A helpful exchange

Deirdre Newman

Ten Israeli students got a reprieve this week from the continuing

violence in the Middle East with a visit to Orange County to share their

experiences with the local Jewish community.

The students, all seniors at Hebrew University Secondary School in

Jerusalem, arrived last week and have since taken in the sights and surf

of the area while staying with local families.

On Tuesday, they visited the Orange County Bureau of Jewish Education

in Costa Mesa -- which is co-sponsoring their stay -- to meet its members

and discuss what life is like as a teenager in Israel these days.

Their trip came in lieu of local Jewish students going to Israel this

summer, as they have done in the past, because few had signed up because

of the volatility in the region, said Joan Kaye, the bureau’s executive

director.

The meeting at the bureau Tuesday enabled more than a dozen local

Jewish residents to hear firsthand how the daily specter of suicide

bombers and Israel’s retaliation efforts affect the country’s youth.

Yoni Elbaz, 17, who is making his third trip to the United States,

said the climate of fear is not as pervasive as many people think.

“You have to be cautious and go to well-secured places,” Yoni said.

“But I still do things like dancing and movies.”

The students arrived in Costa Mesa on Thursday and have visited

Disneyland and other tourist attractions, as well as conducted a

Remembrance Day service similar to our Memorial Day.

On Tuesday, Yoni and fellow student Moran Kaganovsky, 18, wore

sweatshirts from Disneyland with the phrase “No Fear” emblazoned across

them -- fitting fighting words for those who live with terrorism on a

daily basis -- as they dined on tuna fish and potato salad.

In response to questions about where the violence is leading, many of

the students said they are hopeful about eventual peace in the region.

“I’m really optimistic because I have a lot of Palestinian friends and

Israeli-Arab friends,” Kaganovsky said. “I hope it will get better soon.”

Reva Furman of Corona del Mar said the violence in Israel has affected

her as well.

“We’re all making calls to people we know in Israel,” Furman said.

“We’re all feeling threatened and insecure.”

Some of the students said they were surprised to see support for

Israel here based on how they have seen their country portrayed by

foreign media.

“Here, people don’t believe false propaganda and biased reporting,”

Yoni said. “They’re not blinded by Palestinian incitement.”

Yoni and Kaganovsky, like all Israeli students, will not be heading to

college next year but will serve in the Israeli Army instead. Kaganovsky

said she would like to use the Arabic language she has learned in school

to serve in the Israeli intelligence unit.

Siavia Vidor, who came from Westminster to meet the Israeli students,

thanked them for coming so far to share their experience.

“You’re doing such a service to come here and talk,” Vidor said.

‘We’re so happy to have you.”

* Deirdre Newman covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at o7 deirdre.newman@latimes.comf7 .