Many things have happened since my last post. So, I'm going to start at last Thursday, September 11th. Thursday morning, we awoke at 5 am in order to begin our hike of Har (definition: mountain) Tavor. After lots of perspiration and a couple liters of water, we made it to the top where we ate lunch and admired the grand monastery. We returned from Har Tavor at 3 pm, and, myself along with the other gizbarim, made a trip to the "nearby" city of Afula to open our kupah bank account. This began our first weekend on the kibbutz. The following two days were spent relaxing. We went swimming at the kibbutz pool, played many rounds of Set, and enjoyed watching some movies.
Sunday was the beginning of our first official week of Boneh. The day started with us splitting into two groups, our shiyurim (definition: classes). Each week of Boneh has a different theme which are referred to as modules. The module for the week of 9/14 was My Jewish Community. Many of the conversations examined being a secular Jew vs. a religious Jew, and we discussed how Jewish secularism has changed in America.
For example, during the early 1900s being a secular Jew often meant that you sent your kids to a school where they learned academic subjects, Yiddish language and literature, Jewish history, and social justice ideals. It meant being a member of Jewish sports teams, unions, and occupational organizations. But in the 1950s Joseph McCarthy opened a series of congressional hearings so as to rid the country of Communists. April Rosenblum, a writer, editor, and activist, stated, "They [Jews] became perhaps the most noticeable ethnic group that fell under hysterical anti-Communist scrutiny..." This was a turning point for American Jewry. Jewish communal activities became rooted in religion rather than the culture.
Within My Jewish Community module, we also discussed assimilation, anti-Semitism, and Israel. All of which are directly related to the Jewish diaspora. This past Thursday, we traveled to Tel Aviv to visit the Diaspora Museum. There, we discussed the destruction of the first temple and how that led to the beginning of the diaspora. We talked about how Jews formed close knit communities all around the world, even in China! The museum concludes with the thought that the diaspora is considered over when all the Jews around the world return to Israel. However, the museum is in a phase of reconstruction as this thought does not depict reality. Jewish communities outside of Israel are still thriving today.
Now, to back track a few days. On Sunday afternoon, after our shiyur (definition: singular of shiyurim), we began a new addition to the Boneh portion of Workshop, Projects. During this time Workshoppers are meant to find something of interest that is related to the movement and create a resource for Habonim Dror North America (HDNA). I am working with one other person on compiling articles and carrying out interviews on what it means to be leftist when it comes to Israel today. We will be examining what it means to be part of a Zionist movement, but also one that focuses on social justice and is leftist. One of the other groups is examining Israel and sustainability. Yet another group is creating two resource books on LGBTQ within the movement. One is a gender and sexuality educational compilation and the other is a book of personal narratives. But there's many more projects being done as well. I'm very excited to see everyone's finished projects.
We began our first Jewish Civilizations course this past week. I chose the Jewish Literature course. So far, we have talked about different theological texts and examined Jewish short stories. We have also discussed what makes a story Jewish.
Following Jewish Civ, we started Power courses. These are similar to chuggim (definition: interest groups). The one I have been attending is about evil. We have looked at evil in the Bible (Eve and the snake; Cain and Abel) and we have discussed the Stanley Milgram's shock experiment (interesting stuff, look it up).
Our Israeli Society course this past week focused on the Knesset (the Israeli parliament). We learned about the stance on many different topics of many different political groups. I also had the opportunity to take an online quiz to determine the political group with which I most closely relate. I got Hadash. The main policies and ideals of Hadash include...
~ Supporting the evacuation of all Israeli settlements, a complete withdrawal by Israel from all territories that have been occupied as a result of the Six Day War, and the establishment of a Palestinian state
~ Being active on social and environmental issues
~ seeing itself as a non-Zionist party, keeping with a Marxist opposition to nationalism
Unfortunately, of the 120 members of the Knesset, only two members are from Hadash.
That brings us back to Thursday and Tel Aviv. After the Diaspora Museum, we had a delicious falafel and baklava lunch in a nearby shuk (definition: market), and we concluded the day with a tour of a graffitied area of the city. Intricate pictures, blurbs, and political references covered the walls.
And that concludes the week.
Rosh Hashanah (definition: New Year) is in just two days, and I'm very much looking forward to the chag (definition: holiday)!
Monday, September 22, 2014
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Week One: Getting Used to Kibbutz Life
Well, it's been six days since I've arrived here in Israel. At the airport, we met our madrichim (definition: counselors), Phia and Idany. Phia, who I know very well, as she was my kvutza's madricha (definition: singular, feminine version of madrichim) at Machaneh Tavor for three summers, has been involved with Habonim Dror for many, many years. Idany is our madrich (definition: singular, masculine version of madrichim) and has been involved with Habonim Dror's sister movement, Hanoar Ha'Oved for a number of years, too.
