Kesher: Exploring Israeli Culture, History, and Identity

URJ Crane Lake Camp

Overnight

Shira Boso

This is a 4-part mini-course designed to introduce campers to Israeli culture, history and multiple narratives. The topics of the 45-60 minute sessions include: Israeli slang and everyday culture, street art and public expression, food as identity, music and modern Israeli voices, behavioral and cultural differences and multiple narratives of historical event, street art and Israeli identity.

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.