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!