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| Combinations of songs and dance comprised most of the Israeli Scouts' prformances. |
Israeli Scouts performed at JCC By Michael Nassberg The Tzofim Friendship Caravan, a traveling troupe of teenaged Israeli Scouts, performed for a crowd at the JCC the evening of August 11. Their shows, geared toward children and families, combine live music, dance and multimedia to inform audiences - through entertainment - about the nation of Israel. Roughly 100 people were in attendance, according to a JCC representative, including JCC campers and counselors, members of the local community and visitors from Syracuse, whose families provided accommodations for the Scouts during their trip through the region.
Each of the Caravan's routines consisted of a song and dance, punctuated by short speeches and videos. The musical numbers were mainly lively, and theirlyricsalmost entirely in Hebrew (a cover of The Beatles' "Let it Be" was sung with new Hebrew lyrics and the original English refrain). Programs were provided before the show began with lyrics written both in Hebrew and phonetically in English, so those in the audience could follow along. During several bits, one or more Scouts came out into the audience to dance with the children.
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| At the end of their show,the Scouts sang "Hatikvah" while waving Israeli flags. |
The videos screened served numerous functions, such as introducing the individual Scouts of Caravan Rimon (one of four troops that comprise the whole Tzofim Friendship Caravan), presenting a video montage of the Nefesh B'Nefesh program (a program promoting aliyah to Israel), explaining the Scouts' role in embracing and integrating handicapped children, and informing the audience about Hamas, Operation Cast Lead and Gilad Shalit.
Like the videos, the overall tone of the show arced from mirthful (a song with the refrain "Yom Sababa" sung to the tune of "La Bamba") to anthemic (a piece praising the Israeli Defense Forces); for example, the last two pieces performed were a rendition of Randy Newman's "You've Got a Friend in See "Scouts" on page 5 Mc" and "Hatikva."
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| The Scouts wore numerous types of outfits and uniforms throughout the show. |
Most of the numbers featured a change in wardrobe for the Scouts, which included their traditional Scout uniforms, but also a scries of outfits, from bright Middle Eastern designs to khaki and T-shirt ensembles. At the end ofthe performance, audience members enjoyed a free dessert w hile getting to meet and speak with the Scouts. Said JCC Executive Director Shcryl Brumcr, "The Israeli Scouts have been coming to the JCC for seven years now, and every year they get better. It was wonderful seeing all of our campers up on their feet dancing." Combinations ofsongand dance comprised most ofthe Israeli Scouts 'performances. At the end oj their show, the Scouts sang "Hatikvah " while waving Israeli flags. The Scouts wore numerous types of outfits and uniforms throughout the show.
Highlights: Nefesh B'Nefesh
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