Kesher: Exploring Israeli Culture, History, and Identity

URJ Crane Lake Camp

Overnight

Shira Boso

culture, history, identity, slang, art, food, music

Contemporary Israeli culture

Campers will:
•    Explore current Israeli culture and multiple perspectives on historical events
•    Inquire and attempt to interpret culture and history from their perspectives
•    Encounter music, food and Israeli games and norms of behavior

13-15 year olds

10-15 participants

The materials list for each session can be found in the description of the session.

Program leader

Can be outdoors or indoors. Session 4 should be outdoors (Graffiti)

See individual sessions

See individual sessions

Session 1 – Sababa or Not Sababa: What’s Normal in Israel? (60 minutes)

Description:
A playful game using slang and real-life scenarios where campers explore cultural behaviors in Israel: directness, hospitality, warmth/openness, and pushiness.

Materials:

• Two signs: “Sababa” and “Lo Sababa”
• Printed scenarios
• Printed slang word cards (refer to this resource from The iCenter)
• Printed slang definition cards
• Tape or clothespins for matching
• Index cards (optional)
• Scoreboard (optional whiteboard or poster)

Warm-Up: Sababa / Lo Sababa (20 minutes)

• Campers stand in the middle of the field.
• Read a scenario. They run to “Sababa” or “Lo Sababa.”
• Reveal whether it is normal/common in Israel and explain why.
• After 10–15 scenarios, debrief:
  • What behaviors felt normal?
  • What surprised you?
  • What do these say about Israeli society? (warmth, directness, community-minded, informal)

Suggested Cultural Scenarios:

• Asking someone how much they earn
• Jumping into a stranger’s conversation
• Hosting someone you just met for Shabbat
• Being 20 minutes late and not apologizing
• Cutting in line because you're in a rush
• Talking loudly on your phone in public
• Saying exactly what you think, even if it’s rude
• Hugging someone you met today
• Driving with one hand on the steering wheel and one out the window
• Bargaining at the store or market
• Having deep conversations with strangers
• Sharing personal family stories quickly
• Not saying “please” or “thank you” every time
• Getting into political arguments at dinner
• Being pushed while waiting in line
• Going to the beach on Yom Kippur
• Wearing sandals to a fancy dinner
• Not saying sorry after bumping into someone
• Standing really close when talking
• Letting your friend’s friend sleep over without knowing them

Slanguage Match Game (35 minutes)

• Divide campers into 3–4 teams.
• Mix up the slang cards and definition cards.
• Teams race to match each slang word with its correct meaning.
• Present answers and award points.
• Bonus: +1 if they use the slang correctly in a sentence or short skit.

Debrief (5 minutes):

• Which slang word do you want to start using?
• What did you learn about Israeli communication style?
• What does slang tell us about the vibe of Israeli society?

Session 2 – Israeli Beats & Voices: Music That’s More Than a Song (60 minutes)

Description:
Explore Israeli artists and how sound reflects identity and cultural values.

Materials:

• Speaker
• Playlist:
  • Mizrachi pop: Omer Adam – Yihiye Tov
  • Pop/dance: Noa Kirel – Unicorn
  • Electro fusion: Neta Barzilai – Toy
  • Party pop duo: Hatikva 6 – Am Shel Giborey Al
• Printed artist fact cards
• Lyrics translations (download online)
• Paper and pens

• Intro & Audio Sampling (10 minutes)
• Deep Dive (20 minutes)
  • Divide into small groups by genre preference.
  • Explore lyrics and themes.
  • Write a remix about camp life using 3–4 Hebrew words.
• Share & Compare (20 minutes)
• Wrap-Up Reflection (10 minutes)

Session 3 – What’s on the Table? Israeli Food & Where It Comes From (60 minutes)

Description:
Explore the roots of Israeli cuisine through a dish-matching game.

• Warm-Up (10 minutes)
• Match That Dish (25 minutes)
• Discussion (15 minutes)
• Closing Reflection (10 minutes)

Session 4 – Voices on the Wall: Street Art & Identity in Israel (45–60 minutes)

Setting: Outdoors

• Opening Discussion (5 minutes)
• Visual Tour (15 minutes)
• Create Your Own Graffiti Wall (25 minutes)
• Gallery Walk & Wrap-Up (15 minutes)

Artist Profiles:

• Dede (Dede Bandaid) – Tel Aviv-based conceptual street artist known for band-aid imagery symbolizing healing.
• Nitzan Mintz – Visual poet blending language and public art.
• Solomon Souza – Painted 250+ portraits on Jerusalem’s Machane Yehuda Market shutters.
• Broken Fingaz Crew – Haifa-based collective known for bold pop-style social commentary.