Shabbat

Shabbat-

January 21 & 22 2011

Friday was an emotional day for me with lots of wonderful information and experiences!

Our day began checking out of the hotel and preparing to leave Tel Aviv L.  The only thing I did not get to do, that was high on my list, was to put my feet into the Mediterranean Sea.  I guess I’ll have to come back! 

We began with a walking tour of the early Tel Aviv neighborhood of Neve Zedek.    Muki (our tour educator) had so much information to share with us.  I wish I had thought to video record everything he said because I’ve already forgotten so much and he was very interesting!  We learned about the history of this neighborhood and saw many of the old buildings.  I was struck at the sight of an old abandoned synagogue with a high rise in the background.  Everywhere you look, in Tel Aviv, there are cranes and construction going on. 

We went to Independence Hall.  We sat down in the very room where the Declaration of Independence was signed.  Muki set the stage before playing a recording of the actual day.  We listened to David Ben-Gurion welcome the gathering and make the proclamation for independence.

 

We had a few hours of free time to have lunch and explore Nachalat Binyamin (a wonderful arts and crafts market (similar to the art & wine festival in Palo Alto) that is only open on Tuesday & Friday.  I found several ways to spend my shekels…

Back on the bus and off to Jerusalem!  The drive was a little over an hour.  We drove past the checkpoints in and out of the West Bank. And were able to see settlements on both sides of the highway.  When we arrived in Jerusalem we checked into the hotel and got ready for Kabbalat Shabbat at the Kotel (Western Wall).   Since being selected to attend this seminar, I have been excited about going to the Kotel for Kabbalat Shabbat.  It was more than I ever anticipated!   Our group split into the men and women to go through security. Once inside we regrouped to discuss protocol and headed off to our separate sides of the wall. The atmosphere was electric.  Groups of people singing, dancing, praying and crying.   When I finally reached the wall and reached out to touch it, I felt a tingling up my spine.  As Jodi Foster said, in the movie Contact, “They should have sent a poet”.  It is difficult to put the emotions and electricity of the moment into words! 

Shabbat morning we had a relaxing breakfast and some of us headed to shop in the Shuk, in the Arab quarter.  Sheila and I had a great day bargaining with the shopkeepers and spending our shekels.  Tonight, after Havdalah, we are going back to Jaffa for a performance of the “Momentum of the Mayumana” which is supposedly like the Israeli version of “Stomp”.  I heard them rehearsing the other day, when I was in Jaffa with Giora & Nili.  

Day #3

On my walk from Tel Aviv to Jaffa, with Yoav's grandparents

Jaffa harbor

On the road to Ramat Ha Sharon

Giora & Nili Ben-Porat- Yoav's grandparents

Giving the staff in Ramat Ha Sharon the quilt made by PJCC children

Imagination trees made by the children in Ramat Ha Sharon

Nitza, Sheila & I in Ramat Ha Sharon

Thursday January 20

Thursday I had a wonderful day.  After a leisurely breakfast I connected with Giora & Nili Ben-Porat (Yoav’s grandparents).  They took me on a lovely walk along the Tel Aviv waterfront from the Dan Panorama Hotel to Jaffa (Yafo).  We saw the Jaffa harbor, a park and a few art galleries.  The art galleries were in buildings that used to be fishing warehouses.  Nili & I walsked around the Jaffa flea market and met Giora at a restaurant for lunch.  They generously drove Sheila & I to Ramat Ha Sharon for our afternoon adventures.  Thank you Giora & Nili, I had a great time and will see you soon!

In Ramat Ha Sharon Sheila & I met with Nitza, Ruty, & Karen at the Matnas Levi.  They showed us around and we talked about ways to communicate with each other when we get home.  Dragonflies, I can’t wait to tell you about the children that I met and how we will share stories and pictures with them.  Ruty is the Manager of all of the Preschools affiliated with the Matnas (community center).  There are several preschools around the community, which serves 1,000 children.  Each center has between 2-5 classes and each class has around 30 children.    Ruty took us to 2 of the centers where we met many children and teachers.

At the end of the day we went to another center for their Tu B’Shevat celebration.  They had a wonderful community garden that was the vision of 4 women.  Wait until you see the pictures of the gardens.  Since it was Tu B’Shevat the community had gathered for a party and tree planting.  There was a band playing (3-4 children and 2 adults).  It seemed strange to hear American music being played (House of the Rising Sun, Beatles…).  They were extremely talented! 

We headed back to the hotel to join the group for a quiet evening.  I went out to dinner with 7 new friends, for the best dinner I’ve had so far, in Israel! 

Day #2

Our room at Mashabee Sade

We have our crates and are ready to pick oranges

Everybody working hard!

Yes... I was hard at work, picking oranges!

Taking time out, from picking oranges, to hide in the trees... I needed shade

Our group, after a productive afternoon in the orange grove!

