Taking Israel

"In the summers between 1988-2002, approximately 150 African-American students traveled to Israel to experience the social, political, economic, and cultural conditions of Israel and of the Israeli-Arab population. The film traces their journey in Israel, beginning with their three-week stay at Kibbutz Ramot Menashe located in northern Israel. This was followed by their four-week community service project in the Jesse Cohen community in the city of Holon, one of the most impoverished neighborhoods in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. Finally, they took short-term classes at Hebrew University, Jerusalem over three weeks. The audience will view the lives of Israeli and Israeli/Arab citizens through the eyes of former participants. Viewers will understand the student transformation and the impact the program made on Israeli's lives. The film will also shed light on how the program allowed students to gain a deeper cross-cultural understanding." --