Shabbat, Meah Shearim & Yad Vashem

I haven't written in awhile. I'm going to combine a few different tiyulim that I've been on so far. First one being host Shabbat, second is Meah Shearim, and third is Yad Vashem. It has been a busy week, with many emotionally challenging sites. 

The morning before going for host Shabbat was the Jerusalem Marathon. I was supposed to run in the 5K with the rest of my group from TRY, but a misunderstanding happens between the administration for The Jerusalem marathon and my teacher. It was a lot of fun just walking to the ending point at Gan Saker and cheating people on!! Usually there would be so much traffic on the streets of Jerusalem because of Shabbat, during the marathon all the streets were blocked off, there were no cars and there were so many people running, biking, and walking on the streets. It was really quite enjoyable to see. While at Gan Saker I participated in Zumba with my friends and we witnessed the winner of the marathon receive his medal!!

The empty streets of Jerusalem

I took this picture thinking that it was an amazing sight to see someone get out of their wheelchair and walk with someone. 

The first and second place winners of the marathon

Zumba in the park

Performers in the park

For host Shabbat; March 21-22, I went to the Turners house in Kfar Adumim.  Kfar Adumim is 30 minutes outside of Jerusalem and is a pluralistic settlement (mixed religious-secular) in the Judean desert. They lived in Toronto for 3 years while Dan did his fellowship for pediatric gastroenterology at Sick Kids. They have three kids; Shira, Nadav and Amit. It was Nadavs birthday while I was over so after going to synagogue for Kabbalat Shabbat and dinner, his family surprised him with his friends coming over and a cake. Everyone slept in on Saturday morning, so no one went to shul. They are part of a whiskey club (similar to my Dads), except that this one is Israeli and families come as well. For lunch, they had a Yemenite family over who brought the best bread. It was a very productive weekend, I finished the book "Night" by Elie Wiesel over the course of Shabbat.  Funnily enough, their next door neighbours daughter went to Camp Ramah in Canada (although I didn't go that year, we knew the same people). 

That night Jane and Dan drove me back to the Chava and offered for me to go out for sushi with them at 'Sushi Rechavia', for Nadavs birthday. I went with them for a nice dinner with Janes parents too. I realized afterwards that it was the third time in one week that I have gone out for sushi at 'Sushi Rechavia', (not complaining at all though)!!

Me and Amit

On Tuesday we went to Meah Shearim after writing our ICC test. We all got dressed up in appropriate clothing to go there. We walked on separate sidewalks according to gender with our ICC teacher. We learned about the many sects of hassids and chareidim and their different dress codes. We had an hour to walk around, shop (or window shop, as I did). In class we compared how there neighbourhood to a shetl in Poland. Fortunately, we didn't come in contact with any problems while in Meah Shearim.  Afterwards, our teachers surprised us and had us all over for pizza at their houses. We met my teacher, Betsalels' family and watched a movie about Meah Shearim. It was a nice night!!

Announcements out up as posters so that they neighbourhood knows what is going on. Examples are of funerals, marriages and PSA's

Meah Shearim

Meah Shearim

Meah Shearim

Thursday, we went to Yad Vashem. We had a tour guide from Yad Vashem guiding us. I found the garden of the righteous fascinating. There are well over 20,000 people induced in the garden of the righteous among the nations. Among that, one of the things that you get besides the ceremony is automatic citizenship to Israel.  We went into the museum, in which the architecture it's self is spectacular and varies accordingly to the times of the Holocaust. The museum starts off with carpet and yields down. Near the end you see light and it becomes to get wider. We heard a survivor named Rina speak. Her story was a tough one. She was the only one in her family that survived. She was lucky and made her way to New York with adoptive parents. We went to the children's museum. No words can describe the effects that it had. 

View from Yad Vashem

We are going to Poland early tomorrow morning. I will write about Shabbat in Netanya and my experience in Poland when I get back. For now, a picture of my schedule for the Poland trip is below. 

Gadna week

After all our Purim celebrations at school, We got ready to leave for 4 days of Gadna.  

Before going to Gadna, we learned in class what it meant to be in the IDF. We learned about what it meant to have a Jewish state that we could defend without depending on anyone else. 

  

            

 When we got to Back to the Hava we started our Purim celebrations. We delivered Mishloach Manot to the elderly and we read the Megillah together.  In the afternoon we drove to the middle of nowhere to an IDF base called Sde Boker, which is across the kibbutz from where Ben Gurion lived (and is buried). When we got there, we were told the basic rules and we were divided into three different groups called Tzevets. My tzevet was made up of four boys and eight girls. The mefakedets (Leaders of the groups) were really intimidating. 

Me, Naomi, Erica and Gabi in our uniforms

After the first couple hours, we got our uniforms. We then went to an opening ceremony and at this point we had been standing for three hours. The mefakedets chose two people from each of the tzevets who were responsible for the group.  We had dinner and it was amazing compared to the food that we receive at the Hava. After dinner they gave us an hour to get ready before we go to sleep and in that hour we all took showers (except the majority of people in our group decided to take part in a challenge not to shower for four days, which was a terrible idea!!). 

