Chillin' with the Rubin Trippers

First off, as a commentor mentioned on Andi's last post, Idan Raichel is going to be in St. Louis on Thursday, November 12th as part of Wash U's Hip Hop Week. (Sidebar: I really hope there's a good reason for Wash U of all places to have a Hip Hop Week. Doesn't seem like the most likely place for that. But I digress.) I won't repeat what Andi was saying, but I'll agree that the show was a lot of fun, and if you're into hippies singing very modern Israeli music, I'd go check it out. You might want to listen to the music first to get an idea of what your getting into - this blog featured on Jewish in St. Louis has more info.

Anyway, for those of you that follow said Jewish in St. Louis, you might be aware of the Rubin Israel Experience. Currently (actually, they're leaving later tonight), a group of 10 Jewish professionals in their 30s are traveling through Israel for the first time, on a free trip sponsored by Ron and Pam Rubin.

Well, last week I got a phone call summoning me, Andi, and Tali (the Atlanta participant who will live with us in Yokneam) to meet up with them in Yokneam. Now, Andi begged out to finish her rabbinical school application that was due this weekend (Psh. Like that's an excuse.) but Tali and I made the trip up, with very little idea of what was going on. After meeting up with Arkady, our main contact in Yokneam, we were introduced to the group. Much to my delight, it turned out to be a great few days.

The point of their trip to Yokneam-Meggido was primarily to actually see where the St. Louis Federation's money was going, instead of just hearing about it. We met at a local kibbutz (Kibbutz Dalia) where we spoke with 3 local Ethiopian olim (immigrants) who were very involved in the community, specifically with various youth programs. Following a typical Israeli lunch at the kibbutz, we visited the local Osem factory, a company that produces many baked goods for Israel, such as cakes, crackers, pretzels, etc.

Since we were naturally running late (Sidebar: In Israel, nothing is on time. "I'll be there in 10 minutes" typically means 30.), we only spent a short time there. After that we headed to the local youth center, where I'm going to be spending a lot of time volunteering - and right now, I couldn't be more excited about it. It's a great facility, with a computer center, game room, fully equipped music room, a kitchen, and a huge room where you can show movies, have a dance (they have speakers and DJ equipment) or tons of other programs. Money well spent, Federation!

I also had a chance to speak to the youth coordinator and one of the other staff members, and they are really great people with the best of intentions. I pretty much told them to just get me a desk, because right now I want to just work there all day every day.

After leaving the youth center, we headed to a local Yeminite village for dinner, where they decorated the group leader who is getting married in a few weeks in full henna and Yeminite clothing for a full-on presentation. Interesting to say the least. After spending the night at my adoptive family's, I rejoined the Rubin group for a trip to the Golan Heights area, which included walking around an army base in the rain. We were accompanied by an officer and a private, and I realized that the private had probably screwed up somewhere when he had to go through part of the obstacle course, in the rain, on a Friday (most soldiers go home for Shabbat), just to entertain a bunch of Americans.

Finally, I wrapped up my time with the group after visiting a local village for lunch hosted by the Druze (Just look it up. It'd be easier. Or better yet, just go here), after which we parted ways. It wound up being a great couple of days, and I am very glad I had the chance to meet with the group and join them for part of their trip. I could tell what a great time they were all having, and it's pretty clear that the program will have a great impact on the St. Louis Jewish community! One of the members of the group has been keeping a blog throughout their trip, which you can read here. There are also a number of pictures, some of which I might even be in!

Since I've been linking to a few blogs in this post, I might as well link to my own as well. Head over to Show Me the Shawarma to get more updates from my travels, including a recent "travel guide" of my Sukkot vacation in Egypt. Until next time, l'hitrayot!

EDIT: Thought everyone might like to see a picture of me, Tali, and the Rubin group at the previously discussed youth center:

The Idan Raichel Project

This Sunday our whole group went to a free Idan Raichel concert put on by Masa. Masa is an umbrella organization that helps fund many, many volunteer programs that brings Jewish volunteers to Israel, for example, Otzma! Masa is funded by the Israeli government and the Jewish Agency. So, in addition to giving people money towards volunteering in Israel, they also put on events throughout the year available to all Masa participants.

This past Sunday was a free Idan Raichel concert for our entire program. Idan Raichel is essentially the leader of a group known as the Idan Raichel Project. They are a very well known group in Israel as well as among some young Jews in the States. It was a concert unlike anything I've ever seen. Idan Raichel writes all of the music and sings some of the songs while playing the keyboard. They have a big band and several lead singers who all play their separate roles in the group.

Everyone in the group comes from all over the world and is required to speak several languages for admittance into the group to even be considered. Because they come from such different places they all have very different styles yet somehow work together incredibly well. They are each individually talented and come together in this cohesive, eclectic mash of wonderfulness. Basically, it was spectacular. Below is the website for the Idan Raichel Project, you can sample there the truly beautiful music and understand the interesting group dynamics.

