The Tzofim (Israel Scouts) Friendship Caravan is celebrating over 40 years of bringing song and dance performances filled with excitement, energy and friendship to North America and will be in the Kansas City area the first week of July. Besides two performances at the Jewish Community Campus July 10, they will also perform at The H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation (Camp Lone Star) in Osceola, Missouri, and the Theodore Naish Scout Reservation in Bonner Springs, Kansas.
The Israel Scout Federation is the largest youth movement in Israel and counts about 90,000 members. Founded in 1919, the Tzofim claims to be the oldest co-educational Scouting organization in the world. The friendship Caravan is coordinated through the Friends of Tzofim organization and has been visiting the Kansas City area for many years.
“The Israeli Scouts present a joyful side of Israel through song and dance, and the smiles in the audience year after year showcase the connection they make to Jewish Kansas City,” said Andi Milens, director of engagement and leadership development at Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, one organization sponsoring the Caravan’s visit.
In 1973, the first Caravan came to the United States to bring a message of hope and peace for Israel. The Friendship Caravan is the only touring Scout entertainment troupe in the world, and since that first Caravan, the program has grown to three different Caravans of Israeli Scouts traveling across North America, from New England to California.
Each Caravan is comprised of 10 senior Israeli Scouts — five girls and five boys — ages 16 and 17. They travel with two leaders. Selected from thousands of Israeli Scout applicants, they are chosen to be members of the Caravan based on their maturity, work ethic, leadership skills, fluency in English and, of course, their talent in the performing arts. After several rounds of competitive auditions and interviews, the Scouts spend a year training and rehearsing for their exciting summer in North America.
This program is about the ability of these performers to bring spirit and energy, to connect with American Jews and non-Jews. It’s also about giving them a challenge, to live together as a group for three months, to travel in a van, and to perform up to two or three shows per day at Jewish community centers, synagogues, temples, Jewish camps and Scout camps.
Ted Goldstein, Cub Scout Pack 3153 committee chairman, has assisted with arrangements for the Caravan for many years. He thinks the energy of these Israeli Scouts and the quality of the performances bring joy and fun to our community as well as a taste of Israel.
“It is excellent public relations showing the good side of Israel, which is needed to counter the media negativity that we read and hear about through world news. It plants ‘seeds’ especially in young people, both Jewish and non-Jewish, of a positive connection to Israel,” Goldstein said.
From a Scouting perspective, he believes seeing the performance and meeting the Israeli Scouts is often the first exposure American Scouts have to international Scouting.
Goldstein said the performances by the Tzofim Caravan are interactive, fully involving the audience.
“Everyone from young kids through pre-teens, young adults and adults of all ages leave with smiles and lasting memories,” he said. “Each performance program is tailored to the audience on hand; for example the afternoon performance at the Jewish Community Campus is geared to pre-teens and the evening performance to a general audience of adults with or without their families.”
He added that the performances at the two Scout camps are also tailored to Scout-age kids. The Heart of America Council of the Boy Scouts of America facilitates and financially supports the Israeli Scouts visits to both the Scout camps here.
“As the only ‘traveling’ all-Scout entertainment troupe in the world, the visits to our camps are really special and the campers and staff appreciate the fun and the experience. These young Israeli Scouts are excellent role models and it is truly a highlight for those who are lucky enough to be in camp when the Caravan performs.”
The performances are free and open to the community. Dates and times are:
July 8, 1 p.m.: The H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation (Camp Lone Star) in Osceola, Missouri.
July 9, 7 p.m.: The Theodore Naish Scout Reservation in Bonner Springs Kansas.
July 10, 2:30 p.m.: Jewish Community Campus, geared for pre-teens.
July 10, 7 p.m.: Jewish Community Campus, geared for all ages.
A “preview” of their performance can be found at: israelscouts.org/friendship-caravan. Scroll down and click on “VIDEO.”
This year, the tour stop costs are underwritten by The Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, The Jewish Community Center, The Heart of America Council of the Boy Scouts of America (HOAC/SCOUTS-BSA), and by generous benefactors through the HOAC/SCOUTS-BSA’s Jewish Committee on Scouting.
For questions or further information contact Goldstein at or 913-642-8023.