The internet in the apartments is still weak sauce. I am at the hostel right now waiting for our bus (and lunch) to take us to our siyur destination. I thought I would take the opportunity to write a little.
Lately the topic of the discussion for everyone is "What are you doing for Israeli Experience?" The way our program is broken down we are almost two thirds done. The last section, called Israeli Experience is where the group splits into smaller groups and live around the country doing different volunteering. The options are incredible. Anything from ambulance work to working at a theater.
Being the nature loving freak that I am. I am requesting to live in the small city of Arad, located about half an hour south east of Be'er Sheva. Its a small town, a feel like I am ready for. I have spent a good amount of time in Israel in big cities. I am ready for something different. While in Arad, I could be working at a number of places. These include Masada, Ein Gedi, or a Beudoin Ranch. Very outdoors stuff. Right up my ally.
The only have a couple of concerns. The biggest one being roommates. I have had some issues so far, and I really want to finish off my year with a solid group of roommates. The other issue is weather. I didn't really think it through too much, but its gonna be damn hot. I will be living in a desert town from March until June. Mmmmmm crispy.
Ok, so I didn't have time to post this before the Siyur. As a result, I am finishing this now (Sunday Feb 1.)
The siyur we went on was to Moshav Yishi. Right outside of Jerusalem. First off, I should explain what a Moshav is. A Moshav is a community of families living in a group of homes and share common farming ground. That's it in a very basic sense. Anyways, Moshav Yishi is a moshav consisting of Yemenite families. The Yemenite Jews came to Israel in Operation Magic Carpet in 1950. The Jews of Yemen had been living in an isolated society for thousands of years. Because of this, there culture is much different from most Jews. Through modernazation and becoming part of Israeli society, they have lost some of their culture. At the same time, they work very hard to maintain a lot of it.
At the Moshav our first stop was to a friend of our teacher. This family is the only non-Yemenite family on the Moshav. The father is originally from NY and the mother from that hat of a country above the US. They have a huge house, the biggest one on the Moshav, that they built. They talked to us a little about living here there. Someone raised the obvious question "Why do you want to live in this Moshav?" The man answered simply that they wanted space. He also added that he is hoping more of his friends from out of Israel move there and make the area more"Anglo". As soon as he said that, all 35 of us got the same thought: "WhAt?!" You move to a country to make a new life and you expect your friends to come too? On top of that, you move into a neighborhood of a different ethnicity then your own and then hope to make it more "Anglo". I think that family choose the wrong neighborhood and I can understand why his neighbors are not exactly friendly to him.
The next part of the Siyur we walked up the street to the home of the Besharis. They had a lovely covered porch and provided amazing Yemen hospitality. This consited of several different drinks, hot and cold, and more sweets and fruit than the group could consume. After schmoozing a little, we were invited inside. We all at down and received a private performance from Gila Beshari. Gila is a world renowned singer and is known for bring traditional Yemen sound to modern music. Her voice was amazing. It filled the room with great depth. I also found it interesting because it is not in a key that I am used to hearing. After she sang a few song solo, she invited a few people up to dance with her. From there it just turned to one big party of all of us up dancing. A good time was had by all.
The rest of the week went by pretty routinely. I will share some quotes from my beloved Zionism teacher, Dr. Rabbi Avi Berkowitz. They make much more sense if you know him.
Candace: "I didn't know you were lefty."
Berkowitz: "No, you're a lefty. I am left handed."
"Get ready, I am going to start talking nicely about Socialism."
Carter says Hamas must be included
There are a few things in this article that frustrate me.
1."Hamas has got to be involved before peace can be concluded." I am sorry President Carter. You are dead wrong. That is the opposite of true. Hamas doesn't want peace with Israel. They want to eliminate Israel.
2. "Carter also said Hamas had mainly kept to its truce agreement not to attack Israel."
Either you keep a truce or you don't. There is no "mainly" keeping a truce.
3. I know this is an article from Al Jazeera, but is missing large facts and presents an overly one-sided argument. I only read Al Jazeera to see what the poplular Muslim World reads. Honestly, its scary how miscontrude the facts get.
PM to cabinet: We'll respond 'disproportionately' to rocket fire
Report: Hamas agrees to year-long Gaza truce starting Thursday
Really, I would like to think that this will happen. At the same time, honestly, how much can we trust Hamas? I know six year olds that are better liars about stealing candy. I dont think Hamas can ever be trusted and it is silly to maintain any kind of hope in them. I think it is about time the Palestinian people realize this too.
I found out my friend Rebecca has a blog too. It's pretty funny. Especially if you know the metioned people.
I went to get my camera fixed this weekend, and realized .....I left my receipt in Jerusalem. STUPID STUPID. I have to go back to Tel Aviv this week anyways.
My camp director, Noah, is in town. I have a meeting with him later (that is why I have to go to Tel Aviv). He wants to talk to me about something to do with bicycles at camp :) :) Camp=awesome. Bikes=one of my favorite things. Camp + Bikes= Hopefully one of the best summers of my life.
