Shabbat Mifgash and Israeli Dopplegangers

This weekend we headed to Jerusalem to meet up with our Israeli “doppelgangers”. Otzma set up a Shabbat Mifgash with Avi Chai, a group that works with Israelis who go to the states to be counselors at Jewish camps. The Israelis were predominantly between the ages of 21-23 and were preparing to return to the states for their second or third summer at camp.

Most Otzmanikim have gone to some kind of Jewish camp whether it be day camp or overnight. I on the other hand have NO Jewish camp experience. I went to day camp for many summers and yes most of the campers as well as the owners were Jewish, but we did not practice Jewish traditions or laws. When I arrived on Otzma, there was a definite separation between those who grew up at Jewish camps and those who did not. The former campers had ample energy and chose to serenade us with camp songs and cheers day in and day out. For the non-campers, this perkiness got old really fast. Ok so fast forward to this weekend, some of us where slightly hesitant about the Mifgash as in the fact that we did not sign up for some hokey camp weekend. Let me tell you, this weekend was anything but…

It began on Thursday with discussing Israeli and American stereotypes. The stereotype discussion was done in a room separate from the Israelis. Some stereotypes come from truth as we learned and others are far from it. For example, Israelis think American girls are “easy”, which is definitely girl-by-girl dependent. Americans think that Israelis are loud (very true, men and women alike). A group of three Israelis discussing a topic will sound like triple the amount of people are actually in the room. They don’t have an “indoor voice” (…then again I have been told I don’t either ;)).

The second part of the discussion titled, “My Journey” was about the Jew Connection. If you trace our lineage back far enough, most of our grandparents and great grandparents originated from the same places: Russia/Poland vicinity (Ashkenazi) or Morocco/North Africa (Sephardic). If my great grandparents had chosen to get on a boat to Israel instead of the States, I could have been sitting on the Israeli side of the room instead of the American. I am a third generation New Yorker and my great grandparents came over to Ellis Island from Russia and Poland. I was surprised to find that I was one of only three Otzmanikim whose great grandparents immigrated to the States during the late 1800s/ early 1900s.

(Ari and Dana working together on the green puzzle)

Friday began bright and early with team building activities out at a local park. Some of the activities included building puzzles blindfolded and having to rely on your teammates for guidance and another required moving a ball from one pole to the next just using a rope. Most people criticize these activities but they do work. At the end of the activity, it was clear the Otzmanikim and Israelis were developing (hopefully lifelong) ties. After the activity, we got ready for Shabbat Services. I decided to try “Alternative” services, which involved singing Israeli songs and discussing the why behind the traditions and prayers. I really enjoyed getting to partake in this unique service. I am trying to delve deeper into Judaism and find out more of the “whys” behind the rituals and laws.

(Barak working on the gigantic red puzzle while blindfolded)

One of my favorite parts of Shabbat is waking up late and spending the day reading a good book out on the porch. Neither of the above would happen this Shabbat. Our morning began early with breakfast and then we headed back into our small groups for more discussions. We debated everything from Brittany Spears to executing terrorists. The discussions got so heated that we had to use a baton to designate who had the floor. It seemed like every issue had underlying meaning and many of them hit close to home for the Israelis or Americans.

(The Black Bandanas constructing a pipe masterpiece)

Final Thoughts for the weekend: It truly was a whirlwind. On Thursday, we walked into the hostel as complete strangers with many of us staying close to the people from our own programs. By the time Saturday evening rolled around, we were laughing and dancing like old friends. I really enjoyed how no one held back during the discussions; everyone spoke from the heart!

On a more personal note, attending this seminar opened my eyes to the world of Jewish Summer Camp. It’s more than the cheers and upbeat songs that drifted through the halls of orientation 6 months ago. It’s about connecting with your faith in a unique way at a time in your life when you are molding your identity. Many Otzmanikim as well as Israelis found or redefined their faith while on these programs. It makes me wonder whether I would have a better understanding of my faith and what makes me a Jew if I had attended one of these programs. This experience is another stepping stone in finding out more about my Jewish heritage and what being a Jew means to me.

A Classy Evening in Tel Aviv: Wine Expo and Faust

For those of you who may or may not know me, I love exploring whatever city or area I may be residing in. It is not uncommon for me to pick up the weekend section of a newspaper or the “Timeout” Tel Aviv magazine and find a unique activity to attend for the evening. And this is exactly how I came across the Third Annual Israeli Wine Expo. For 60 shekels, you got to try TEN wines and got a free glass. So on Thursday night, Max and I headed to the Israeli Convention Center to improve our wine knowledge and tantalize our taste buds.