Our orientation seminar was held at Kibbutz Ravid located in Northern Israel and overlooking the Kinnert. The seminar lasted four days, ending Sunday. Over those couple of days we had many peulot (definition: educational activities/discussions) as well as other fun programming. Our first peulah (definition: singular of peulot) involved a discussion revolving around Israel and why or why not we think that Workshop should be located here. Other peulot we have participated in so far include consumerism, the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, ownership, and a few more. The peulah on the conflict was very emotional for me, but I came out of it feeling that most of my kvutza was coming from similar directions no matter how connected they were to Israel.
Another major part of Workshop is communal decision making. As of now we have had two asephot (definition: meetings) revolving around such decisions. Our first resolve was determining who we would be rooming with. After four hours and several different methods of approach, we finally made our rooming arrangements. However, if the rooms don't seem to work out, then we will have another asepha to discuss how to fix any issues. But as of right now everything is going very well! Last night we had an intense discussion about kupah (definition: (literal) cash box; (how we use it) communal pool of money which is used for both individual wants/needs as well as the group's). We decided that we wanted the next nine months to be on "full kupah", meaning when we want or need something we only use kupah money and do not use other personal money. Kupah utilizes socialistic ideals meant to "even the playing field." Included in the kupah discussion was the talk of who would be the gizbarim (definition: treasurers). After much deliberation we came to a consensus, and I, along with four other members of my kvutza, will be the gizbarim.
We are now living on Kibbutz Ein Dor, which is also in the North and is about 25 minutes from Kibbutz Ravid. Ein Dor is considered a more privatized kibbutz, meaning that while people may have their own money, they have the option to work on the kibbutz and contribute their earnings to it.
Upon arrival to Ein Dor, we were greeted by our four mechanichim (definition: educators). So far, they have ran peulot for us (including a couple of the ones I mentioned earlier), showed us around the kibbutz, and helped us adjust to fending for our own.
Har (definition: mountain) Tavor, for which Machaneh Tavor is named, is visible from the kibbutz, and the kvutza will be hiking it on Thursday morning!
In terms of meals, our kvutza makes breakfast every morning for ourselves, but goes to the chadar ohel (definition: dining hall) for lunch and dinner. The food is pretty good, too! As a vegetarian, I have been enjoying quite a few bourekas (definition: filo dough stuffed with different vegetables, usually they include potatoes).
There is a lot planned for the coming weeks, and I'm very excited to learn both through texts and discussions as well as through laboring.
L'hitraot! (Definition: See you later!)
Also, I am attaching the link to the Gaza Youth Manifesto, which we read during the talk about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and it really impacted me. Warning! Does contain strong language!
http://gazaybo.wordpress.com/manifesto-0-1/
Our orientation seminar was held at Kibbutz Ravid located in Northern Israel and overlooking the Kinnert. The seminar lasted four days, ending Sunday. Over those couple of days we had many peulot (definition: educational activities/discussions) as well as other fun programming. Our first peulah (definition: singular of peulot) involved a discussion revolving around Israel and why or why not we think that Workshop should be located here. Other peulot we have participated in so far include consumerism, the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, ownership, and a few more. The peulah on the conflict was very emotional for me, but I came out of it feeling that most of my kvutza was coming from similar directions no matter how connected they were to Israel.
Another major part of Workshop is communal decision making. As of now we have had two asephot (definition: meetings) revolving around such decisions. Our first resolve was determining who we would be rooming with. After four hours and several different methods of approach, we finally made our rooming arrangements. However, if the rooms don't seem to work out, then we will have another asepha to discuss how to fix any issues. But as of right now everything is going very well! Last night we had an intense discussion about kupah (definition: (literal) cash box; (how we use it) communal pool of money which is used for both individual wants/needs as well as the group's). We decided that we wanted the next nine months to be on "full kupah", meaning when we want or need something we only use kupah money and do not use other personal money. Kupah utilizes socialistic ideals meant to "even the playing field." Included in the kupah discussion was the talk of who would be the gizbarim (definition: treasurers). After much deliberation we came to a consensus, and I, along with four other members of my kvutza, will be the gizbarim.
We are now living on Kibbutz Ein Dor, which is also in the North and is about 25 minutes from Kibbutz Ravid. Ein Dor is considered a more privatized kibbutz, meaning that while people may have their own money, they have the option to work on the kibbutz and contribute their earnings to it.
Upon arrival to Ein Dor, we were greeted by our four mechanichim (definition: educators). So far, they have ran peulot for us (including a couple of the ones I mentioned earlier), showed us around the kibbutz, and helped us adjust to fending for our own.
Har (definition: mountain) Tavor, for which Machaneh Tavor is named, is visible from the kibbutz, and the kvutza will be hiking it on Thursday morning!
