Trip to Sderot pictures
hiking up north
random may more to come on this one
said i wouldn't update
15 years ago
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
oops, it's been a while...
so two weekends ago was the last Building Future Leaders conference...lots of fun, friends, learning, and sad goodbyes, i suck at good byes. Among things like going to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and hearing important people speak, we herded sheep and goats!! One of the best things I've done in my life, let me attempt to explain the amazingness that was this experience... My group went first with no prior knowledge of how to actually herd sheep or goats just the understanding that we had to get them from one place, to another, to another, then separate them and put the sheep in one place and the goats in another. Sounds tough, but do-able. We figure: surround them and bring them together then lead them and they will follow, after all...that's what real shepherds do, right? well, wrong. After pushing and prodding, screaming and yelling, speaking in every language we knew, falling over, and laughing hysterically, we moved the group a few feet only to have them stop again and we had to do the whole process over. These are some damnn stubborn animals. Anyway, after 17 minutes of strenuous work, we accomplished our goal. I could not have had a better feeling than when the animals were actually following us from one destination to th
e other. I felt a sense of accomplishment as if I had just won an olympic gold, and i wish i were kidding. So the other 2 groups did it in much less time (cause they saw what worked for us and what didnt) but i still felt like i won, for sure. Tips for future sheep and goat herders: the herd has a leader, its a goat, a girl goat, and once you get that one moving...the whole herd will follow. Also, when sheep are scared they huddle together with their heads in the center to protect thier necks...their most vulnerable part, do not try and break them up physically, it just doesn't work, get the goat. And no, of course we didn't have any idea about this until after.
More exciting adventures that I can remember: I met up with Allie in Jerusalem to sign the lease for her apt. Her landlord was kind of scary..a "sabra" or, very typical israeli (note: Allie's face in the picture), but the apartment's pretty nice and in a pretty good location (see: beautiful sunset).
Last weekend I went hiking up north. We did three wonderfully beautiful hikes, went to a hot water spring resort thing that was awesome but smelled like northern Jerz (I mean sulfur), had a campfire/tea/made pitas at a nearby kibbutz (socialist community thing, they're all over Israel), and went "rafting" in the Jordan. Rafting was amazingly hilarious. I attempted to take charge of our 6-man raft trying to paddle but it was quite a balagan (mess/disorder), we couldnt co-ordinate the two paddles and we ended up in a lot of trees/branches on the side. I broke the paddle on a rock and we got laughed at by a lot of arseem (read: Israeli guidos, watch that hilarious video) hanging out on the side of the river.
I went to Ein Hod yesterday which is an artist's village on the way up to Haifa. Super cool village and we got lessons on stained glass from a resident. Went to the beach with Allie today then I went to the Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer game. VIP tickets with free food and beer, yea connections :). Maccabi won but the last 3/4 minutes were real close, we scored to go up 2-1 but had to bicycle kick the ball out of the goal in the last 5 seconds to prevent the tie. Going to Sderot tomorrow, if you don't know about the city you should read about it, or i'll tell you about it next time!
I didn't forget about the serious/thinking post I said I would write, I will. And two photo albums to come at some point.
Lauren
e other. I felt a sense of accomplishment as if I had just won an olympic gold, and i wish i were kidding. So the other 2 groups did it in much less time (cause they saw what worked for us and what didnt) but i still felt like i won, for sure. Tips for future sheep and goat herders: the herd has a leader, its a goat, a girl goat, and once you get that one moving...the whole herd will follow. Also, when sheep are scared they huddle together with their heads in the center to protect thier necks...their most vulnerable part, do not try and break them up physically, it just doesn't work, get the goat. And no, of course we didn't have any idea about this until after.
More exciting adventures that I can remember: I met up with Allie in Jerusalem to sign the lease for her apt. Her landlord was kind of scary..a "sabra" or, very typical israeli (note: Allie's face in the picture), but the apartment's pretty nice and in a pretty good location (see: beautiful sunset).