The set up of the expo was excellent- each vendor had their own theme which usually included vivid imagery or bold colors. Being the graphic designer that I am, the design was definitely a factor in which vineyards I stopped by. Surprisingly, our top wine of the evening came from Zion Winery, which did not collect tickets and gave numerous samplings for FREE!! We tried everything from sweet white wines to semi-dry sryiah-merlot combos. Their marketing tactics worked like a charm- they hired pr people who really connected to the consumer in addition to giving out ample samples; this gave the consumer more options to buy while also making them a little more “at ease”. Well, they worked and we bought an excellent red wine!!

On Saturday night, Max and I headed to the Opera (…a first for both of us!). Starting in Mid-April, I will be interning for the Israeli Opera in their marketing department. One of the perks is free Opera tickets. I have always been a musical theater girl. My first musical on Broadway, Peter Pan, I saw before the age of 8. I never seen an Opera and decided tonight was an excellent time to broaden my theater horizon. The Opera, “Faust”, was being performed in Italian and had Hebrew and English subtitles. Though beggars can’t be choosers and our tickets were free, it was extremely difficult to read the subtitles from our seats. Basically, I had to lean with my head against the wall, which to many may have looked like I was sleeping (…which I WASN’T). Overall thoughts on the Opera: Singing and Staging was INCREDIBLE! You could really feel the actors presence on stage. It was difficult reading the subtitles and following the action on stage. At times, I would stop reading and just watch. Actions do speak louder than words! I can’t wait to view more Operas and work for the Opera company in April ☺

New Sounds and Smells: Quality time with Shaina and Derek’s Adopt a Family

(Omer on Stage)

On Tuesday night, Shaina, Derek, and I went to see Shaina’s Adopt-a-Brother (Omer) who is also Derek’s Adopt-a-Cousin who is also Adina’s Brother-in-law perform in concert in Beer Sheva. Got the family connection? It seems that people in Israel don’t really have family friends just really LARGE extended families. Talk about Jewish Geography!

(Hodaya, Shaina, Derek, and Me at the Bar)

At 10pm, we got picked up by Derek’s Adopt-a-Sister (Hodaya) and Shaina’s Adopt-a-Sister (Dana) and headed to Beer Sheva. Take into consideration this is after I volunteered for 10hrs straight earlier in the day. Despite the late concert starting time, all of us were excited to partake in the Beer Sheva nightlife. Before the band took the stage, American Top Hits were being pumped out of the bar speakers. It reminded of local bars back home where cover bands pack the house throughout the weekend.

The band came on a little after 11pm and the dance floor quickly filled up. The music was catchy and upbeat. Currently, one of their singles (“ Little Girl“) is being played on the radio. I had a great time at the concert despite the fact I did not understand A SINGLE WORD. I have never really had an experience like that before and it definitely opened my eyes to Israeli Pop Rock Music.

(Making the Mufleta)

The following night, Shaina, Derek, and I went to Shaina’s Adopt-a-Family’s home for Mufleta and Shfinge. Both of these delicacies are eaten for dessert after a meat meal. The mufleta is similar to a crepe and has honey drizzled on it. The shfinge is like a fried doughnut and then coated with honey. Shaina’s Host Family, which is actually Adina’s Real Family, made these desserts in front of our eyes in a matter of minutes. My taste buds were definitely intrigued by the sweet taste of honey mixed with the mild taste of the dough. The Moroccan hospitality never let up (…as expected) and I was offered seconds and thirds. We were also given Moroccan Tea, which is made from lemongrass and mint. It was awesome spending time with Shaina and Derek’s adopt a fam these past two days and my senses are definitely falling more in love in Moroccan food.

Shabbat in a Caravan

As part of our “Conflict and Hope” Seminar in Jerusalem, we were given the opportunity to have Shabbat in the West Bank in a settlement. I was given a family who lives in Tekoa, which is located in the Northern Judean Hills about 5 miles from Bethlehem. Lucky or unlucky for me, I along with another Otzmanikim (Jen) was given a family who lived in a caravan. I had no idea what a modern day caravan looked like. I pictured something out of Lawrence of Arabia or Aladdin. My home for the weekend was more reminiscent of a trailer park. The layout went as follows: one small bedroom, an eating area with kitchen, a bathroom, and then another small bedroom.

(Hadas and Hillel's Caravan)

Our Shabbat experience began with preparing for the Sabbath in our VERY OWN CARAVAN?? We were given the families neighbor’s caravan to reside in for the weekend since the neighbors were out of town. Preparing for the Sabbath included setting lights and heaters to Shabbat timers as well as pre-ripping toilet paper. Hadas, our host mom, told us her husband was working security tonight, so Jen and I would be spending dinner with another family close by. At 6pm, we walked over to a neighboring caravan for Shabbat dinner.