Tu B'Shevat seder in Holon

January # 19

On Wednesday our day began with the sounds of roosters crowing and peacocks screeching on Kibbutz Mashabee Sadee.  We enjoyed simple and charming accommodations and another amazing Israeli breakfast buffet. The sun was shining and it was another beautiful day in the desert. After boarding the bus we headed north for our next adventure.  Along the way we saw beautiful scenery (yes, we even saw camels) and how the Bedouin live in proximity to the larger city of Be’er Sheva.

Our next stop was at an agricultural field near Rehevot where we participated in a leket- gleening, a program where volunteers pick fruit or vegetables which are donated to the needy (www.leket.org).  This particular farm owned by a lawyer, from Ohio, who made Alyiah 30 years ago; volunteers harvest all that is grown for Tzedakah.  Today’s assignment- oranges!  We were led into an orange grove where the trees were heavy with ripe fruit.  Eagerly we grabbed our baskets and dove in!  Reaching, plucking, laughing, lugging… we worked hard for almost an hour and a half, after which we were told we had harvested, get ready:  2 TONS OF ORANGES (and there were only 17 of us working)!!  These oranges will be distributed to 1,000 families within the next 48 hours.  We were sweaty, dirty and very happy and were rewarded with the sweetest oranges ever!  It was a wonderful feeling harvesting on Erev Tu B’ Shevat.

We headed off to Holon where the children (and teens) were waiting for us to celebrate Tu B’Shevat!!  When we arrived for the Seder, the tables were beautifully set and we were welcomed with joy!  The children hosted and led us in the Seder with prayers and song.  Were were entertained with a play, more music and dancing… a fabulous evening! 

All in all our day was Sababa- Awesome!

I am finally posting! Day 1

Ready to board the plane for our long journey to Israel!

The Negev, part of the way up our hike.

Near the end of the hike, relaxing.

Miriam- our wonderful lunch host!

Grave sites of David & Paula Ben-Gurion

The view Emily & I had, from our hotel in Tel Aviv

January 17-18

We’re here! 

Teacher Sheila and I have safely arrived in Israel.  After 2 long flights we arrived at Ben-Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.  After going through customs, we met our tour educator and headed off to our hotel.  We went out to a fantastic Israeli dinner at Maganda.  We had two rounds of appetizers before they brought our entrée.  The owner came by to welcome us.  After dinner we all collapsed, ready for a good night sleep!

Tuesday was a busy day.  We headed out to the Negev Desert.  I was challenged in ways I’ve never been challenged before, physically, emotionally and spiritually.  We completed an intense rock clime/hike.  I don’t know if I’ve ever been as proud of myself, for completing anything!  When I have a chance to post photos, you’ll see what I mean J

Near the end of the hike, we saw sand that was yellow, orange and (of course) purple!  The views of the desert, from the summit, were some of the most beautiful scenery I’ve ever seen.  It is powerful to think about ancient history and what it might have been like having to take this hike (or something similar) for 40 years.  The best part of the hike was the bonding between everyone in our group.   There were experienced hikers and rock climbers all the way to novices, like me.  Everyone was physically and emotionally supportive and I know we became closer because of it.

After our hike we were hosted in the home of a lovely woman, Miriam.    She lives in the community of Yeruham.  Miriam is part of a program called “Women Chefs in Yeruham”.  These women host groups of travelers as their job.  It was a delicious home cooked lunch of her local specialties and family recipes.

Our evening ended with dinner at Kibbutz Mashabee Sadee, where we also spent the night.  Laila Tov… It’s time for me to get some sleep.

It is starting to feel real!

On December 2nd, I started to write this post...
I had just contacted the travel agent and gotten my itinerary/plane tickets.  That was the first thing that made this journey feel real.  Right now I am in rainy Seattle breaking in my new shoes.  The rain and grey skies are typical of the weather we are expecting in mid to late January in Israel so I am preparing myself.  

3 weeks and counting...

This blog hasn't started out as I had planned and I am continuing to make changes to my idea for how it will work.

I will update what we have been learning and discussing in our preparation for travel, so far, in a separate post.

I am no longer planning on bringing my laptop, to Israel.  I am planning on keeping a daily journal while I am there and will transfer my journal entries to the blog, upon my return.  Same idea, same thoughts... new timeline.  Our group, as a whole, will be keeping a blog which will be updated daily.  I will send a link to that as soon as I have it.  Photos and daily updates from all of the participants will be found there.

We leave 3 weeks from tomorrow and my excitement is growing every day.

L' hitra'ot,
Peri

My First Blog Post

I have been designing this blog, tonight, and want to add my first post.   The look may change, over time, since blogging is new to me.  It is another challenge I am taking on!

I am so excited about the upcoming JCCSF Israel Study Seminar and the 7 pre-seminar study sessions.  After each pre-seminar study session,  I will add a short post.  I am going to try and express my excitement about the journey I am on as a part of the larger group.

L'hitra'ot
See you later