Last weekend I went hiking up north. We did three wonderfully beautiful hikes, went to a hot water spring resort thing that was awesome but smelled like northern Jerz (I mean sulfur), had a campfire/tea/made pitas at a nearby kibbutz (socialist community thing, they're all over Israel), and went "rafting" in the Jordan. Rafting was amazingly hilarious. I attempted to take charge of our 6-man raft trying to paddle but it was quite a balagan (mess/disorder), we couldnt co-ordinate the two paddles and we ended up in a lot of trees/branches on the side. I broke the paddle on a rock and we got laughed at by a lot of arseem (read: Israeli guidos, watch that hilarious video) hanging out on the side of the river.
I went to Ein Hod yesterday which is an artist's village on the way up to Haifa. Super cool village and we got lessons on stained glass from a resident. Went to the beach with Allie today then I went to the Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer game. VIP tickets with free food and beer, yea connections :). Maccabi won but the last 3/4 minutes were real close, we scored to go up 2-1 but had to bicycle kick the ball out of the goal in the last 5 seconds to prevent the tie. Going to Sderot tomorrow, if you don't know about the city you should read about it, or i'll tell you about it next time!
I didn't forget about the serious/thinking post I said I would write, I will. And two photo albums to come at some point.
Lauren
Sunday, May 3, 2009
yom ha'zikaron and yom ha'atzmaut
I'm tired, forgive me :)
Last Monday night yom ha'zikaron, the memorial day for fallen soldiers and victims of terror, started. In case you don't know Jewish holidays start at sundown the evening before. I went into the city to Rabin Square for a big ceremony. On the way to the square the siren marking a moment of silence went off. Everyone got out of their cars or stopped walking and stood for a minute in silence. I thought I took a video but I never pressed play, slicha. All (Jewish) shops and business were closed around the country, the square was packed with people and the ceremony was beautiful. Various Israeli artists each performed their songs that are connected to the holiday and videos of personal stories and pictures were shown on large screens. Unfortunately, although I understood what was going on and parts of the stories, I didn't understand enough of the Hebrew for the ceremony to be as meaningful as it could be. It is impossible, while standing next to soldiers in uniform and hundreds of other Israeli's, not to think about the fact that almost everyone has a connection to this holiday. It's sad, but true. So of course, memorial day here is very different then memorial day back in the states. My Israeli friend was telling me about how hard the day was for him. He went to Mt. Herzl with his (elite) army unit and first they had a ceremony around the grave of a soldier from their unit with friends and family of the soldier also present. After this, as if it wasn't hard enough, he then went to the grave of someone from his high school class with more friends and family. He tried to describe to me the feelings he had while standing there with the parents of these people but of course, although I can understand, it's not possible for me to really relate to it. His memorial day experience is not unique, either.
On Tuesday Abe and I took the bus into the city and while we were on it the second and last siren went off for two minutes this time. Here is a video of this one, it's not "exciting" as its not supposed to be, but it gives you an idea of what it's like for the whole country to be standing in silence.
Towards Tuesday even people start saying "chag same'ach" Happy Holiday. Why, on such a sad holiday, would people say this? Because Tuesday evening at sundown yom ha'aztmaut, Independence day, starts!! What a happy, exciting and proud day this is! When the two holidays are so close, almost overlapping even, it really makes one understand that you have to know where you came from and what sacrifices were made...it actually makes you see the impact of those who gave their lives so I
srael can exist.
Let the celebrations begin! 61 years and going strong! Fireworks, tons of shaving creme (left) on everything and everyone (they market special shaving creme just for independence celebrations), typical 4th of July things like glow necklaces and big blow up things as well as bbq's and such. Bigger parties though, like this one (bottom left) on the beach...
Wednesday I went to the beach with Adam and Itamar, played ultimate with them and others, then went to Itamar's for a little bbq get together wednesday night.
This past weekend was my last Building Future Leaders conference. It was a lot of fun, and helpful for my project (which I still have to write about), and very sad to leave everyone. I herded sheep and goats! It was one of the best experiences I've had, too. My group went first and it was sooo frustrating when the animals wouldn't move and cooperate (we had a "mission" to accomplish). We tried many different tactics but the animals were very stubborn. I can't explain, however, the feeling I had when we got the sheep and goats to follow us. It was like we were real shepherds, we were walking and they were following in a herd! (and NO it is NOT as easy as you imagine it to be!). I felt like I was on top of the world, so lame, but so true. Those sheep and goats really taught me a lot, for sure. Also, AMAZING (shout out: Yaniv's AMAZING group) news from the conference: Parallel Lives, a program that brings together special unit IDF soldiers with diaspora Jews, wants to bring the soldiers from my BFL to my synagogue at home in cooperation with my project! AHHH!! How GREAT this would be!! Let's cross our fingers and it could become a reality as early as this fall.
a pics from holidays, BFL graduation, etc.
