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.