In terms of meals, our kvutza makes breakfast every morning for ourselves, but goes to the chadar ohel (definition: dining hall) for lunch and dinner. The food is pretty good, too! As a vegetarian, I have been enjoying quite a few bourekas (definition: filo dough stuffed with different vegetables, usually they include potatoes).
There is a lot planned for the coming weeks, and I'm very excited to learn both through texts and discussions as well as through laboring.
L'hitraot! (Definition: See you later!)
Also, I am attaching the link to the Gaza Youth Manifesto, which we read during the talk about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and it really impacted me. Warning! Does contain strong language!
http://gazaybo.wordpress.com/manifesto-0-1/
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Today is the Day!
Hello! Shalom!
I've just finished packing, now. Today, I will leave my Midwestern home town of Normal, IL and head off to the Middle East, to Israel, for nine months!
The program in which I am partaking is called Workshop. It is run by the Labor Zionist Youth Movement, Habonim Dror. Habonim Dror has seven summer camps throughout North America. Since I was ten, I have been attending Habonim Dror's Camp Tavor in Three Rivers, MI. Although I had gone to Sunday Religious School since I was four, it was at Machaneh (definition: Camp) Tavor that I truly began to form my own sense of a Jewish identity. In other words, Tavor and Habonim Dror have had a huge impact on my life. One major aspect of Tavor, and the movement as a whole, is the emphasis on kvutza (definition: a group of kids who are the same age). In Israel I will be living with my kvutza which consists of 29 kids from all seven machanot (plural of machaneh).
Over the next nine months we will be residing on a kibbutz (definition: a communal farm or settlement in Israel), interacting with Israeli society, learning Hebrew, and much, much more.
When we arrive in Israel on Wednesday, Sept. 3, we will have an orientation seminar for a couple of days. Following the seminar we will begin the portion of Workshop known as Boneh (definition: building), which will be from Sept. to mid Dec. During Boneh my kvutza and I will be living on Kibbutz Ein Dor located in northern Israel. This portion of the program focuses specifically on educational, social, and leadership development. We will be exploring Jewish history, Zionism, Israel, Hebrew, and everything in between. On the kibbutz, I will also be assigned avodah (definition: work) which I will engage for a couple of hours every other day.
In January, we will begin the second portion of Workshop known as Kavaret. The main emphasis on Kavaret is messima (definition: volunteer work) mainly through education. This education is not just the stereotypical math, science, language, etc, we will also be educating on values, particularly equality of human worth and kinship.
I've just finished packing, now. Today, I will leave my Midwestern home town of Normal, IL and head off to the Middle East, to Israel, for nine months!
The program in which I am partaking is called Workshop. It is run by the Labor Zionist Youth Movement, Habonim Dror. Habonim Dror has seven summer camps throughout North America. Since I was ten, I have been attending Habonim Dror's Camp Tavor in Three Rivers, MI. Although I had gone to Sunday Religious School since I was four, it was at Machaneh (definition: Camp) Tavor that I truly began to form my own sense of a Jewish identity. In other words, Tavor and Habonim Dror have had a huge impact on my life. One major aspect of Tavor, and the movement as a whole, is the emphasis on kvutza (definition: a group of kids who are the same age). In Israel I will be living with my kvutza which consists of 29 kids from all seven machanot (plural of machaneh).
Over the next nine months we will be residing on a kibbutz (definition: a communal farm or settlement in Israel), interacting with Israeli society, learning Hebrew, and much, much more.
When we arrive in Israel on Wednesday, Sept. 3, we will have an orientation seminar for a couple of days. Following the seminar we will begin the portion of Workshop known as Boneh (definition: building), which will be from Sept. to mid Dec. During Boneh my kvutza and I will be living on Kibbutz Ein Dor located in northern Israel. This portion of the program focuses specifically on educational, social, and leadership development. We will be exploring Jewish history, Zionism, Israel, Hebrew, and everything in between. On the kibbutz, I will also be assigned avodah (definition: work) which I will engage for a couple of hours every other day.
In January, we will begin the second portion of Workshop known as Kavaret. The main emphasis on Kavaret is messima (definition: volunteer work) mainly through education. This education is not just the stereotypical math, science, language, etc, we will also be educating on values, particularly equality of human worth and kinship.
"Israel has the highest poverty rate in the developed world, Haaretz concludes based on a new study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
The newspaper notes that with a poverty rate of 20.9 percent, Israel scores lowest out of 34 economically developed countries. The country also has one of the biggest gaps between its rich and poor in the developed world." ~ Huffington Post
Between the poverty and the conflict, something needs to be done. I hope that within these next nine months, I can contribute (even if it's a little bit) to this desperately needed change.
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