(Pre-ripping TP for Shabbat)

Chayim’s caravan was set up similar to Hadas’s. The young couple had a two year old daughter named Roni and another child on the way. Their English was great; the wife’s grandmother was British and the husband learned through the popular method of watching American media. The Shabbat meal was delicious and ended with chocolate fondue with fruit to celebrate Tubishvat. The best part of the meal was being able to get to know the couple and how they decided to reside in Tekoa. They mentioned that this was a temporary home and that it had easy access to Jerusalem, where both of them were taking classes and working. They felt safe in Tekoa despite previous acts of violence the occurred a few months ago. With our bellies full of chocolate covered fruit and our minds full of new knowledge about the settlements, Jen and I headed to bed for some well needed sleep (side note: we slept on the floor on mats!)

(View from Our Caravan)

In the morning(…it was actually closer to noon by the time we woke up), we walked over to Hadas’s caravan for Shabbat lunch vegetarian style. I had never had a vegetarian Shabbat meal before. I assume it probably makes the kosher thing a lot easier. Our meal consisted of cooked vegetables, LOTS OF BEANS, salad, rice, and couscous; Oh, and did I mention the AMAZING home cooked breads and fresh squeezed juice. Everything was delicious; though I still prefer meat in my Shabbat meals. Once again, Jen and I were full from the lengthy meal and decided to take a Shabbat Siesta in our caravan. Shabbat Siestas may be one of my favorite parts of Shabbat. After the food coma that happens without fail after the large afternoon meal, I lay down for a few hours until it is time to celebrate Havdalah. After the meal, a massive dust storm passed through the town of Tekoa. I could hear the wind howling and feel the metal walls moving under the pressure of the wind. Scary!

Thoughts on my host family: Hadas was very hospitable but a bit too religious for me. I felt pressured to pray and sing even when I was clueless on the words. They basically handed me the beerkat, the prayer after the meal, and told me to pray aloud with them. It was more the method they went about asking compared to what they were asking. I enjoy listening to the prayers and joining in if I know the melody or words. I think this pressure led to me feeling hesitant to ask Hadas and Hillel about their life in Tekoa.

(Hadas and Hillel's Children)

When the Havdalah service concluded, we were driven back to the Otzma pick up point. Within minutes of meeting back up with the group, I noticed that my Shabbat experience was very different compared to the other Otzmanikim. Max’s family had 5 sons and they each had their own bedroom and Max had his own bedroom as well. Many Otzmanikim had similar experiences. Jen and I were the only individuals who spent the weekend in a caravan and I think I prefer it that way. I have spent countless Shabbats in beautiful homes with ample bedrooms but never have I witnessed and experienced something like I did this weekend and I think my West Bank experience is more complete because of it.

Super Bowl Monday

Late January/Early February brings to mind one thing for many Americans…Super Bowl Sunday! Unfortunately due to the 7hr time difference, that meant that Israel would be broadcasting the game at 1:30am on Monday. The unusual time did scare away the fair weather Otzma fans; I hesitated at the thought of staying up until 5am to watch the game but then decided you only live once, so onward I went to Kiryat Gat for my first ever and probably only Israeli Superbowl Party.

( Max and I waiting for the game to begin at midnight)

Let me preface this by saying before the game, I had interviewed for an internship in Tel Aviv, which I successfully nabbed at the Israeli Opera Company. This was followed by meeting Robyn, a fellow Otzmanikim, at Rehovot for dinner and buying tailgating supplies. At 9:30pm, me along with the other Rehovoters got on a bus headed to Kiryat Gat to watch the ultimate American pastime, the Super Bowl.

15 dedicated Otzmanikim packed the Kiryat Gat house around 11pm. All of us brought along tailgating supplies to ease the wait until kick off. At 1:30am, the broadcasting began. Unfortunately, none of the popular Super Bowl commercials accompanied the game ( the commercials are the best party of the Super Bowl experience in my opinion, then again I was an advertising major in college). Some Otzmanikim were asleep minutes after kickoff. I stayed up for the first quarter and nodded on and off throughout the remaining quarters. The game was purely defense and kinda dull to watch. I did manage to stay awake for the last remaining minutes to watch the interception that clinched the win for the Saints. Throughout the night or should I say early morning, the football fans began to drop like flies with only the diehard fans still awake and conscious by the end of the fourth quarter.

( How many sleepy Otzmanikim can you spot? )

At a little before 5am, the Saints were named Super Bowl Champs and it was time for a quick power nap before nabbing the first bus back to Netivot. Sadly there is no direct bus to Netivot from K Gat. I had the times and bus numbers written down but of course nothing ever goes off without a hitch. We caught our first bus (the 25) with no problems. I stayed awake while Max and Derek fell asleep in the seats next to me. I woke them up in time to hop off at the Givati Junction. Our connecting bus (the 363) never came!! We waited 45 minutes on the side of the highway at 6:30am in the cold. One plus was seeing the sunrise…Anyway, we hopped back on the 25 and took it into Ashkelon, its final destination. In Ashkelon, we took a sheruit to Netivot.