That's all for now; interesting, deep, serious post to come soon. Be excited to really get in my head.
Last Monday night yom ha'zikaron, the memorial day for fallen soldiers and victims of terror, started. In case you don't know Jewish holidays start at sundown the evening before. I went into the city to Rabin Square for a big ceremony. On the way to the square the siren marking a moment of silence went off. Everyone got out of their cars or stopped walking and stood for a minute in silence. I thought I took a video but I never pressed play, slicha. All (Jewish) shops and business were closed around the country, the square was packed with people and the ceremony was beautiful. Various Israeli artists each performed their songs that are connected to the holiday and videos of personal stories and pictures were shown on large screens. Unfortunately, although I understood what was going on and parts of the stories, I didn't understand enough of the Hebrew for the ceremony to be as meaningful as it could be. It is impossible, while standing next to soldiers in uniform and hundreds of other Israeli's, not to think about the fact that almost everyone has a connection to this holiday. It's sad, but true. So of course, memorial day here is very different then memorial day back in the states. My Israeli friend was telling me about how hard the day was for him. He went to Mt. Herzl with his (elite) army unit and first they had a ceremony around the grave of a soldier from their unit with friends and family of the soldier also present. After this, as if it wasn't hard enough, he then went to the grave of someone from his high school class with more friends and family. He tried to describe to me the feelings he had while standing there with the parents of these people but of course, although I can understand, it's not possible for me to really relate to it. His memorial day experience is not unique, either.
On Tuesday Abe and I took the bus into the city and while we were on it the second and last siren went off for two minutes this time. Here is a video of this one, it's not "exciting" as its not supposed to be, but it gives you an idea of what it's like for the whole country to be standing in silence.
Towards Tuesday even people start saying "chag same'ach" Happy Holiday. Why, on such a sad holiday, would people say this? Because Tuesday evening at sundown yom ha'aztmaut, Independence day, starts!! What a happy, exciting and proud day this is! When the two holidays are so close, almost overlapping even, it really makes one understand that you have to know where you came from and what sacrifices were made...it actually makes you see the impact of those who gave their lives so I
srael can exist.Let the celebrations begin! 61 years and going strong! Fireworks, tons of shaving creme (left) on everything and everyone (they market special shaving creme just for independence celebrations), typical 4th of July things like glow necklaces and big blow up things as well as bbq's and such. Bigger parties though, like this one (bottom left) on the beach...
Wednesday I went to the beach with Adam and Itamar, played ultimate with them and others, then went to Itamar's for a little bbq get together wednesday night.
This past weekend was my last Building Future Leaders conference. It was a lot of fun, and helpful for my project (which I still have to write about), and very sad to leave everyone. I herded sheep and goats! It was one of the best experiences I've had, too. My group went first and it was sooo frustrating when the animals wouldn't move and cooperate (we had a "mission" to accomplish). We tried many different tactics but the animals were very stubborn. I can't explain, however, the feeling I had when we got the sheep and goats to follow us. It was like we were real shepherds, we were walking and they were following in a herd! (and NO it is NOT as easy as you imagine it to be!). I felt like I was on top of the world, so lame, but so true. Those sheep and goats really taught me a lot, for sure. Also, AMAZING (shout out: Yaniv's AMAZING group) news from the conference: Parallel Lives, a program that brings together special unit IDF soldiers with diaspora Jews, wants to bring the soldiers from my BFL to my synagogue at home in cooperation with my project! AHHH!! How GREAT this would be!! Let's cross our fingers and it could become a reality as early as this fall.
a pics from holidays, BFL graduation, etc.
That's all for now; interesting, deep, serious post to come soon. Be excited to really get in my head.
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