Far Far Away

I'm sitting here in Washington DC in more than 100 degree weather for the third straight day. What is really amazing is that this heat wave is in the headlines all over the USA. Wouldn't it be great if in Israel the weather would make the headlines for three straight days…

This will probably be my last overseas trip for the next couple of months since I want to be around until most of the Garin Tzabar members finish their basic training. When I speak with clients and colleagues about my plans and Garin Tzabar they look at me kinda funny. Some think that I'm nuts putting my business and career on hold while others are impressed by my efforts and thoughts. The truth is that most of the Americans I work with don't really understand what I will be doing but accept in. Most of the Israelis are impressed but are not always sure that I'm making the right choice. I have no such doubts….

We are preparing the primary framework for the pre-Army facet of the program and trying to understand what the kids will be going through. They will be coming to new country as citizens and not as tourists or visitors. They will be coming to a new home (the kibbutz) with both expectations and apprehensions. The Israeli bureaucracy will serve as a cold water in the face wake-up call to reality so we will try to make it as "friendly" as possible. We are sure that there will be a lot of ups and downs like a roller coaster so we will try to make this "Tower of Terror" emotional coaster ride more like a Junior Kiddy Land ride. We are making lots of preparations and we also realize that we will have to deal with a lot of things which are not included in our preparations. Both the staff and the Garin members share a common excitement and I hope that this will be able to propel us through he first stages together.

Next week, when I return to Israel, I will step off the plane and begin the run to the magic date of August 5th. As far away this date seemed to be a few months ago it's now just around the corner. It will become reality.