By Sara Lahyani, Special to JTNews
Of the 18 students nationwide who left Feb. 4 to spend eight weeks studying in Israel, six are from the Pacific Northwest.
The students two of whom come from Washington State, and four from the Portland area, are a part of the Alexander Muss High School in Israel’s eight-week academic program.
With the campus based in Hod Hasharon, a half-hour drive north of Tel Aviv, these students will be exposed to a unique combination of hands-on visits to historic and archeological sites. They will have the opportunity to put themselves in the shoes of their ancestors, coupled with in-depth analyses of written history. Through total immersion into Israeli culture, the students will have the opportunity to integrate their varied learning experiences into an overall view of the evolution of civilization and how it relates to modern Israel.
In addition to their rigorous schedule, the students have also taken with them course work from their home schools, and will receive individualized instruction while in Israel. This allows for a smooth transition as they integrate back to their schools upon their return.
One of the purposes of the eight weeks is to give students a broader view of the world and develop new understandings of history, international relations, geography and literature as they prepare for the academic rigors of college.
Future trips are also being offered. The next AMHSI session is scheduled to depart on April 27. For further details, please contact Kay Rabinowitz, Director of Admissions at 206-774-2224 or Sara Lahyani, AMHSI Coordinator at 206-774-2236.