Below you will find about 20 modules, which are really just ideas for themes that you may want to run as educational threads through your trip. We offer these as suggestions, and want to make sure that you understand that we can design an itinerary for you without any reference to these modules. But if you are interested in one or several of these themes, we will be happy to design an itinerary that incorporates them.

1		Israelis and Americans - Hands across the Sea	Sometimes it seems that Israelis and Americans have nothing in common, but this module will show that both Israelis and Americans are really speaking the same language. This module will focus on meetings and exchanges, which prove that the gap isn't as wide as might seem at first. In addition, we will explore ways to deepen the bond and develop a meaningful two-way relationship.
2		The Environment: Blue, White and Green	Environmental awareness has been growing in Israel in the last couple of years. With this module, you will see some of Israel's cutting edge environmental programs, meet with activists and get out into nature yourself.
3		A Land Flowing with Milk and Honey - See what this phrase really means	Why are we expected to sit in a Succah just as the autumn rains arrive? Why do we celebrate the new year for trees in January in the heart of winter? It is hard to understand the answers to these questions from America, but in Israel things become clear. This module explores how intimately the cycle of the year is connected to the Jewish calendar. Participants will understand Jewish traditions and texts from an entirely new perspective.
4		Mayim Mayim Mayim	Water, from the time of the Torah until today, is one of the scarcest and most valuable commodities in Israel. Without rain there would be no crops. The Zionists developed new methods to combat the aridness of the land and modern technology has brought us even further. This module can include a visit to the most beautiful of Israel's water sources, the Kinneret. Participants can learn about the continuing problem of supplying enough water for all of Israel's residents and also have fun in the water - hiking or rafting.
5		"The Price of Patriotism"	Josef Trumpeldor, one of Israel's most famous war heroes, is said to have declared on his deathbed: “It is good to die for your country”. He was speaking from a long tradition that began when Abraham was told to sacrifice his son, Isaac. This module explores the question of sacrificing oneself for the greater good. We focus on the story of Massada, from almost 2000 years ago and explore the concept of martyrdom through the ages. In modern times we examine how Israel memorializes those who laid down their lives. We examine how the concept of self-sacrifice has changed from the 1940s up until today.
6		New Pioneers	Pentium chip, drip irrigation, ICQ Instant Messenger, cherry tomatoes, spy-planes, the UZI, the ingestible video camera, solar electricity. Did you know that all these things were invented and developed in Israel? Not only that, but Israel has the largest number of start-ups in the world. We also produce more scientific papers than any other country. Israeli bio-tech companies and scientists are at the cutting edge of medical technology and are curing diseases all over the world. In this module you will learn more about Israel's new pioneers.
7		A People's Army	The army is such an integral part of Israeli life that it leaves its mark on the whole society. We will incorporate a visit to an army base, to get a greater feeling of the importance of our army and its soldiers. This module will look at the influence and importance of the army in the past and the present. We will also examine some of the guiding values of the IDF (Israel Defense Force) and explore some of the real dilemmas posed by our contemporary situation.
8		What is Israeli Culture?	There is more to Israel than politics and religion. In this module participants will get a chance to see the diversity of Israeli culture. Dance, theatre, music, language, museums, cinema and restaurants are all used to illustrate the vibrancy of our dynamic cultures.
9		Holocaust and Modern Israel	How has the specter of the Holocaust impacted upon the State of Israel and upon the lives of millions of Israelis? Since rising from the ashes in 1948, Israeli society has been in constant dialogue with the holocaust, struggling with how to respond both emotionally and practically to this earth-shattering event. The goal of this module is to understand the role of the Holocaust in the Israeli psyche and to ask what lessons Jews can learn from the memory of the Holocaust.
10		Walls of Jerusalem	Are walls there to keep people out, or to keep them in? Jerusalem was walled since the time of the Purim story and today there is a new wall going up. We will walk around some of the city walls and listen to the stones in order to hear their story. In this module we will look at visible walls and invisible ones.
11		Children of Abraham - Sibling Rivalry	We are always hearing about the clash of different civilizations, like Islam versus the West. But all of us are children of Abraham. Nearly 20% of Israeli citizens are Arabs. Discover the tensions and challenges of cousins coexisting in the midst of conflict and learn about some surprising successes.