(Derek at the bus stop in the middle of nowhere at 6am)

Unfortunately, the sheruit refused to drive us past the city’s center, so we walked 20 minutes from the stop to the apartment. At this point, the sun was up, it was warm, and all of us were feeling the effects of the night before. After what felt like hours(…because it actually was), I thankfully arrived at my apartment and curled into bed to powernap before volunteering later that morning.

Laundry

(Me with my camping backpack in Jerusalem...this is after carrying it around all day, hence, the "mad" face)

To preface this post, I have never been a diligent laundry doer. I am not saying my clothes are dirty, just that I have enough intimates and clothes to wait weeks before doing a load. In college I used to use a dolly to push my clothes to the laundry room and while in Ashkelon I would use my hiking backpack to lug all of my clothes to the washers. People would ask, “Are you going away for the night?” and my response would be “Nope, just doing my laundry”.





Currently in Netivot, we have a tiny washer which shake/rattles/rolls, a rusty clothesline, and a drying rack. The washer actually moves a good foot during the cycle. It’s hard getting used to not having a dryer…You have to consider the tempermental weather for one and also it definitely slows down the process. Since we are in the rainy season, it has rained on my clothes a few times while they are drying. Does this mean you have to re-wash them? Does acid rain really damage your clothes/skin? Thoughts?? Also, word to the wise…NEVER put any cheap Israeli t-shirts or sweatshirts in a dryer, otherwise, they will come out like doll clothes. Many Otzmanikim learned this the hard way. The article of clothing will come out fine if laid on a drying rack! This maybe due to the fact that most Israelis do not have dryers or only use them for emergencies since they are costly to run. Thankfully, I was able to learn from others mistakes and my t-shirts still fit.

( Looking Down...)

Earlier in the week, we used the covered clothesline to hang up our clothes. A few days later, I check the line only to find all of our clothes on our neighbors ledge. Ugh! So Shaina and I decide to head downstairs to try and reclaim our clothes. Our neighbors look confused but agree to let us come in to their apartment. We had to use a broom handle to scoop up the clothes off the bottom of the ledge (…the ledge was too fragile too stand on). Shaina was pretty awesome at grabbing the clothes. The clothes were covered in bird poo and wet…GROSS! I think we all learned our lesson about the necessity of clothespins!

** UPDATE: A BIRD POOPED ON MY PANTS WHILE THEY WERE DRYING...GROSS!!**

Pink Parasols and the Knerret

For months, I did not see one drop of rain hit Israeli soil. I think it may have rained once in Ashkelon during our three month stay. This said rainfall brought about the same response kids in the northeast US have when seeing the first snow fall of the season. I can definitely now say that we are in the rainy season in Israel. Everytime it rains, Israelis respond by saying its good for the Knerret, the largest freshwater lake in Israel. The Knerret, also known as the Sea of Galilee, is currently suffering from dangerously low water levels and is at risk of becoming irreversibly salinized by the salt water springs under the lake. It is common for Americans to teach their children the song “Rain, Rain Go Away” when rain puts a damper on their plans. Israelis on the other hand thank G-d (“Baruch Hashem”) and pray for it to keep falling.

(The Knerret)

Not to sound like I am anti-Knerret, but I don’t know if I or my hair can stand one more day of this rain. I think Noah and his ark and not far away…It has rained on and off for the past three weeks creating lots of runoff and flooding. Today truly takes the cake. First the rain prevented me from going to the gym, then it stopped me from leaving the gym. And yes, I know I won’t melt but I prefer to not work out seeping wet or be pelted by hail.

In the early evening, I walked to my adopt a family’s home for Shabbat dinner. If I take the shortcut across the dirt hill, it takes 8 minutes. Due to the mudslide, I decided to take the long way and arrived at their home soaking wet. Once my belly was filled to capacity and the inevitable sleepiness that accompanies a large delicious meal was setting it, I decided it was time to journey back to my apartment. Of course, I opened the front door only to see pouring rain and wind. I asked my adopt a mom for an umbrella. We went on a hunt for one, but the best we could find was her granddaughter’s hot pink “That’s Funky” sun parasol and some green garbage bags. So of course, I threw a garbage bag on over my coat and took on the rain with my funky parasol tight in hand. I definitely came home a lot more colorful and wetter than I left. Moral of the story: Rain jackets may be better options than peacoats despite the cold. Oh, and I hear Philadelphia is currently being impacted by the Winter Storm of the Year with two inches falling an hour. I never thought I would miss the snow so much! Let is snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

(Philly Forecast!)

**UPDATE: Philly was hit with its second biggest snow storm in history. Over 2ft total! WOW**

(Mia playing in the snow back home in Philly)

(View of the street where I live after the Blizzard)

Reciprocity and Russians

Half of my volunteer opportunities take place in the Sdot Negev Region, a boarding town of Netivot. This area was greatly impacted by the quasam rockets during Operation Castled last winter. I volunteer at the Robert Saligman Center in Sdot Negev 2x a week by working one on one with children who need a little extra attention learning English. I find my time with the children very rewarding and educational. Whenever I am uncertain of a Hebrew word, I look it up in my dictionary or ask the child “Mah Tze” (What’s This?).