When the hour was over, we got back in our Chet and the Mefakedet told us that we had to wake up at 5:30 the next morning. When we went to our tents, there was a mefakedet watching us sleep so we would not talk.

The next day it was our turn to do kitchen duty. We had to clean the whole dining area and kitchen. We washed everything down and did the dishes. To make it more fun, everyone started singing, of course we also sang Songs from 'Annie'.  We covered the entire dining room in soap water and we had to squeegee it-which took forever!!

The tents that we were in

            

 The next day it was the same routine. Wake up at 5:30, roll up the tents, get in uniform and be waiting for the mefakedet in a chet at 6. Whoever was late, whoever did not have a full water bottle and whoever was not standing in achshev (hands in a diamond behind back) was punished. That day we had 5 classes on how to fire a weapon and learned all of the safety rules.  We also went on a walk with our commanders to the site where David Ben-Gurion and his wife was buried. It was really interesting, learning about why they are buried in the Negev, where as all the other politicians are buried on Har Hertzl. 

Someone from my group Firing The M16

  The next day was the day that everyone was waiting for, the day we got to shoot the gun. When we got to the shooting range it was outdoors and it was very hot outside. We went 9 at a time and we shot laying down. We were ordered to sit down, then put our earmuffs on, lay down and pick up the gun, puck the magazine in the gun, cock the gun, turn the safety off, and fire. We had 5 shots. The day before, I decided that I didn't want to shoot the gun. I was really nervous of the power that I had with it. My commander understood, but lightly convinced me to try it.  We did not get to keep the target we got to shoot at but I wish we did because I wanted to see if I was good or not. I don't think I would want to try to shoot a gun, again. It was a good experience though and I'm glad that I took the opportunity. It's scary to know how easy it is to shoot a gun. Anyone can just pick one up and be in control of it.   We also took a Krav Maga class. It was a lot of fun!!

           

  The last day, we turned in our dirty, smelly uniforms and got into a circle with our mefakedet. She then told us to sit down. She opened up about herself and said that she was from Ranana. 

She also told us that we are the first group that has made her laugh, which we were all proud of!!  She told us that she is 7 months into her army service. 

By the end of Gadna we were all exhausted from waking up early, standing, and running around all day. When we got back to school on Friday Everyone started to say "Ken Mefakedet” to our teachers! It was an amazing week that I learned a lot in, and that I will never forget!

Weekend with the Perlbergs

This weekend I stayed with the Perlbergs in Zichron Yaakov.  Who are cousins on the Chodirker side of the family. Gil's mother grew up in Winnipeg, close to my Grandfather. 

I went to Zichron Yaakov by train and Leslie picked me up at the station.  After a rainy week, it was finally nice weather. I arrived at their house like a true Canadian, with maple syrup on hand. They loved receiving it. We had a nice Friday night dinner!

Saturday morning, we all woke up late. We had French toast and pancakes to put maple syrup on top of.

We went to the Bahai Gardens in Haifa, which I had never gone to before, but had heard how beautiful they are. The history about the Bahai religion and their up keep of the garden is fascinating.  Because the tour guide spoke Hebrew (extremely fast),  I got maybe a couple words in the whole time. Leslie and Gil translated the main idea of what he was saying though.  We climbed down 700 stairs, to the Bahai Gardens. The landscape was up kept so well. Once we got down we took a taxi back to the car.  

At the top

View of the whole garden from the top

Me and Yael

Me, Yael, Gil and Maya

Leslie, Yael, me, Maya and Gil

Star in the middle of the garden

The dome and part of the garden

All the stairs that we climbed down

Diaspora museum

On Thursday we had a planned ICC class, to got to Tel Aviv and tour around the diaspora museum and Neve Tzedek.  It ended up being a very rainy day.  We still went to the diaspora museum, just not to Neve tzedek. The diaspora museum was very interesting, from the time of the times of 4,000 years ago.... to the modern days. 

Quote near the end of the exhibit

Synoguge in Alexandria, Egypt

Synagogue in Alexandria, Egypt

Synagogue in Cochin, India

One of the sections of the exhibit that I went to was one all about our personal history. They had computers set out in order for us to research our geneology. I was so excited to be able to do this, especially at a place like the 'Diaspora Museum', where the whole emphasis on the museum is on the history of the Jewish people and to connect people back to their roots. 

I got out all the family history documents that I had on my phone, and I typed in a bunch of different family last names. Last names that had been changed in the past, and that are still in the family. I found a bunch of results, not ones that I personally recognize, but I think my grandparents recognized some of them.  Everyone from my group was so excited about the chance to look up their family's history. Mainly because we are going to Poland in a few weeks, and we are preparing family history and names to bring with us to Poland.  Below are pictures that I took on all of the results that came up. 

Chodirker family

Kaplun family

On the way to the staircase on the second floor is a caged light that is pictured below. We were asked to fill in a sheet for our ICC class. One of the questions was 'what do you think this caged light symbolizes?'  After seeing all the tough times in our history, throughout the museum.  We often find a way to bring negativity into positivity. I think the caged light symbolizes that throughout all the tough times, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  Something or someone is always looking out for us, after all the hardship. 

