"Something is beginning to roll... something new is starting now."
Opening day at Kerem. Two senior students begin to perform a song. New and veteran students, teachers, graduates and associates sit in the hall. The experience of that special shared moment inaugurated the year for all those who attend the Institute, and created a new beginning of openness, freshness and sincerity.
"A sweet scent slips in through the window", the poetry, study and panel conveyed the message that the focal point in this place is on the individual and his or her uniqueness. Viewing each individual as an aspiration, where a very rich and enriching group is formed through the connection of the individuals. It seems that, at Kerem, a sort of community is developing: a community that provides intellectual and emotional support. A community in which an individual feels sufficiently secure to recount and share experiences and challenges... one that embodies a shared emotional connection. A group that provides a deep sense of belonging for all its members and that made the panel the most meaningful component of the evening for me. Three Kerem graduates who teach in Jerusalem schools participated. The open and sincere sharing, along with the attempt to move "outside the box" were palpable and sent the message of a different discourse made possible by an educational outlook that sees and values the enriching wealth brought to the world by each and every individual. The feeling left by the opening day is of an Institute structured through and by the community of its participants that provides a breadth of expression. The Kerem community student's calling is one of action, creativity and impact on the educational discourse and it generates a group of actively exploring students. Opening day, for me, was highly meaningful and allowed me to sense the singular spirit that seeks creativity and dynamism, participation and uniqueness that seeks to transform a few noises into a rhythm.