On Wednesday, I worked with two boys who were in 6th grade. Our 45 minute session began with reading an English article about a boat and sailors and then answering the respective questions. Once we finished their homework, one of the boys grabbed a basic Hebrew reader book from the library shelf (our tutoring sessions take place in the library). The boy said my Hebrew skills were bad and that I needed to practice reading and speaking Hebrew. I agreed to let them teach me in return for them translating the story into English. They were genuinely invested in me learning Hebrew and continued to be patient while I sounded out foreign words. Normally, I would have not allowed this role reversal but since they were translating the story into English I felt this was ok. I am hoping to find someone in Netivot who will teach me Hebrew in return for me helping them improve their English skills.

Today (Thursday), Shaina and I were considering hiking it to Beer Sheva to go to the movies. Beer Sheva is about a 30 minute bus ride away; There are no movie theaters in Netivot. This entire ordeal would end up pretty expensive once you add up bus fare, taxi rides, tickets, and probably some candy and soda. Instead, we decided to explore Netivot and get in touch with our home for the remaining two months (yes, we have been living there for one month now!). This began with shopping on Smello Street (commonly referred to as 5th Ave). Some may consider our trip unsuccessful since we did not purchase anything, but we found great enjoyment trying on countless outfits.
Later in the afternoon, we came across a Russian store that sold everything from Russian candies to cheese. The Russian store owners kept offering us candy to eat and of course we accepted and then bought a kilos worth. Nice Marketing! On our way home, we stopped at a few more Russian stores only to discover some not so kosher items in this very religious town. Top finds include frozen shrimp and some kind of pork product with the three little pigs on the front. Shaina and I can’t wait to buy some Russian ingredients and cook ourselves a meal reminiscent of the old country. Overall, I think our Russian shopping spree was still cheaper than a day out in Beer Sheva.

It's A Small World

On Monday night, a group of ladies from the Lions Of Judea Northeast division traveled to Netivot for a taste of some ethnic cooking, Israeli hospitality, and Philadelphia Love. Gabby and I are the only individuals from the Philadelphia area and Shaina will be joining the City of Brotherly Love next fall while attending University of Pennsylvania. Rachel, Gabby, Mike, Shaina and I walked to the Mercaz where we would be meeting the ladies for a gourmet dinner.


During the meal, I sat next to three women from the Philadelphia area. One of them was the aunt of my neighbor. It really is a small world! They were very excited to hear about my experiences thus far on Otzma; so impressed they wanted me to persuade our mutual friend to venture to Israel. Throughout the evening, women would come up to me and ask if I was from Upper Dublin(…which I am!). Earlier in the night they had spoken to Gabby who had told them where in the Philadelphia area I reside. The women were excited to know that I attended the same school as their children! Upper Dublin Township is the same size as the town of Netivot (both have 25,000 residents).


Now down to the actual meal, the food was INCREDIBLE. The chefs of the evening are women who enjoy sharing their ethnic dishes with various guests in Netivot. The women come from a variety of countries including Tunsia, Ethiopia, and Moroco. Instead of being on wealthfare, the women earn money by doing what comes naturally to them…Cooking Ethic Foods. I am not alone when I say I wanted to try EVERY DISH! My favorite dish was the couscous with the raisin glaze. My plate looked like it had eaten a rainbow; there was bright pink Kubay, Yellow chicken, Red chicken, Green peas, and Orange cooked Pumpkin. The Lions of Judea were surprised and pleased by the variety of choices and amazing flavors that accompanied each dish. I can honestly say no one left hungry and luckily we got to take home leftovers. I know I am excited for sweet potato and couscous tomorrow!

Yemen Breakfast, Morrocan Lunches, and Good Wholesome Honesty

First a side story about something that would never happen in the States…
During Sukkot holiday I traveled to Egypt and Eliat with a few of my friends. On our last day in Eilat, my friends’ Ipod Touch went missing. We filed a police report but not really expected to ever get the item back. This weekend my friend gets a Facebook message from the Eilat Police Department saying they found his Ipod! Someone at the police department even contacted one of his friends living in Israel to see if they could locate my friend. The police department is wiling to ship it to his current location in Yokneam! Unreal! This kind of occurrence has happened numerous times to fellow Otzmanikim who have lost wallets, laptops, and jackets. Ever heard of finders keepers, losers weepers…clearly that does not apply to Israelis. Talk about honesty.