Enjoy! http://www.idanraichelproject.com/en

Andi

Am I "home" yet?

I was on Gchat the other night talking to my friend, Naomi, who is back in The States (I love how I would never refer to the US as "The States" when at home but the moment I cross an ocean, it's the first thing that escapes my mouth). Naomi and I studied abroad in Florence together our junior year of college and had a few talks while there comparing our experiences living in Florence to the few days we had spent in Israel on birthright.

Interestingly, we had both said how shocked we were to feel immediately at home in Israel on the trip and curiously compared our feelings to the city we grew to love after living there for 4 months. So, the other night, I shouldn't have been surprised when she asked me if I was feeling at home in Israel after being here for a month and a half. I had to really think about my answer before I gave it because the truth is, it didn't come to me right away.

I honestly can't say I feel Israeli. I still believe in the value of an organized line and I just don't know if I'll ever be pushy enough to pay for my groceries in the order I actually arrived to line in. I don't speak hebrew with any amount of ease which clearly makes feeling at home in a country more difficult.

But there's still something about it here, something I find difficult to put into words. I don't know if it's that everyone is Jewish because more than once I've felt uncomfortable being in highly religious settings. It could just be the welcoming nature of the people here or any number of other factors. But what it comes down to is that while I can't say I necessarily feel "at home" here, I do feel very close to home. I actually feel like if I wanted to I could just go home for the weekend. I know technology helps to keep me feeling so connected, but all of the same modern technologies were available when I was in Florence too and still I felt worlds away living there.

I don't know how to say it in any other way, but there really is something about being here where I just don't feel that far away. It might have to do with Florence being a smaller Italian city with relatively little American influence whereas Israel is undeniably more of an Americanized culture that makes me more comfortable. In the end, I'm sure I could come up with endless ways to explain away those feelings but I can't ignore that there is just something about being in Israel that's special to me in a way that it doesn't compare to any other place.

Erev Tov,

Andi

A Day in the Negev

Part of OTZMA is going on educational seminars about once a week to learn about different parts of Israeli society and culture. This week, we went to Jerusalem to explore the Muslim Quarter of the Old Cit – oh, wait. Never mind. Actually, today we went down to the Negev to learn about the area, which makes up 60% of the land but only has about 8% of Israeli Jews living there. As you can imagine, this presents a bit of a problem. The Israeli government has tried multiple solutions, even sending new immigrants to live in communities in the Negev and having Bedouins, a normally nomadic people, create permanent villages in the area.

In exploring the Negev, we headed to one of those Bedouin communities called Segev Shalom, where we learned some of the region’s history and about it’s present state. Afterwards, we traveled to a developing town called Yeruham. Having always been looked at almost a waste of a city, the town has made a strong effort in recent years to rejuvenate itself, starting with its residents’ self-image. A prominent former member of the Knesset moved to the town to help with the process, and many local students have dedicated themselves to the effort.

Following our visit to Yeruham, we made a trip to the grave of David Ben-Gurion, the first Prime Minister of Israel. Rather than being buried in Jerusalem with many other prominent Israelis, Ben-Gurion chose the Negev as his final resting place, as he had always been a supporter of developing the area and felt that his grave might draw others to his cause.

Finally, we went to a town called Dimona and visited Kibbutz Shomrei HaShalom, one of the many diverse groups that has chosen to call the Negev home. This community, consisting primarily of African-Americans who have moved to Israel, do not consider themselves religious or even necessarily Jewish, but are deeply spiritual in their own way. It was very interesting to hear them speak about their beliefs and how it connects to Judaism while being very independent at the same time. All in all, it proved to be a very interesting day, giving us yet another connection to Israel that we never would have had otherwise.

Sukkot Break

I'm back in Ashkelon after a wonderful and exhausting week and a half of traveling through the north. I was with three friends from Otzma for the entire trip and we met up with several other Otzmanikim during our travels. We spent the first six nights in Tiberius, a city on the Kinneret. We decided to use Tiberius as our home-base and take day trips to surrounding areas.

We spent the first full day relaxing in Tiberius on Shabbat. The following day we decided to go to Katzrin, a city in the Golan Heights, about a 30 minute drive from Tiberius. The next day we were close to the same area hiking in Yehudea. On the trail, we were greeted by every Israeli Scout in the country. We apparently picked the one day a year when hordes of Israeli scouts come in groups to do this very hike. Even so, it was an incredible hike involving a lot of climbing and beautiful views.

On one part of the hike we had to climb down a big ladder and then jump into a body of water from there to swim across with all of our belongings in order to reach land. The next day we went to Nazareth, the birthplace of Jesus, with a big group. (*Correction: The city of Bethlehem is actually the birthplace of Jesus. Nazareth is the site of the Annunciation, when the angel told Mary she was to give birth to the son of God, and where Jesus spent most of his childhood.) and where It was my first time being in an Israeli-Arab city and it was a fascinating experience. It was strange to know that we were in Israel but that Judaism wasn't the prominent religion or lifestyle of the inhabitants. We saw some beautiful churches with amazing artwork. One small church had completely frescoed walls that reminded me of Europe. Our last day in Tiberius we went on another great hike and then spent the rest of the day swimming in the Kinneret.

