolation is here that not even imagination can grace with the pomp of life and action.  We reached Tabor safely...we never saw a human being on the whole route.

      There was hardly a tree or a shrub anywhere.  Even the olive and the cactus, those fast friends of a worthless soil, had almost deserted the country".

As he was taking his last view of the country, he wrote:

      "Palestine sits in sackcloth and ashes.  Over it broods the spell of a curse that has withered its fields and fettered its energies.  Palestine is desolate and unlovely... Palestine is no more of this workday world.  It is sacred to poetry and tradition, it is dreamland".

The emphasis of this peula is the visual picture of  how Eretz Yisrael appeared one hundred years ago so that the participants can better understand the following peulot which deal  with what needs to be built and how to build it.

Implementation:

The peula is split into the following sections:

1. A description of the condition of Eretz Yisrael one hundred years ago which can be achieved through a description by the madrich, and by asking the chanichim for their impressions of what Eretz Yisrael must have looked like one hundred years ago.

2. Split into two groups (with a madrich supervising, but not necessarily leading, each group) and give each group a few minutes to fill in the missing words in the enclosed story about "my first trip to Israel".  One group should fill it in as if they lived in the year 1895 and the other as of today.  After they have completed the story have each group read their version to the entire kvutza.  To the extent that time permits discuss:

        The differences and accomplishments between then and now.  What would a before and after picture of a field or city look like?

        Reasons for the changes and accomplishments

Mention that the results of the enclosed form will be included in the choveret.

Note - Discussion and peula should be implemented at a quick pace.

Project TvA

Fill in the story below with words that match the time period.

Date of this story - 1895       

Fill in the blanks or circle the correct choice:

Yesterday I returned from my first trip to the Land of Israel.  The whole trip was very exciting.  To begin with, this was the first time I ever traveled on a __________.  As we approached the coast of Eretz Yisrael the sun was rising and I couldn't wait to finally arrive and start seeing all the sights I had heard so much about.  My parents and I set off for Yerushalayim by ___________.  The driver told us that today there were many/ few Jews living in the Land of Israel and that they are spread-out/ concentrated in ________ places.  He went on to tell us about day to day life in the Land of Israel and how the typical man on the street supported himself through working/contributions from outside of Israel 

Looking off into the distance I could see many/few trees and that the soil in the fields was  _________ and seemed __________ to grow crops in.  I had learned that the Land of Israel was called the land of milk and honey and in my mind I had always imagined a lovely and energetic place bursting with the produce of the land, so you can imagine my _________ at what I saw as we passed many fields which were ______ in the sun

At last we arrived in Yerushalayim which I had always pictured as a beautiful and grand city.  You can imagine my _________ when I finally saw Yerushalayim up close.  I found that today Yerushalayim is a ________ city with _______ parks, shops, and things to see.

After our stay in Yerushalayim we went north toward the Galil and my clearest memory was of the stop at the lookout overlooking the Jezreal valley (Emek Yizrael).  It was late afternoon when we arrived and the sun was starting to set.  Looking off into the distance I could see the lights beginning to shine from the ______ settlements in the valley.  At that point I  felt a deep connection to the Land of Israel and its' history in addition to the feeling of _____________ over the current state of Eretz Yisrael.

List eight words to describe Eretz Yisrael at the time this story occurred:

______________ _______________  ______________        _____________

______________ _______________  ______________        _____________

List the names of the people who filled in the story  ___________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Project TvA

Fill in the story below with words that match the time period.

Date of this story -       1995

Fill in the blanks or circle the correct choice:

Yesterday I returned from my first trip to the Land of Israel.  The whole trip was very exciting.  To begin with, this was the first time I ever traveled on a __________.  As we approached the coast of Eretz Yisrael the sun was rising and I couldn't wait to finally arrive and start seeing all the sights I had heard so much about.  My parents and I set off for Yerushalayim by ___________.  The driver told us that today there were many/ few Jews living in the Land of Israel and that they are spread-out/ concentrated in ________ places.  He went on to tell us about day to day life in the Land of Israel and how the typical man on the street supported himself through working/contributions from outside of Israel 

Looking off into the distance I could see many/few trees and that the soil in the fields was  _________ and seemed __________ to grow crops in.  I had learned that the Land of Israel was called the land of milk and honey and in my mind I had always imagined a lovely and energetic place bursting with the produce of the land, so you can imagine my _________ at what I saw as we passed many fields which were ______ in the sun

At last we arrived in Yerushalayim which I had always pictured as a beautiful and grand city.  You can imagine my _________ when I finally saw Yerushalayim up close.  I found that today Yerushalayim is a ________ city with _______ parks, shops, and things to see.

After our stay in Yerushalayim we went north toward the Galil and my clearest memory was of the stop at the lookout overlooking the Jezreal valley (Emek Yizrael).  It was late afternoon when we arrived and the sun was starting to set.  Looking off into the distance I could see the lights beginning to shine from the ______ settlements in the valley.  At that point I  felt a deep connection to the Land of Israel and its' history in addition to the feeling of _____________ over the current state of Eretz Yisrael.

List eight words to describe Eretz Yisrael at the time this story occurred:

______________ _______________  ______________        _____________

______________ _______________  ______________        _____________

List the names of the people who filled in the story  ___________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________