(Me, Shulah, and Gabby at the Women's Center)

Back to my weekend, Gabby and I were invited to a Shabbat dinner with one of the women we teach at the Women’s Center. Shulah does not speak much English but her daughter does and wanted to practice English with us. Thursday night plans were finalized for Shabbat; We would attend dinner and lunch at their home. Well that soon became dinner, BREAKFAST, and lunch. At 5:30pm on Friday, Gabby and I walked over to Shulah’s home. We got lost (of course) and then we bumped into one of the Ofek guys who knew the family (of course) and helped us find our way. Soon after arriving at the home, we welcomed the Sabbath Bride and said the respectful prayers. Dinner included over 10 types of salads which could barely fit on the long dining room table. This was followed by spicy fish and soup and then the meats and grains. By the time the main course arrived Gabby and I were already filled to the brim. Dessert included homemade cake, nuts, and ample servings of tea and coffee. As the evening came to a close, Shulah walked us all the way to our home. To preface this, Shulah is no spring chicken but has the energy of someone half her age.

(English Class at the Women's Center)

When the morning came around, Gabby and I were still full from dinner but excited about having our first Yemen breakfast. Shulah’s daughter, Hagit, is Morocan but her husband, Daniel, is Yemen. The Yemen breakfast included a MASSIVE dark bread/cake straight from the oven. The bread is then dipped into various sauces, creams, and cheeses. The fresh bread topped with the homemade sauces was AMAZING! I couldn’t even imagine eating lunch in a few hours after stuffing my face with such incredible Yemenite food. We spent the rest of the morning talking and playing with the kids. At 2pm, we had the traditional Shabbat Morocan lunch which includes ample salads, cracked wheat, cholent (my favorite!), couscous, rice, chicken, beans and more. Another wonderful homecooked meal! Daniel mentioned how he gained 10 kilos from his wife’s cooking and I am beginning to understand how. It's incredible how you can meet someone for the first time and truly feel like one of the family. The food would not be half as good if it did not have good company to accompany it.

Party In The USA

Part of my volunteering includes planning English lessons for the Ethiopian girls at Youth Futures. It’s hard to think like a 12 year old even more an Israeli 12 year old. For this week’s lesson, the trustee I work with, Hofit, recommended I pick a popular American song to translate into Hebrew. Picking the ideal song was quite the feat. First let me note that almost every pop culture song mentions topics that I don’t want to bring to the attention of 12-year-old girls. Second most songs include slang that don’t translate into Hebrew well.
After looking up countless lyrics, I came across Miley Cryrus, Party in the USA. She’s popular, but does she appeal to a too young audience? Over the past year, Miley has gone from looking like a cute 14-year-old Hannah Montana to a Britney Spears in the making. Watch out Billy Ray!



Three girls attended the Youth Future’s session. We began by playing the music video which included the lyrics. This was followed by going over every word of every line in the song. The process was severely slowed down by all the slang words and American references. Phrases such as “It’s definitely not a Nashville party cause all I see is stilettos” took a bit of time to explain. First, I pulled up a map of the USA and pointed out Tennessee and explained what it symbolizes (country music, slower lifestyle, etc). Second, I found an image of a stiletto and described what the shoe represents. Lyrics I would not think twice about such as “hoppin on a flight” or “my tummys turning” brought about confused looks from the girls. Not having the Hebrew vocab to clarify the lyrics, I was thankful to have the Internet handy to show visuals of the words. The girls enjoyed the lesson and ended the afternoon with replaying the music video numerous times and creating their own dance. Final note…children all over the world sing American lyrics with little clue about what the lyrics mean or stand for; would they still be singing them if they understood the symbolism?

Israeli Transportation

Many people fear Israeli transport due to the terrorist attacks in previous years. For volunteers such as myself buses, trains, and taxis are truly the only way to get around the country. I can say with certainty that each Otzmanikim has had at least one odd, if not extremely frustrating, experience while traveling through the country. I have become more confident with the process of inter and intracity travel but still experience a hiccup now and then.



One of my best friends from the States was visiting Israel for two weeks earlier this month. Her family lives in Haifa which is a pretty far from the Negev region. Being the more experienced traveler, I made the trek up North and back to the Soth over the span of 4 days. Let me sum up my return journey…Train from Haifa to Beer Sheva…Got off at the wrong station…Taxi to the correct station…Sheruit (shared taxi) to Netivot…Sheruit got pulled over for a seatbelt check…Arrive in Netivot 15 minutes before beginning my 8hr shift of volunteering after traveling for over 4 hours.



I think sheruits may be the issue. Most times they don’t leave the station unless they are full. I have spent up to 40 minutes waiting for the sheruit to fill up. In addition, they can stop on a highway make you get off and get into another sheruit. This can happen two or three times throughout your journey. The one benefit of this mode of transporation: if you are the last person in the sheruit and you don’t get stuck on the side of the ride, your total journey time can be cut in HALF! My word of advice on Israeli transportion: always leave extra time and if you are late, don’t worry because so is the rest of the country.

