By Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO – Six teen ambassadors from the Jerusalem Zoo – four Israeli Jews and two Arabs – are completing an intensive learning and fun visit to San Diego, where they have observed animals at the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, SeaWorld, Birch Aquarium, the San Diego Harbor and at the La Jolla Cove.
In addition, the Israeli teens, accompanied by an equal number of San Diego teenagers, have visited Disneyland, participated in a surf camp, met with Aaron Price Fellowship high school students, and on Tuesday, Aug. 9, were awarded special certificates for their promotion of international friendship signed by Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) and presented by Judge Victor Bianchini, a retired Superior Court Judge who now works as a U.S. magistrate.
Rand Ilaiyan, a 16-year-old Arab who volunteers in Jerusalem at the petting zoo and the Australian exhibit, told San Diego Jewish World that she enjoys petting animals of all types, and was particularly pleased with her opportunity to feed a giraffe at the San Diego Zoo, a rhinoceros at Safari Park, and to touch sea cucumbers, small sharks and rays at SeaWorld.
Ilaiyan said her mixed Arab-Jewish high school requires students to do volunteer work and she chose the Jerusalem Zoo “because there are many cultures. No matter if you are Jew or Arab, or religious or non-religious, you come to the zoo only for one thing: to help the animals and to protect them. … When you enter the Zoo, everyone is alike, human, and we are all from the same species.”
Aharon “Roni” Meir Ryzhik, 15, an observant Jew who wears a kipah and tzittzit, also volunteers at the Jerusalem Zoo’s petting zoo and its Australian exhibit. As a volunteer, he said, “I fell in love with all the animals and the programs,” including helping to breed and return to the wild Fallow Deer, the Griffin Vulture and the Sand Cat – all of which are indigenous to Israel. He now is considering a career as a veterinarian.
Ryzhik said he was impressed by the San Diego Zoo, especially the way its layout and transportation systems permit visitors to get to any locale within 10 minutes.
Other high points of this trip to San Diego, he said, included bonding with the other exchange participants, and waking up to the sound of a lion roaring at Safari Park. Safari Park offers an overnight “Roar and Snore” program.
“Also, seeing all the police cars,” Ryzhik added, referring to waiting in traffic in amazement for nearly an hour one morning as a procession with hundreds of law enforcement motorcycles and cars from numerous jurisdictions escorted the body of slain San Diego Police Officer Jonathan De Guzman to his funeral.
Other members of the Israeli delegation, all of whom live in or near Jerusalem, were Shahar Cohen, 16; Mussa Ilaiyan, 17; Jonathan Likhovski, 16; and Avinoam Zissu, 16. They were chaperoned by Ori Gen Gigi, manager of the Jerusalem Zoo’s children’s zoo, and Yael Lorenci, who works in the Jerusalem Zoo’s marketing department. Most of the group was scheduled to return to Israel on Wednesday, although some had made arrangements to stay longer at the homes of relatives or friends.
American teen participants included Sophie Taubman, 13; Rebecca Genin, 15; Blake Dujowich, 15; Shor Masori, 15, and brothers Kyle and Nick Taylor, respectively 18 and 15. Popular songleader Zeki Ozeri served as San Diego chaperone and van driver.
Among speakers at the San Diego Zoo, where the teens received their certificates for completing the program, was Robert Price, the chair of Price Charities, which underwrites the exchange program. He noted that the Jerusalem Zoo was in the process of building a large saltwater aquarium, similar to the Monterey Aquarium. He said the Jerusalem aquarium is adjacent to the Jerusalem Zoo, but will be administered separately, with separate admissions.
Before Price spoke, some members of the audience at the Treetop Restaurant on the San Diego Zoo grounds were introduced, including the new CEO of United Way, Rabbi Laurie Coskey. However, her name was mispronounced as “Laurie Costco,” prompting some good natured ribbing and an opportunity for Price—whose family Price Clubs were the forerunners of Costo – to recall that the family recently marked the 40th anniversary of the first Price Club, which was located on Morena Boulevard in San Diego.
Congresswoman Davis attended the luncheon but had to leave before the speech-making.
Among others who were introduced at the luncheon were Rabbi Eli Fradkin of Chabad of Coronado; Rabbi Daniel Srugo of Beth Eliyahu Torah Center, a Sephardic congregation in Chula Vista; and Lourdes Freij, the great-granddaughter of former longtime Bethlehem Mayor Elias Freij. Helena Galper, special consultant to the Jerusalem Foundation, coordinated the event.
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Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com. Comments intended for publication in the space below MUST be accompanied by the letter writer’s first and last name and by his/ her city and state of residence (city and country for those outside the United States.)