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Through the Arad-Tamar Teen Exchange, in conjunction with the Jewish Federation of Greater Monmouth County, six Israeli teenagers spent a week in New Jersey March 5-12.

Their first stop on the program was Temple Beth Ahm in Aberdeen, where they ate Chinese food for dinner, ice scream for dessert, sang songs, and met many Americans from the Hebrew High School that were the same age.

Throughout the week they also visited Congregation B'nai Israel in Rumson, Temple Sha'arey Emeth in Manalapan, and the Monmouth Reform Temple in Tinton Falls, where they stayed with different families from each temple.

Miriam Kaplan, the director of leadership development for the Jewish Federation of Greater Monmouth County, said this was the fifth year that the program has taken place and eventually the plan is to send Americans to Israel as well.

The teens were Matias from Arad, Almog from Neve Zohar, Miri from Arad, Ariel from Ein Geidi, Inbar from Arad, and Yonatan from Arad. Arad-Tamar is the federation's sister city through the Partnership 2000 program, which pairs American regions with disadvantaged Israeli communities.

Matias, 16, said Israel is home to him and he loves it very much, but he has always wanted to go to America. He considers himself very similar to an average teen in America, because he likes to play basketball, listen to music, hang out with his friends, and play games on the computer.

"It's like our sister community, we're bridging the gap between the Jewish community," Matias said.

Matias said that although Arad is a very small city with only one school, where everyone knows everyone, it is the best place to live. Although he loves living in Israel, he said many people outside Israel don't fully understand that living there can be scary as well because of the daily threat of missile and rocket attacks from neighboring Arab communities.

"As an Israeli, to live under missile attack can make life a nightmare," he said.

The chaperone for the six teens and the co-coordinator of the program was Ofra Natan Bezeealla. She said 20 different teens were selected and interviewed, and eventually six were selected to come to America. She said this is her ninth year participating in the program and she feels it is very important.

"Its purpose is to strengthen the relationship between the two sides of the ocean," she said.

Almog said she lives in a very small town in the dessert, near the Dead Sea, that only has 50 families. The town has no restaurants, malls, or supermarkets; the closest hospital is an hour away, and every day she takes a bus for half an hour to get to school. She said she chose to come to America with the program because it was a special opportunity.

"It may be different, but I like living there, it's special," she said. "The Dead Sea is a very special place."

Miri, who likes to go to the mall, dance, and hang out with her friends, said she was very excited about being in America. She said one of the main reasons she chose to go on the trip was that her parents really wanted her to experience America. She added that Arad isn't the most fun place to live.

"If you ask anyone that lives in Arad, they will tell you it's boring," Miri said.

The six teens also entertained the students from the Hebrew High School as they sang "Hallelujah" and taught the students a song in Hebrew as well. The two students who played the guitar and led the singing were Yonatan and Ariel. Ariel, who lives on a kibbutz, said she enjoys reading, dancing, and playing the guitar.

"I'm proud to be part of the state of Israel," Ariel said.

Yonatan said he enjoys basketball, hanging out with his friends, and listening to such music as Eric Clapton and Led Zeppelin. He said so far he really likes America.

"I wanted to make a change and represent Israel," he said. "I strongly believe each and every Jewish person should visit his Jewish country."

Inbar said she loves listening to rock music, especially bands such as My Chemical Romance. Although her hometown Arad is very small and everybody knows each other, it is very special to her, she said.

One of the Hebrew High School students, Scott Arbital, a 9th grader from Marlboro, said he really enjoyed meeting the six teens from Israel because some of them -- like Yonatan and Matias -- enjoy playing basketball, as he does.

One student from the Hebrew High School, 16-year-old Evan, said he was very excited about the teens coming to America because he and his family were housing Yonatan.

"I'm glad they're here, I'm very happy," Evan said.

Rabbi Michael Pont said the program is amazing, and all six of the teenagers are kind, mature, and are really enjoying their time here. Not only do the youth get a chance to experience America, he added, but the students at the shul get a taste of what it is like to live in Israel as well.

"They show people Israelis are real teens, who have hopes, dreams, and fears just like everyone else," Pont said. "They are great ambassadors for Israel."