Training 80 Youth Encounter Leaders

May 2nd, 2025

The topic of the encounter was school and future professions. Since the participants were a group of teenagers from Jerusalem, the conversation was full of dreams and ambitions that reflected their different personalities.

Each participant spoke about the profession they aspire to study in the future, according to their interests and passions. One of the students expressed his desire to become a veterinarian, explaining that he has a great love for animals and wants to help and care for them.

Another participant shared his dream of becoming a professional chef because he enjoys trying new recipes and finds happiness in cooking and bringing joy to others through his dishes.

A third friend was more interested in the world of technology and said he wanted to become a computer programmer because he loves video games and wants to create his own games and software in the future.

One of them dreamed of becoming a YouTuber because he enjoys filming and speaking in front of the camera, wanting to share his daily stories and ideas with others and inspire them positively.

One of the girls said she dreams of becoming a lawyer because she wants to stand up for the oppressed and have a role in achieving justice in society.

The encounter was full of diverse ambitions. Each participant carried a dream that reflected their unique personality, but what united them was the hope of having a positive impact on the future, whether by helping animals, cooking delicious meals, creating new technology, defending justice in court, or inspiring others online.

June 26, 2025

The group of teenagers from Jerusalem met for an encounter focused on customs and traditions.

The Arab participants began by discussing their dining habits, the serving of Arabic coffee first as a sign of welcome, and their traditional dishes, such as Mansaf and Maqluba, served at large banquets. They noted that all family members sit around one table, sometimes preferring to eat with their hands, due to the warmth and intimacy this brings.

They also discussed their holiday customs, such as visiting relatives and exchanging greetings on Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, distributing traditional sweets such as Maamoul and cookies, and slaughtering sacrificial animals on Eid al-Adha and distributing meat to the needy, in a scene that combines worship and generosity.

The Jewish participants then provided an overview of their customs and traditions, speaking about their adherence to kashrut (kosher) in food preparation and consumption, the Shabbat ritual of Kidush, which includes eating challah bread with wine, and the symbolic Passover foods such as Matzah (unleavened bread) and Maror (bitter herbs), which commemorate the Exodus from Egypt.

They also spoke about their customs on other holidays, such as lighting the eight candles on Hanukkah and eating Sufganiyot (donuts) and Latkes (fried potato cutlets), setting a table laden with fruit and honey on Rosh Hashanah to express wishes for a good year, and fasting and prayer on Yom Kippur.

During the discussion, everyone noted beautiful similarities between the two sides, including the importance of family and large gatherings on special occasions, the generosity of hospitality and welcoming guests, and the role of religion in shaping rituals and customs. At the same time, interesting parallels emerged, such as the differences in symbolic foods between the two sides, the different meanings and reasons for fasting, and the differences in some religious rituals, such as lighting candles for Jews, or slaughtering an animal for Muslims.

At the end of the encounter, the group agreed that the next session would be at the cinema to watch a movie together. They then went to the market and strolled around in a spirit of camaraderie and fun, enjoying the rest of the time together.

July 10, 2025

At the previous encounter, after a period of discussion and planning, all group members agreed to do something different and unique together this time, to get away from the pressures of daily life and school. After several suggestions, they decided to go to the cinema together to watch a movie, as they felt this activity would provide them with a fun time together in a relaxed atmosphere.

This plan also had a personal dimension: one of  the friends was about to travel for forty days, and everyone wanted to spend quality time with him before his departure. Furthermore, another one of the group's friends had recently completed a long and difficult period of exams that had exhausted him physically and mentally, so going out to the cinema was an opportunity to celebrate the end of this stress and recharge their batteries.

On the day of the encounter, the group gathered at one of the city's cinemas. They arrived one after the other, and with each new friend's arrival, greetings and laughter increased until they were finally reunited. They began wandering the aisles, examining the illuminated panels displaying the movie titles and schedules, and enthusiastically discussing which film they would choose for the evening. They exchanged opinions and laughed at some of the funny suggestions, and in the end, they all agreed to see Jurassic Park, a classic film full of excitement and adventure that appealed to them all.

After purchasing their tickets, they still had time before the show began. They didn't waste those moments, but instead strolled around the venue together and entered the snack bar, where each of them chose their favorite popcorn, chocolates, and soft drinks. The atmosphere was full of fun; some joked with each other, and others took souvenir photos to document these moments, which seemed very special to everyone.

When it was time for the movie, they moved together toward the large auditorium. A sense of excitement filled them all as they passed through the dark door separating the lobby from the cinema. They found close seats and sat side by side, exchanging comments and smiles before the lights were dimmed. As the movie began, a light silence fell, mixed with concentration and amazement, as they immersed themselves in the adventure that filled the screen, savoring the moment that brought them together more than any previous encounter.

August 13, 2025

Despite the busy and extremely hot day, with the highest temperature ever recorded in Jerusalem, and despite the absence of a large number of attendees due to vacations abroad, our group reconvened in a friendly and lighthearted atmosphere. The arrival of new attendees added a renewed spirit and enriched the interaction.

We began the encounter with an introduction session, where each person had the opportunity to introduce themselves and share a brief background. It turned out that most of the Arab participants were from the neighborhoods of Beit Hanina, Shuafat, and French Hill, while the Jewish participants came from West Jerusalem.

We then moved on to the main focus of the encounter, where attendees shared their experiences with languages, their importance in their academic and social lives, and their role in expanding friendships and connecting with peers from different cultures.

They also told us about the languages they know and master. For example, one Jewish participant explained that his family speaks three languages at home: Yiddish, a language originating among Central and Eastern European Jews about a thousand years ago. It is written in Hebrew letters and combines words primarily from German with influences from Hebrew and Slavic languages (such as Polish and Russian). He shared some of these words with us, such as the word for "table," which is pronounced "tish," and the word for "eat," which is pronounced "esen." He also mentioned that his family also speaks Spanish and English in addition to Hebrew. Another Jewish participant shared some Aramaic words he knew, while the Arab participants shared words from Arabic, such as "salaam" (greeting) and "marhaba" (welcome), from English, such as "friend" and "school," from Spanish, such as "amigo" (friend) and "gracias" (thank you), as well as some Korean words, such as "" (hello) and "" (love). The most interactive moment came when each participant tried to speak the other's language. They began teaching each other new words in an atmosphere of fun, curiosity, and a desire for mutual learning.

At the end of the encounter, everyone felt that the diversity of languages was not just a topic for discussion, but a living bridge connecting hearts and minds. We discovered that every language carries within it a story and a culture, and that this diversity is what makes our encounters more profound and inspiring, fostering a spirit of openness and closeness among us. At the end of the encounter, all the group shared refreshments due to the hot weather.

Links:

• IEA website
• Activity & annual reports
• Get invovled