Let me start with an announcement that we have just been honoured by The Maryland General Assembly for the Gesher Ambassador Program and its success. It is a success that started 9 years ago. What a great pleasure to see how the dream of SOS International Enriching Jewish Identity came true. I feel honoured to have been able to take part in this process since its very beginning.
We are extremely grateful to Beth Tfiloh Dahan Communitiy School and their hospitality for having us now for the sixth time now.
I am proud to say that this is the year when we have the most ever students involved in the program, which number is 49 teenagers altogether from the two schools.
We have been in the program for quite a long time having been through different versions of it and needless to say that this is the best ever version of it.
The current Gesher Ambassador Program is significantly different from the earlier model as it is the improved version of what we have been doing for this long time.
We have three components.
Component 1 – GAP CLUB
After a long and carefully prepared recruitment process we choose our Ambassadors from Grades 9,10 and 11 and we also have the seniors who have been taking part in the program since they got recruited. After handing in a written application, we have all the candidates interviewed in person. The committee consisting of the GAP Leaders, Violetta Varga and Zsolt Mártha choose the ones afterwards to make them become our Ambassadors.
Component 2 – SEMINAR SESSIONS (Pre-Immersive week, Post Immersive week)
Our newly chosen Ambassadors had to take part in a seminar session, based on the syllabus provided by Alan Reinitz, the founder and CEO of SOS International Enriching Jewish Identities.
The sessions are based on the SOS International mission, goals and objectives which are:
- Next generation Jewish Identity
- Experiential Judaism values for 21st century life
- Leadership skill development
- Jewish Community Service
- Jewish Community Renewal
Component 3 – IMMERSIVE WEEK
Another significant difference from what we did previously was to expand the program so that it included topic-based Workshops and Student Teaching.
Workshops of year 2024
With tremendous thanks to our Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School (BT) colleagues, we all greatly benefited from their excellently created and built-up workshops, specifically designed for the GAP Program and for our students. So special thanks to:
- Dr Schorr, Director of Education of the Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School and Dr Neil Rubin, Jewish History Department Chairman for their workshop on Climate of Antisemitism-Response to Jews-What happening in the media
- Rabbi Mordechai Soskil for his Workshop about Kashrut
- Eli Creeger, Caryn Lerman and Devora Teichman for all their sacrifice they have made to bring this year’s program to life
Student Teaching of year 2024
With special thanks to Scheiber Sándor Gimnázium (SSG) students we had a life-transformative experience due to their teaching in different grades at BT. They got an opportunity to teach in Lower School – Grades 3,4 -, and in Middle School – Grades 7 and 8. SSG students got a picture of all parts, including Elementary School and Middle School.
So special thanks to:
- Zsolt Mártha, SSG GAP Group Leader, Vice Principal of Scheiber Sandor Gimnazium, International Representative of SSG Student Teaching Program
and our students:
- Amir K, Grade 10
- Anna M, Grade 10
- Benedek K, Grade 12
- Mózes B, Grade12
- Dávid S, Grade 11
- Illés G, Grade 11
- Ilya B, Grade 12
- Liza K, Grade 10
- Petra C, Grade 11
- Benedek P, Grade 10
- Sámuel E, Grade 12
- Hanna G, Grade 9
- Milán C, Grade 9
- Bence P, Grade 9
- Alexandra K, Grade 9
- Dóra L, Grade 9
- Liza S, Grade 9
- Áron K, Grade 9
- Dominik B, Grade 9
Besides our academic experiences, we have also had amazing moments of
- making friends for life
- having fun
- enjoying every moment being here,
which I am not going to detail any further as our SSG Students have done so.
Last, but not least I would like to thank Everyone who has been supporting this program since the very beginning of our GAP mission.
With heartfelt thanks for all they have done to make our program a reality and for the many zoom meetings, we send special Hungarian hugs to:
- Eli Creeger, Director of Student Life
- Caryn Lerman, College Guidance Counselor, 9th grade advisor
- Devora Teichman, Administrative Assistant
Enormous special thanks to Rabbi Mordechai Soskil, Director of Judaic Studies for all that he does for the spiritual experience that our students get the whole week.
Personally, I would like to say a special thank you to Robin Chafitz, School Registrar, whose home hospitality has been the upper limits of kindness, warmth and welcome. With her I have never felt alone throughout my whole being here. She is like a mother to me. And for the last night in Pikesville I am grateful to Dr Rene Koplon. Without her support I would not be able to be what I am here. I love you, Robin. And Rob has made the most delicious dinner, but your oatmeal is the best!
Dr Schorr, I cannot express in words how grateful I am to you. We all know that without you this program would never have happened.
The same gratitude to Alan Reinitz and Glynis Smith, SOS International Enriching Jewish Identities.
Violetta Varga
SSG GAP Group Leader
The Director of English Language Department, SSG
Communication Coordinator of International Relations, SSG
Read more of SSG student’s posts here