20 Wishes for $1.35 US Dollars (5 Shekels)

Baba Sali, aka Rabbi Israel Abuhazera, was one of the prominent leaders in the Moroccan Aliyah movement as well a scion of a leading rabbinical family in Morocco. Over 600,000 visitors pay respect to his grave located in Netivot with 100,00 people flocking on the anniversary of his death, which took place this past Monday. To put that in perspective there is a total of 28,000 residents in the Negev Town of Netivot.


Rumor has it that every year it rains during the Baba Sali Festivities and this year was no different. The Jerusalem Post noted that the rainstorm’s “total precipitation in the central Negev will exceed the entire amount that fell in the past 10 years”. Despite the messy weather, Derek, Shaina, Rachel, Gabby and I headed to the grave for a night of praying and entertainment. With the smells of kebabs wafting through the air, we headed down the muddy walkway lined with ample vendors. I bought a HUGE cotton candy for 5 shekels. Gabby bought corn on the cob for the same price. Other food choices included candy apples, fresh popped popcorn, pizza, and lots of beef. Other stalls were selling hamsas, Israeli music, house supplies, scarves, and Baba Sali water also known as the popular Israeli liquor, Arak.

( me with my 5 shekels cotton candy! )

For 5 Shekels, you could purchase a box of 20 candles at the gravesite. These candles were not to be used in the traditional way, but rather thrown into a large furnace located near the tomb. People were chucking prelit candles over people’s heads into the fire pit. Each candle signified a wish that hopefully would come true once it was consumed by the fire. Due to my lack of coordination, not all of my candles made it into the fire. Rachel said the Baba is forgiving and that the close to the grave is good enough(…I hope so!)

(Derek at the Fire)

After hurling our candles into the fire, we walked through the stalls one more time before heading on the 15 minute walk back to the apartment. Never in my life have I experienced anything like tonight and probably won’t again. Here’s to wishing to health and happiness…

(Shaina, me, and Gabby with our candles)

007 and Jewish Grandmas: First week of Volunteering

On Sunday afternoon, I headed directly to Ofek for my first night of volunteering. Ofek is the local security unit of Netivot; crime has dropped by 30-40% since its inception. Gabby and I will be working the Sunday afternoon shift from 3-11 and Tuesday mornings from 7-2. Our first night at the Ofek headquarters went like this: quick introduction of the security computers and then being left there for the remaining 7hrs while the men did their runs of the city. By 8pm, the entire town was dead as in no cars or people on the streets. I guess I should be thankful that the town is so safe. Tuesday was a lot more eventful. We got further training of the security system, got to witness a possible bomb threat, went on a few runs around town and the day ended with off roading in the Netivot Forrest. I can't wait to go back on Sunday.

(Quality Ofek time with the guys)

As part of my 40 hrs of volunteering, I also work at the Women's Center and the Robert Saligman Early Childhood Development Center located in Sdot Negev Region. I am in love with both of the sites! The Women's Center is an elderly daycare for women who are high functioning; the main goal is on education. Some of the daily activities that the women can partake in include: torah lessons, English classes, aerobics and dance therapy, as well as computer classes. Gabby and I volunteer at the center from 9-12:30 on Mondays and Wednesdays. Our main task is to organize activities that will help the women improve their English such as Family Tree Building for T'Buishvat. Best moment at the center so far: waltzing with one of the women during dance therapy!

( The women from the center during dance therapy/sports)

I volunteer at the Saligman Center two afternoons a week with Derek and Rachel. Between the hours of 2:45-5:45, we tutor children in English. This is actually more difficult than it looks. My first student on my first day came to me with an English grammar lesson I couldn't explain in English, let alone, in Hebrew. Certain verb tenses just sound right within the sentence. Thankfully, this was the hardest lesson I encountered all week. On Wednesday, I received a two page letter from one of the students documenting what I should work on each week; included in this letter was an invitation to have Shabbat Dinner on his Kibbutz. Only in Israel would someone you have NEVER met invite you to their home for a meal and accommodation. Did I mention this was my second invite of the day? I was also invited by Shulah, one of my students at the women's center, for some homemade couscous at her home on Shabbat. One of my favorite things about Israel: the never ending hospitality.

(Derek with some of his students at Saligman)

Alas the week is finally over and Shabbat will be here tomorrow. I am looking forward to the peace and quiet and the home cooked meals that accompany the Sabbath Queen. Shabbat Shalom

Double Language Barrier- A night out at Nalag’at Center

One of my closest friends from the states, Michelle, came to Haifa to visit her family for the past two weeks. Michelle is attending graduate school for speech pathology and came across the only deaf and blind theater group in the world located in TEL AVIV! I have some experience with ASL (American Sign Language) but nothing compared to Michelle. So, on Thursday night we met up at Nalag’at Center located in Jaffa.

