Jewish Portal of Teacher Education

Source: Journal of Jewish Education, 86:4, 400-415

This article explores the impact of German Jewish youth educational travel in Israel on changing attitudes toward Israel. The travelers are engaged in direct interaction with the host country, directly experiencing the environments and interacting with members of the host society while touring places with symbolic meaning.

The encounters with places that were perceived as meaningful encouraged the adolescent youth to emotionally identify with the values of those places and to redefine the role of Israel in the young person’s identity. Consequently, the travelers are expected to improve their attitudes toward Israel as the toured place.