September 6, 2010 / 27 Elul 5770

The Colegio Israelita Brasileiro Jewish Day School in Porto Alegre, Brazil, was transformed into the Israeli Knesset on August 19, 2010, thanks to the hard work of the community's young Jewish leaders.

Knesset Day - a day-long simulation of Israel's parliament -  was the result of nine weeks of intense preparation by counselors from the Jewish youth movement and the Jewish Agency's representative in Brazil, Gaby Glazman.

Once a week over a period of nine weeks, Jewish youth counselors came to the school to prep fifty 15-year-old students (the equivalent of 11th grade) on the intricacies of the Israeli Knesset. 

Each student was assigned to be members of a specific party and was told that it was imperative that they "uphold the ideals of their party," and that since they will have the ability to suggest new laws and modify those that are in force, the "future of Israel is in your hands."

"We told the children that they should defend, 'tooth and nail,' the ideals of his party, even if their views in 'real life,' are the complete opposite," said Glazman, the Jewish Agency's representative. 

The youth were divided into three committees: Immigration, Arab-Israeli conflict and religion and state. Each committee had representatives from the current Parliament. They discussed issues, proposed new laws and debilitated over existing ones.
 
The young Knesset members really embodied their roles, even dressing the part, such as wearing a headscarf for an Israeli Jewish woman or a keffiyah for an Arab man.

For Glazman, this project not only strengthened Jewish identity, it brought the students closer to Israel, with all of its complexities.

"Knesset Day really enabled our young people to learn about Israel from a deep place. It was an experience that showed them the complexities of Israeli society and gave them a chance to really connect with Israel," said Glazman.

"This was an amazing project with even more amazing results. It will no doubt impact the future of these young people," she added.

Knesset Day also was held in Jewish schools in San Paolo. In 2011, they hope to run the project again in Porto Alegre and San Paolo, and to also bring it to Rio de Janeiro so that the event will take place in the three central communities in Brazil.

Photos Credit: http://www.colegioisraelita.com.br/