(Tablecloth at Dinner)

Our evening began with dinner at Café Kapish, which is unique in the fact that all of the waiters are deaf or hearing impaired. How can we order when we don’t know Hebrew Sign Language? Are there any universal signs? Thankfully our waiter had taken some ASL classes and Michelle was able to sign our order perfectly to him. For those who are less familiar with sign language, there are photos next to many of the items on the menu which you can use to point out your desired entrée or drink.

(Hebrew/English/Arabic/Sign Language...VERY COOL!)

Our amazing meal was followed up by a performance of “Not by Bread Alone” acted out by the deaf-blind acting ensemble. The goals of the ensemble, as listed on their website, are the following: “to integrate deaf-blind people into the community, promote their needs and aspirations and provide them with the opportunity to express themselves and exercise one of the most basic rights – to contribute to society”. “Not by Bread Alone” is the second production for the company.



The evening performance can best be described as a sensory overload which is kind of ironic. My brain didn’t know what to do first…Do I read the English subtitles? Listen to the narrator reciting the lines in Hebrew? Watch the translator sign the lines or pay attention to the actors’ performance? A screen hung on stage right displaying the actors’ lines in Hebrew, English, and Arabic. Next to the screen, was a translator who signed the lines in Hebrew Sign Language. The small 11 person ensemble each had their own role to play during every scene. I wanted to watch all of them and listen to their stories. The play takes the audience on a journey where the audience learns of the actors' past dreams, future hopes, and current concerns with living in a world of darkness and silence. In the play, bread symbolizes a longing for home. At the end of the production, the audience is invited to meet the actors and dine on the bread that was baking throughout the performance. That evening I left the theater with my senses still buzzing and a new found respect and admiration for the blind and deaf community.

3 miles from the Border: A look into Gaza City and the surrounding Kibbutzim

When many individuals think of Israel, the word Gaza also comes to mind. Never in a million years would I think I would get within 3 miles from the border to the Gaza Strip. Our day began with all six of us Otzmanikim, Adina (our Partnership 2000 coordinator), and Rafi (who is on the security council for the Sdot Negev Region), packing into Rafi's car. Our first stop was Kibbutz Alumim, which is one of the few kibbutzim whose economy still relies on agriculture. The kibbutz has 140 members and began in 1966 as a settlement town. Once arriving at the Kibbutz, we were given the tour of a day care built to withstand rockets and bombs. How does one move numerous babies in 15 seconds? The strong protective metal mushroom awning is the answer to that question. Next stop on our trip was to Rafi's house. One of Rafi's responsibilities is to collect rockets that land in the Sdot Negev Region. At his home he has transformed some of the qasam rockets into wind chimes and outdoor pieces of art. A beginning of many firsts that would occur today: touching a qasam rocket!


Following this we headed to the border...well as close as one can get without being in the line of fire. We were unable to stop the car for any period of time until we reached the IDF tank where we could look at the view while staying safe. From the border we could see air balloons jacked up with cameras, towers with drone machine guns, and a little bullet-proof digging machine that is constantly on the lookout for tunnels. We could even see the refuge camps were people still reside. UNBELIEVABLE! It was incredible to be standing in beautiful and fruitful agricultural fields, with lots of open space, staring at a tract of land that is the most densely populated urban area in the world and among the most dangerous.


After our quick peek into Gaza, we headed for an impromptu snack in the carrot patch. Talk about straight from the land. We got out of the car and watched the machine pick the carrots from the patch and then drop them at our feet. I also learned that one of the benefits to being a Jewish man is that the clip that keeps your kippah on your head can also serve as a very adequate carrot peeler! The carrots were delicious J Nearby was a nature reserve we got to drive through where we found a turtle, some funky birds, a few red flowers, and the promise that in a month we can go back when the entire area will be covered in red poppies!

Home Sweet Home: First Day in Netivot

I have been volunteering in Israel since September on a MASA sponsored post college program called Otzma. My journey in Israel began with Ulpan and volunteering in Ashkelon and has now brought me to Philadelphia’s Partnership 2000 city, Netivot.


There are six of us living in the apartment. Two of us are from the Philadelphia area (me and Gabby); Shaina is from Los Angeles and will be moving to Philadelphia for graduate school in the fall; Mike resides in the Washington DC area and Rachel hails from North Carolina. We are also the only apartment to have the Otzma resident Canadian, Derek. We range in age from 21-25 and have varied Hebrew skills and Jewish backgrounds.


Each of us have been graciously taken in by a family in town. I have personally spent various holidays and numerous Shabbats at my family’s house as well as their extended family’s home. Oddly enough within minutes of entering Netivot, my status changed from lone Otzmanikim to local celebrity. At the shuk, I saw my adopted family’s cousin and then later in the day at the supermarket I saw more extended family. I felt proud of all the connections that I made and that they remembered me from the few holiday celebrations I attended.



Sadly, my first day in Netivot is coming to a close and alas I still have not unpacked my countless suitcases and duffels, which have been dragged up three floors. You would think after traveling around the world, I would have packing and unpacking down to a science. Laila Tov!