The Friendship Caravan consists of four traveling groups, 5 male and 5 female 17-year-old Tzofim (Israel Scouts) in each, who crisscross North America each summer as emissaries, sharing their lives in Israel through song, dance and story.  Participants are chosen after undergoing an extensive auditioning and interviewing process, ensuring that above all, they are true representatives of Israeli culture and spirit.  In 2008, the Tzofim Friendship Caravan reached 35 states, including 250 camps, community centers, churches, senior homes and schools, performing for an audience totaling nearly 100,000 people.

Each teen in the Friendship Caravan, like all 100 Delegation members visiting North America, is a member of the 60,000 member strong Tzofim (Israel Scouts) Movement which, in turn, is part of the International Scouting movement. The Tzofim Movement is the only non-political and non-sectarian youth movement in Israel.  Everyone in the Tzofim Summer Delegation has gone through extensive interviews and a rigorous selection process. Each Delegate must exhibit leadership capabilities, a high level of scouting and extensive knowledge of Israeli and Jewish history. Fluency in English and strong communicative skills are additional requirements for Delegation members, as well as an intense love for the land and people of Israel and a desire to share this passion with North Americans. Once selected, they participate in an intensive preparation program before coming to the U.S.  While all members of the Delegation proudly represent their homeland of Israel, only the Friendship Caravans, as entertaining emissaries, use song, dance and humor as their medium.

The Caravan has appeared on over twelve different TV shows and several news spots, reaching over 90,000 viewers and entertaining groups ranging from 1 to 100 years of age. Tzofim Friendship Caravans will crisscross the United States bringing Israeli culture and goodwill through their unique blend of smiles, songs and dances in Hebrew, Yiddish and English. Between songs, the Tzofim share their personal stories and dreams with the audiences. The Caravans also come to each community or camp prepared to lead activities about Israel for children and adults. Because they're "scouts", they're flexible and can tailor their activities to a community or camp's specific needs.

In many communities, home hospitality is provided for the teenage Tzofim for the duration of their visit. This hosting relationship goes beyond simply providing food and a bed—the host families become true loving surrogate families during the Scouts stay. This personal contact, combined with the opportunity for the Scouts to teach one-on-one about Israel, is invaluable, and the relationships forged can last a lifetime. Many communities have waiting lists of hopeful Caravan hosts and the reason is clear. These families understand the depth of the bonds created by bringing someone into your home and making them part of the family. As a host parent from Mahopac, NY recently said, “The Scouts changed our lives. These 12 individuals will forever be remembered by us all. They were incredible.” Additionally, hosting a Scout from the Caravan is often the impetus for a first Israel trip for many families – there’s nothing like the hospitality the Tzofim and their families show their host families in return! What better vehicle can there be to bridge the cultural and geographic divide between Israel and the United States?

Being part of the Tzofim Friendship Caravan has a long term impact on the Tzofim themselves that goes beyond the experience of traveling and entertaining across the U.S. Most Israeli teens have no understanding of Jewish life in the Diaspora - the variety of observance, customs, and communities. The Tzofim Friendship Caravans and the Tzofim Summer Friendship Delegation offer a great opportunity for cultural exchange. In the important partnership between American and Israeli Jews, these programs promote understanding of not only the similarities and ties that connect, but of the differences that separate these two cultures. The experience is so powerful that many of the adult leaders who come with the Caravans have previously been in the Caravan or the Delegation.