By Thursday we were ready to leave Tiberius and move on to the last part of our trip. We ended with our last Shabbat in Tzfat, the Jewish center of spiritual learning and experience. Thursday we spent wandering around the Old City and Artists Quarter. There was something so peaceful about being in Tzfat that it was immediately calming. The scenery in the north is beautiful anywhere you go, seeing the backdrop of the mountains behind the Kinneret, but somehow in Tzfat it seems even more breath-taking.

The next day we went to Rosh Pina for the day, apparently a favorite of Israeli celebrities. That night for Shabbat the hostel we were staying at set us up to have dinner with a local family. Our family had moved to Israel from the US five years earlier and were of course extremely welcoming. The meal was much later than the usual Shabbat dinner because it was also the eve of Simchas Torah.

Because the holiday incites so much joy and dancing, being in such a religious city and household made the experience interesting and unique. It was fascinating to hear the impression of this family who had chosen not only to move to Israel as a family but also to move to Tzfat and live a Chabadnik lifestyle. It remains amazing to me how welcoming families are here. Any person could bring you into their home and treat you immediately as family. This is something I was repeatedly told about before coming to Israel but couldn't really understand until now. In my five weeks here I have already been welcomed into three homes as if I was a member of the family.

Yesterday we made our way back to Ashkelon. Every part of the trip was great but there is nothing quite like being at home so we were all relieved to make it back last night. Unfortunately, the educational seminar we were supposed to have today in Jerusalem was canceled due to growing violence at the Temple Mount. We're hoping once it calms down, they'll be able to reschedule the seminar. We were supposed to go the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Jewish Quarter, and the most exciting was getting as close to the Temple Mount as we'll apparently ever get.

Now, it's time to get ready for Ulpan tomorrow, the first since being back from break. I'm sure its going to be a difficult transition back into four and a half hours of Hebrew class tomorrow. I'm looking forward to a week of routine and normalcy back here in Ashkelon with my top priority at the moment being the ever growing pile of dirty laundry next to my bed!

Lilah Tov,

Andi

High Holiday Experience in Israel

My Yom Kippur in Jerusalem experience was pretty similar to the one Max described. It was an incredible opportunity and completely unique from any other Yom Kippur I've had in the past. Both services I attended were Reform, which was starkly different from the Orthodox Shul I went to on Rosh HaShana.

I spent the New Year in Yokneam, the Israeli sister city to St. Louis. I spent the weekend meeting and celebrating with my adoptive family. They were warm and of course, force fed me like the most welcoming of Israeli's do. The situation was albeit slightly awkward, thrown into a foreign home, expected to feel immediately comfortable and celebrate this family oriented holiday together. Even so, it felt wonderful to be around a loving family, who opened their home to me and accepted me into all of their traditions.

The morning of Rosh HaShana, I attended services with Zvi at the Orthodox Shul, mostly just to feel like I was inside a synagogue during the holiday. I have to admit I had no conception of anything going on during the two hours we were there. So, needless to say, the two Reform services I found myself at in Jerusalem for Yom Kippur provided a much different experience. It was comforting to be in a service I was much more familiar with and equally as nice to be surrounded by the friends I have made in Israel who have quickly become my family here in Ashkelon.

Like Max, I went to HUC for Kol Nidre services. The following morning I found a small Reform Synagogue in the heart of Jerusalem. However, beyond the services, it is difficult to put into words what really made the experience of Yom Kippur in Jerusalem so unique. I won't dwell on how empty the streets were or what it was like to see every building completely shut down because I know Max explained this phenomenon. While it is stunning to witness the abandonment of city-life for one day, to me the amazement came from what this represented. With Jerusalem in the state it was it is impossible to ignore that whether secular or religious, everyone is Jewish (I realize that I'm generalizing the area I was staying in to account for all of Jerusalem, mostly because it accurately depicts my impression of the experience.).

There, everyone was celebrating Yom Kippur in their own way. Instead of walking by the various fast food restaurants open for business on State Street and explaining to teachers why I won't be attending class, I saw nothing and no one. Instead, I could feel only the weight of the day and the beauty of this area, populated by Jews.

As it is the season for holiday after holiday, Sukkot break began this afternoon. Tomorrow morning I'm leaving with friends for a trip up north. We'll be staying in Tiberius, then making our way to Tzfat for Shabbat and Simchat Torah and finally ending in Jerusalem for an Otzma Seminar. I'll be sure to share stories from those adventures as soon as I get back to Ashkelon at the end of the 10 days!

Chag Sameach!

Andi