Youth Tourism to Israel: Educational Experiences of the Diaspora

Review Youth Tourism to Israel is a meticulous account of an educational effort that began as 'topping', but has become a major ingredient in molding identities among Jewish youngsters in the Diaspora. ― Harvey E. Goldberg, Hebrew University, IsraelYouth Tourism to Israel is a highly consequential contribution to scholarly research and education. It skillfully interweaves concepts, theories, and empirical data related to youth and educational travel, diaspora and migration, religion and culture, and heritage in general, creating an essential tome for scholars with interests in any of these subfields of tourism studies. ― Professor Dallen J. Timothy, Brigham Young University, USA Product Description This book is a cumulative analysis of an international, longitudinal study of a tour program which brings Jewish youth from around the world to Israel. It is a case study of the longest running and most thoroughly documented, intentionally organized heritage tour program in existence, including a wealth of data never previously published. Issues central to Jewish studies are explored in depth, including cross-cultural analysis of the impact and meaning of the program in Jewish communities around the world. Additionally, it touches on core issues related to identity in the post-modern era, the sociology of contemporary tourism, and informal education and adolescent psychology and sociology. The book is relevant to researchers, professionals and university students in the fields of Jewish studies and tourism. About the Author Dr. Erik H. Cohen has conducted numerous international studies in the fields of Jewish education, Jewish identity, Israel-Diaspora relations, and youth culture. He has a special interest in the Facet Theory approach of data design and analysis. He has been widely published in these fields, including several books published in French and Hebrew. He is a senior lecturer in the School of Education at Bar Ilan University and Director of the Research & Evaluation Group, based at Jerusalem, Israel. Dr. Erik H. Cohen was born in Morocco, raised in France, and immigrated to Israel at the age of 22. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Youth Tourism to IsraelEducational Experiences of the DiasporaBy Erik H. CohenMultilingual MattersCopyright © 2008 Erik H. CohenAll rights reserved.ISBN: 978-1-84541-085-8ContentsAcknowledgements, Preface, 1 Introduction. Jewish Educational Youth Travel to Israel: A Special Case of Diaspora Tourism, 2 What is the 'Israel Experience'?, 3 Participation in the Israel Experience, 4 The Historical and Sociological Background of Jewish Youth Tourism to Israel, 5 Survey of Research on the Israel Experience, 6 Perceptions of Israel, 7 Satisfaction with the Tour, and Elements of a Successful Visit, 8 Impact of the Israel Experience, 9 Content of the Programme, 10 Informal Education and the Israel Experience, 11 Staff of the Israel Experience, 12 Marketing, 13 Conclusions and Reflections, Glossary of Hebrew Terms, Appendix: Examples of Itineraries, References, Index, CHAPTER 1Introduction. Jewish Educational Youth Travel to Israel: A Special Case of Diaspora TourismThis book is the cumulative analysis of a decades-long empirical study of an educational and heritage tour programme that brings Jewish youth from around the world to Israel: the 'Israel Experience', as it has come to be known. The Israel Experience is looked at from many angles, both as a specific case study and as an indicator of broader issues and trends. It is analysed as an educational tool, as an example of youth leisure culture, as a key aspect of Jewish identity formation and as a case study in the growing field of heritage tourism.Issues central to Jewish studies are explored in depth, for example Israel–Diaspora relations, Jewish identity in various diaspora countries, and the role of the Israel visit in Jewish education. For those involved with Jewish studies as researchers,