12		Israel Advocacy Training	Do you ever find yourself wanting to defend Israel, but lacking the tools to do so? This module will focus on transmitting information and skills. Participants will visit controversial sites to find out what is going on for themselves. They will receive briefings on the current situation and participate in workshop-based skills training to help them find answers to the hard questions. It will also include a discussion of ethical question of advocacy, such as what to do when you disagree with Israeli policy.
13		Pluralist Jewish Learning	Spend the day at our Melitz Bet Midrash, learning Torah with a pluralist approach. Ta Shma is a special, Melitz developed, learning style that unites opposing views in dialogue. For Ta Shma, nothing is more essential to the Jewish tradition of learning than machloket, disagreement. In each Ta Shma event, faculty of different ‘flavors’ of Judaism-Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, unidentified, and undefined-join together to plan and execute the program in its entirety. For more information click on www.tashma.org
14		Jewish Values of Volunteering	Make volunteering an integral part of your trip to Israel. How do Diaspora Jews contribute to Israel? Why are these contributions so important? Upon what values are they based? This module incorporates meetings with activists, a first hand volunteering experience and interactive text study to explore the Jewish values of tzedaka, social justice and mutual responsibility. We explore the best ways to implement these principles into our individual and communal life. Volunteering opportunities can be tailored to the interests of the group.
15		In the Footsteps of the Rabbis	This module will explore how Judaism came to look the way it does, by visiting some of the sites where Rabbinic Judaism was born. The goal of this module is to learn about the chain of tradition and understand how the questions the Rabbis dealt with hundreds of years ago are not that different from the questions we are asking today.
16		Three Great Faiths	Israel is holy to three of the world's oldest religions. What is it about this land that is so important? Find out by visiting some of the most revered sites. This module will also explore how the three religions have interacted through time and we will look at some of the values that they share.
17		Battles for the Land	No piece of land on earth has been as much fought over as this tiny country and no other country has had so many rulers: from David versus Goliath, to the battle for the road to Jerusalem. We will explore some of the famous battles, and some of the less well known ones as well. We will stand on ancient battlefields and modern ones and read the words of those who fought there. This module also discusses some of the moral dilemmas that Israeli's army faces and explores the ethics of war.
18		Dilemmas of a Jewish-Democratic State	Is it possible to be both Jewish and democratic? Learn the answer from some of the people who grapple with this very question. This module combines sites visits, guest speakers and interactive text learning.
19		Walking the Bible	Walk the land with a Tanach in your hand and understand your favorite bible stories in a whole new way, by seeing where they happened. Where did Joshua make the sun stand still? Where did Elijah confront God? Visit Abraham's hometown and King David's neighborhood and feel what it means to walk in the footsteps of our forefathers.
20		Voices of Peace - Glimmers of Hope	Explore some of the focal points of the current conflict and test out some of the suggested solutions. This module includes briefings, visits to areas of conflict and also allows participants an opportunity to try and make sense of the conflict. Because conflict and peace proposals are nothing new in this country, this unit will also examine some past conflicts and ask whether we can use them as a model.

Shabbat Modules

1		Shabbat in Jerusalem	Have a relaxing Shabbat in the holy city of Jerusalem. Visit the Jewish quarter of the old city on Friday afternoon as its residents make their final preparations for the coming Shabbat. Experience the magic of Shabbat through stories and songs. Take part in a special Friday night dinner and oneg with a Melitz Shabbat educator who will cater the experience to your group. Shabbat can also include optional synagogue visits and walking tours.
2		Shabbat in the Kehilla	Spend Friday night with members of a Jerusalem community. Join them for Kabbalat Shabbat prayers in their own synagogue (orthodox, reform or conservative options can be arranged) and afterwards share a Shabbat meal with them. If your community has an existing partnership with an Israeli community it is also possible to arrange to share Shabbat with them.
3		Pluralist Shabbat	Spend a Shabbat learning together with Ta Shma - because two Jews always have three opinions. Ta Shma is a special, Melitz developed, learning style that unites opposing views in dialogue. Two Ta Shma educators from different Jewish perspectives plan and teach each session together, emphasizing the culture of disagreement that creates an open learning environment rich in shades and textures.