Analyzing and preparing- North American Seminar here we come! Cohort 17

Sunday, March 9

This workshop was the first time after the retreat that we were able to catch up with the rest of the cohort. We began by reevaluating and analyzing the Self Management retreat. We reviewed the goals that we set for ourselves before the retreat, and Gabi and our JC’s led a discussion that helped us critique the retreat. We discussed the components that were successful, as well as areas that needed attention and improvement. This feedback will be helpful as we plan for future activities. This was an extremely productive and beneficial process because it helped us realize: 1- that not everything we do is going to be perfect the first time we do it and 2- the more we are able to focus on and acknowledge the parts of our leadership skills that can use some polishing, the more effective we will be as leaders.

Next, we went over the agenda for the NAS. Finally, reviewing an actual schedule coupled with Gabi’s comments about our Israeli partners (who are arriving in less than a month), put into perspective the reality of the upcoming visit. The discussion made us excited and a bit nervous about how much preparation there is left to do before we can welcome our Israeli cohorts into our homes. I believe I can say that all of us in California are very excited for the arrival of our partners and we are anxiously looking forward to our time with them. It is less than 3 weeks before 40 Jewish teenagers will have an experience of a lifetime. NAS here we come.

~Izzy Nickel cohort 17