Barakat: Bring all Israeli students to Jerusalem

 Why not focus on making Jerusalem a good place to live, instead of a place one has to visit? Make Jerusalem into a wonderful city, and people will come to visit because they want to come, not because their school drags them there!

 

Mayor Barkat: "Bring All Israeli Students to Jerusalem,"

 

Jerusalem, Israel, April 22nd 2009 – Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat presented a plan for an initiative to bring every Israeli student twice to Jerusalem, the capital of the State of Israel, to Minister of Education Gidon Sa'ar yesterday.

 

The initiative was created in cooperation with the Minister of Education in light of the fact that there is a high rate of Israeli youth who have not visited Jerusalem. The initiative aims to expose all Israelis to Jerusalem, including its spirituality, heritage, and culture.

 

The visits will be held in the form of daylong visits. Each school will tailor their visit around a series of clusters of sites highlighting both Jerusalem's rich history and future. All students will begin their tour from a look-out from one of the city's key vantage points and promenades. Then, students will travel to one of the central government buildings such as the Knesset, the Supreme Court, and Safra Square. Students will visit one of Jerusalem's historic sites – such as Ammunition Hill, Mount Herzl Military Cemetery, and Yad Vashem. In addition, students will also be exposed to the spiritual sites of the city, such as the Western Wall, Western Wall Tunnels, the City of David, and the Jewish and Christian Quarter. Emphasizing Jerusalem's unique culture, students will experience the way of life of Jerusalem by visiting the market and the city center, touring museums and cultural institutions.

 

Mayor Barkat: "It is imperative that all students throughout Israel come to experience Jerusalem. We intend to offer students a tour-style journey through the past, present, and future of Jerusalem. Students will be able to experience the city on many levels and create a direct connection between them and our eternal capital."

 

It was concluded that a joint Steering Committee would be created between the Ministry of Education and the Municipality of Jerusalem to implement the plan.

 

For more information, contact miller@jerusalem.muni.il.

 

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