Day 10 - The End
This morning started a particularly emotional day for us, compared to some of the less intense days we'd had previously on the trip. This is partially because we spent the morning at Mount Herzl, which is both Israel's main military cemetery and the burial ground of many of its greatest leaders and pioneers, from Golda Meir to Yitzhak Rabin and to Theodore Herzl himself. Connecting the graves we were seeing to everything from the 1948 War to the Six-Day War to incidents that happened as recently as two months ago, as well as seeing the grave of a prideful American Jew who made aliyah and joined the Israeli Defense Forces made for a difficult and solemn morning, to say the least. Our Israeli friends shared many emotional and heartbreaking stories of friends who left this earth far too soon in an effort to protect the country and people that they loved. Many of us have friends and family who have served in the American military, and even some who have not made it home. But the harsh reality of Israel's mandatory military service is something that our generation does not know - our friends, lovers, brothers and sisters having no choice to go to war. The bravery, dignity and strength of the Israeli people is truly awe-inspiring, and Mount Herzl is a gorgeous and sobering tribute in their honor.
Following this, we returned to Ben Yehuda Street in Jerusalem for lunch and shopping. We spread out on our own, often in the cliques and packs that have formed over the past nine days. Many of us left with full bellies and even fuller shopping bags, ready to tackle the challenge of how exactly all of this Israeli swag is going to fit into our already overstuffed suitcases. Do you try and shove it all in, or do you toss that pair of jeans, fearing that the camel blood will never truly come out? Is there any way to get your favorite Israeli participant through customs?
As I write this, we have very little time left together. We have one meal, a group activity, and a final trip to the Western Wall tonight. And then it is the final bus ride to the airport. Once we step through the security line in Tel Aviv, we are no longer numbers 1-45, and we are no longer Shorashim Bus 229. We're a collection of individuals who happen to be returning from a trip to Israel on the same flight. Some of us will keep in touch and see each other again, whether at community events or on our own. Some of us will never return to Israel, while others may be back sooner rather than later - and maybe that time for good.
In many ways, we are still the same people today that we were ten days ago - exhausted, and really hoping that winter weather doesn't delay or cancel our flights. But in other ways, we have changed profoundly. We may go back to cubicles and law libraries, apartments and town homes, Metro stops and traffic jams. But even as we do that, we will never forget how we felt here in Israel, together as Americans and as Jews. There is a little bit of every participant that I will take with me, whether an inside joke or a lifelong friendship. And there is a lot of Israel that I will bring back with me as well.
If I am truly the last blogger for this trip, I'd like to thank you all for reading along with us for these ten days. I'd like to thank our staff, Lani, Sarah and Ariel, for leading us through this wonderful experience. I'd especially like to thank our Israeli participants - Tom, Orin, Udi, Nir, Meidan, Noa and Yarden - for sharing so much of themselves and their country with us. As we prepare to start preparing for the "Reverse Mifgash" in an attempt to bring all of them to the United States in 2010, I will close: "See you soon, my friends."
Josh Frank, Falls Church, VA
Showing posts with label Reverse Mifgash. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reverse Mifgash. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
Winter Taglit-Birthright Israel: DC Community Trip Day 4
"Because it's bleepin' free!"
That's what he said, artist Udi Krauss. It's true: that's how we're here, but it's not why.
Our last day in the Golan Heights was activity-packed: after leaving the kibbutz we've called home for 3 days, we loaded ourselves and our luggage into our second home, the bus, and traveled to the Kinneret to spend time getting a sense of the individuals who gave birth to Eretz Israel: the pioneers. We sang emotional songs together, led by Oren's guitar, at the graves of Naomi Shemer and Rachel.
We then took the drive down to Tel Aviv, where we first stopped at the site of Yitzhak Rabin's assassination. Since most of us were too young and detached from Israel at that time, it was the first opportunity to make that event a real, tangible event. We then gathered at the top of the square to discuss that fateful day, the events and political climate that led up to it. Our Israelis shared their personal stories and feelings, and we closed with a meaningful read of Rabin's final speech.
What was supposed to be a short drive to the Independence Museum was slowed down by a painful pkak, so we all got off the bus to walk on the beach boardwalk and take beautiful sunset pictures. Ariel then told us a short story of Jaffa.
When we finally made it to Independence Museum, we saw a short video about Tel Aviv's history and the declaration. Our guide then took some time to describe in detail the events behind the historic event. After listening to 3 minutes of David Ben Gurion's original declaration of independence, both the Chicago group and our group stood for what turned out to be a very emotional rendition of Hatikva (the Israeli national anthem), to the track that played following the declaration. When Richard approached me and said what I had been thinking, my mind was blown away: we both sang Hatikva every day in school but it never felt as meaningful and connecting as it did at that moment, in that room, and with those people around us.