'Caged light' in the museum

Menorah at the end of the exhibit 

I felt that this museum had a great message. Although, they were very keen on advertising throughout the exhibition that all the Jewish people should be living in Israel to make the story complete.  In truth, the reason that we are such a unified and participatory religion and culture is because we are all spread out around the world. I think that this is an integral part of the Jewish religion. We will most likely always be spread out, but 

Israel will always be my (our) home and one that I (we) will always come back to!!

Tennis, fortress, and Arab village

Today-Tuesday we first went to the Israel Tennis Centre.  I've always heard, and read about how unique the tennis centre is.  The uniquely designed tennis programs include ones for kids who are developmentally challenged, who come from 'at risk' families, and immigrants The tennis program that they are most known for is the program especially for Jewish and Arab children; which promotes tolerance, cross-cultural relationships and peaceful coexistence. 

We drove 30 minutes from the tennis centre to a crusader fortress and an Arab village.  They were both really cool to see! We went to a place that looked like a normal park, but we walked 10 minutes and found ourselves in a crusader fortress. 

Our ICC teacher brought paper shields, swords and masks for us to put on.  We went through the fortress doors and started fighting the other ICC group. 

Fortress

After that, we got on the bus and left for the Arab Village. We went into a beautiful mosque and had a question and answer session with a woman who was from Britain and converted to Islam. I learned a lot about what they believe in, and how they practice their religion. I never really knew anything about Islam so it was really cool to learn, there are a lot of similarities between Islam and Judaism. All of the girls had to wear a hijab to enter the mosque. We were all fully covered with long skirts and hijabs and boys in long pants. 

Me and Zmira fully covered in hijabs

After visiting the mosque, we went to the Shuk.  Although, it was raining and we only had 15 minutes there, I still found time to buy some candy. 

Candy in the shuk (just one of the many places with candy)

Tomorrow we our celebrating Purim with all of Chavat Hanoer Hatziani (the campus). We were split up into 5 groups according to our theme of 'high school'; nerds, hipsters, goths, jocks and cheerleaders.  We are performing the  dances in front of the whole campus on Wednesday night. I'll write a seperate post about our Purim celebrations this weekend.  

Mock Knesset, Christianity and Shabbat

On Tuesday, we had ICC (Israel Core Course) where we learned about Israel and Israeli Society. We had a project where we had to re enact the elections that took place in Israel. I represented the Shas party (the ultra-orthodox party).  I learned a lot about Israeli politics, although it is quite complex. We got to write and perform a song, recite a speech, present a poster, and a bumper sticker about why everyone should vote for Shas. 

Me wearing my tichel for our mock Knesset project 

The Shas party (of TRY)


Although our groups presentation went well, our party was of the ultra-orthodox sect and had very specific parts of government that they'd like.  We didn't get any votes.   Forming a coalition in order to get the majority of the seats was extremely stressful and everyone kept yelling at each other.  

 Today-Thursday we walked in the foot steps of Jesus! We visited two churches.  We went to the room of the last supper where Jesus ate his last meal, and under that room, we visited the tomb of king David where we held Mincha (although we all really know that King David is not really buried there). We also got to walk on the rampart of one of the walls in the old city and had some free time at Mamilla mall! 

Ein Karim

Inside Ein Karim

Inside Dormition Abby

People praying to mary in Dormition Abby

Walking on the rampart on the walls of the old city

Our ICC class on Har Hazeitim (Mount of Olives)

This Shabbat we had a couple of choices; between staying at the Chava, going to a mifgash family, and staying at family or friends houses. I was invited to stay at my friend Rivkas house in Bet Shemesh. Rivka and I were both counsellors at Kids World this summer in Toronto.  Her cousin Talya (who was also a counsellor at Kids World) from Zichron Yaakov also stayed with her this weekend.  I took a train to Bet Shemesh, which was probably the nicest train ride that I have ever been on. It went through the mountains and around archaeological sites!  This weekend was a very different experience for me. Rivkas family is orthodox, the previous weekends I've stayed at people's houses that don't observe Shabbat.  I think this was my first time in awhile actually keeping Shabbat. Being in Bet Shemesh made me realize how different Israel is from anywhere in North America. Kids were playing on the street, there must have been over 200 people at the park that we went to in Ramat Bet Shemesh, and everyone was saying Shabbat Shalom to each other. Everyone was so friendly. I didn't realize how American Bet Shemesh was until I met all of Rivkas friends. The people that I met there were all from Baltimore, New York or St Louis.  I don't know if the news traveled to North America, but there was this whole scandal with the charaidi mayor being elected in Bet Shemesh. They are having a re-election this Tuesday, which is the first re-election that Israel has ever had.  I made my way back to Jerusalem around 8, as we had a Saturday night return. I ended up taking the intercity bus back to Jerusalem. I promised myself that I would never take it again, but the train wasn't going to leave until 9. Next weekend I'm going to my cousins house in Zichron a yaakov, which I'm really looking forward too!!!!!!

Rivka, Talya and me