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"BOW AND ARROW" - GADNA AND SPORTS FOR CHILDREN OF ISRAELIS LIVING IN U.S. TENS OF AMERICAN AND ISRAELI YOUTH PARTICIPATE IN PROGRAM COMBINING EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND MILITARY TRAINING THIS SUMMER
 Members of "Chetz Va'Keshet", enjoy rappelling at the tourist center in Mitzpe-Ramon 38 American teenagers from Miami, Los Angeles and New York have joined 13 Israeli teens for a special summer program, "Bow and Arrow," jointly sponsored by the Jewish Agency, the IDF Gadna (Youth Regiment) division and the Israeli Scouts youth movement. The "Bow and Arrow" program has been in operation for many years already, strengthening the bonds between teens from Israeli families living in the U.S. and the State of Israel. The program has become very popular among Israeli families living in the U.S. because of its ability to integrate educational and Zionist values, youth movement-style social activities and the element of pre-military training. Every year, tens of American teens come to Israel to participate in the program organized by the Jewish Agency's "Israel Experience" Division. Once in Israel, they are joined by their Israeli counterparts and together they travel the length and breadth of Israel for a month, participating in educational activities arranged for them by the IDF's Gadna division and the Scouts youth movement. The program entails sleeping at various Gadna facilities and undergoing a week of special training maneuvers designed to simulate an IDF soldier's boot camp experience. The program forges long-lasting friendships between the Israeli and American teens. The weeklong para-military experience gives the American youths a taste of the fighting spirit and camaraderie of the IDF. Many of them later return to Israel to enlist for regular army service. Included among the program's graduates are a fighter pilot in the Israel Air Force and a senior advisor to former U.S. President Bill Clinton. Sixteen years old Or Elmaliach, from the town of Reut, who participated in this year's program, explained its advantages: "The fact that the counselors are soldiers and the activities are Gadna makes the program very special. They teach us about the IDF's heritage and history to infuse us with motivation, and the Americans feel what it's like to be an Israeli soldier." For Mor, who is the chairperson of her town's youth council, this is her first summer in the "Bow and Arrow" program, but she hopes to participate next summer as well. Fifteen years old Danielle Ben-Zaken, whose parents moved from Israel to New York 20 years ago, visits Israel every year. Still, when asked about the program, she sounded particularly excited. "The army-like experience-sleeping in barracks, army discipline, training drills and uniforms-is hard and tiring, but a lot of fun! The lessons are interesting and on a high level, and the trips around the country let me see Israel in a way I never saw it before." Danielle promised that when she finishes high school she'll come back to Israel to enlist in the IDF. On their days off between the difficult training exercises and traveling, the group members can be found, like most teenagers, on the beach-no matter how hot it is.
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