The only have a couple of concerns. The biggest one being roommates. I have had some issues so far, and I really want to finish off my year with a solid group of roommates. The other issue is weather. I didn't really think it through too much, but its gonna be damn hot. I will be living in a desert town from March until June. Mmmmmm crispy.
Ok, so I didn't have time to post this before the Siyur. As a result, I am finishing this now (Sunday Feb 1.)
The siyur we went on was to Moshav Yishi. Right outside of Jerusalem. First off, I should explain what a Moshav is. A Moshav is a community of families living in a group of homes and share common farming ground. That's it in a very basic sense. Anyways, Moshav Yishi is a moshav consisting of Yemenite families. The Yemenite Jews came to Israel in Operation Magic Carpet in 1950. The Jews of Yemen had been living in an isolated society for thousands of years. Because of this, there culture is much different from most Jews. Through modernazation and becoming part of Israeli society, they have lost some of their culture. At the same time, they work very hard to maintain a lot of it.
At the Moshav our first stop was to a friend of our teacher. This family is the only non-Yemenite family on the Moshav. The father is originally from NY and the mother from that hat of a country above the US. They have a huge house, the biggest one on the Moshav, that they built. They talked to us a little about living here there. Someone raised the obvious question "Why do you want to live in this Moshav?" The man answered simply that they wanted space. He also added that he is hoping more of his friends from out of Israel move there and make the area more"Anglo". As soon as he said that, all 35 of us got the same thought: "WhAt?!" You move to a country to make a new life and you expect your friends to come too? On top of that, you move into a neighborhood of a different ethnicity then your own and then hope to make it more "Anglo". I think that family choose the wrong neighborhood and I can understand why his neighbors are not exactly friendly to him.
The next part of the Siyur we walked up the street to the home of the Besharis. They had a lovely covered porch and provided amazing Yemen hospitality. This consited of several different drinks, hot and cold, and more sweets and fruit than the group could consume. After schmoozing a little, we were invited inside. We all at down and received a private performance from Gila Beshari. Gila is a world renowned singer and is known for bring traditional Yemen sound to modern music. Her voice was amazing. It filled the room with great depth. I also found it interesting because it is not in a key that I am used to hearing. After she sang a few song solo, she invited a few people up to dance with her. From there it just turned to one big party of all of us up dancing. A good time was had by all.
The rest of the week went by pretty routinely. I will share some quotes from my beloved Zionism teacher, Dr. Rabbi Avi Berkowitz. They make much more sense if you know him.
Candace: "I didn't know you were lefty."
Berkowitz: "No, you're a lefty. I am left handed."
"Get ready, I am going to start talking nicely about Socialism."
This weekenend I was pretty good. I really needed to get out of the frat party I call my apartment. It started thursday night at a party that the Tzofim had at a random club in Netanyah. The party was only so so. I did manage to get the bus back with my friends to Bat Yam instead of Jerusalem. I spent the weekend there hanging out mostly at my friend Dan's apartment (Dan, update your blog. Its been more than 3 months). The usual group of us did our usual thing. Lots of inovative cooking, lots of sitting around and telling stupid jokes/stories, and just all together lots of good company. I enjoyed it. It was a nice break from all the stupidity in the apartments. I also got to spend time with some friends I haven't seen a lot. I walked to the beach with my friends Marcie, Stephanie, and Shir. While we were there I ran into my friend Sara from Habonim Dror. Its always good to see her because its never planned.
Carter says Hamas must be included
There are a few things in this article that frustrate me.
1."Hamas has got to be involved before peace can be concluded." I am sorry President Carter. You are dead wrong. That is the opposite of true. Hamas doesn't want peace with Israel. They want to eliminate Israel.
2. "Carter also said Hamas had mainly kept to its truce agreement not to attack Israel."
Either you keep a truce or you don't. There is no "mainly" keeping a truce.
3. I know this is an article from Al Jazeera, but is missing large facts and presents an overly one-sided argument. I only read Al Jazeera to see what the poplular Muslim World reads. Honestly, its scary how miscontrude the facts get.
PM to cabinet: We'll respond 'disproportionately' to rocket fire
Please read this whole article. Its interesting how each politician is trying to use the current situation to get there foot in for the elections next week. I agree that we need to take some kind of response to the violation to the cease fire. I think that Livni might be coming on a little strong.
Report: Hamas agrees to year-long Gaza truce starting Thursday
Really, I would like to think that this will happen. At the same time, honestly, how much can we trust Hamas? I know six year olds that are better liars about stealing candy. I dont think Hamas can ever be trusted and it is silly to maintain any kind of hope in them. I think it is about time the Palestinian people realize this too.
I found out my friend Rebecca has a blog too. It's pretty funny. Especially if you know the metioned people.
I went to get my camera fixed this weekend, and realized .....I left my receipt in Jerusalem. STUPID STUPID. I have to go back to Tel Aviv this week anyways.
My camp director, Noah, is in town. I have a meeting with him later (that is why I have to go to Tel Aviv). He wants to talk to me about something to do with bicycles at camp :) :) Camp=awesome. Bikes=one of my favorite things. Camp + Bikes= Hopefully one of the best summers of my life.
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