Finally we made it to the hotel and after dinner went for an activity with alumni from the Reverse Mifgash. We played an ice-breaker and they shared with us their favorite things about DC and their US experience. I was personally touched by 1Israeli, Uri Lerner, who mentioned how touched he was by OUR Judaism, OUR Judaism in the States. He said that we were free to practice a Judaism we were comfortable with, which was something he had never experienced here in Israel. What a mind-boggling comment!
Just when you'd think it was bedtime, we were treated to an interactive, educational and fun performance by Udi Krauss, who gave us insights into Israeli life, culture, and music. We closed with an awesome dancing and singing of Salam, with its uplifting lyrics that certainly brought us closer to what the Israeli reality is day to day, and how much we all just want peace. After some marshmallow puffs we were ready to join our Israelis, new and old, at Manda Rosa, where we had an hour and a half to disco disco!
Even though we may have at first been surrounded by sadness and painful memories of loss, we were at the end of the day reminded of what life is truly worth living for: doing, feeling, creating, pioneering. Ariel left us with an open question: what are we doing to be pioneers today? And while we may not get the opportunity to put our bare hands into the land and create a promised land like our ancestors did for us here, we can pioneer a new consciousness of our Judaism, a new relationship with our fellow Jews, our culture, our neighbors, our past, and our future.
Tanya Arditi, Washington, DC
That's what he said, artist Udi Krauss. It's true: that's how we're here, but it's not why.
Our last day in the Golan Heights was activity-packed: after leaving the kibbutz we've called home for 3 days, we loaded ourselves and our luggage into our second home, the bus, and traveled to the Kinneret to spend time getting a sense of the individuals who gave birth to Eretz Israel: the pioneers. We sang emotional songs together, led by Oren's guitar, at the graves of Naomi Shemer and Rachel.
We then took the drive down to Tel Aviv, where we first stopped at the site of Yitzhak Rabin's assassination. Since most of us were too young and detached from Israel at that time, it was the first opportunity to make that event a real, tangible event. We then gathered at the top of the square to discuss that fateful day, the events and political climate that led up to it. Our Israelis shared their personal stories and feelings, and we closed with a meaningful read of Rabin's final speech.
What was supposed to be a short drive to the Independence Museum was slowed down by a painful pkak, so we all got off the bus to walk on the beach boardwalk and take beautiful sunset pictures. Ariel then told us a short story of Jaffa.
When we finally made it to Independence Museum, we saw a short video about Tel Aviv's history and the declaration. Our guide then took some time to describe in detail the events behind the historic event. After listening to 3 minutes of David Ben Gurion's original declaration of independence, both the Chicago group and our group stood for what turned out to be a very emotional rendition of Hatikva (the Israeli national anthem), to the track that played following the declaration. When Richard approached me and said what I had been thinking, my mind was blown away: we both sang Hatikva every day in school but it never felt as meaningful and connecting as it did at that moment, in that room, and with those people around us.
Finally we made it to the hotel and after dinner went for an activity with alumni from the Reverse Mifgash. We played an ice-breaker and they shared with us their favorite things about DC and their US experience. I was personally touched by 1Israeli, Uri Lerner, who mentioned how touched he was by OUR Judaism, OUR Judaism in the States. He said that we were free to practice a Judaism we were comfortable with, which was something he had never experienced here in Israel. What a mind-boggling comment!
Just when you'd think it was bedtime, we were treated to an interactive, educational and fun performance by Udi Krauss, who gave us insights into Israeli life, culture, and music. We closed with an awesome dancing and singing of Salam, with its uplifting lyrics that certainly brought us closer to what the Israeli reality is day to day, and how much we all just want peace. After some marshmallow puffs we were ready to join our Israelis, new and old, at Manda Rosa, where we had an hour and a half to disco disco!
Even though we may have at first been surrounded by sadness and painful memories of loss, we were at the end of the day reminded of what life is truly worth living for: doing, feeling, creating, pioneering. Ariel left us with an open question: what are we doing to be pioneers today? And while we may not get the opportunity to put our bare hands into the land and create a promised land like our ancestors did for us here, we can pioneer a new consciousness of our Judaism, a new relationship with our fellow Jews, our culture, our neighbors, our past, and our future.
Tanya Arditi, Washington, DC
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Reverse Mifgash 2009: Day 2
Monday, November 2
By Karen Slachetka
On Monday night I had the opportunity to participate in a volunteer event with our visiting Israelis. It was great to learn with the Israelis about how extremely active the Washington, DC Jewish Community Center is in the area of community service. Our efforts for the evening aimed to support local after-school programs and food banks, providing food and toiletries to the needy in Washington, DC. The kitchen team, of which I was a member, had a great time making tomato salad, peanut butter sandwiches and bag lunches. It seemed like such minor things, but showing the Israelis how to make a peanut butter sandwich for the first time, hearing about their day, playing games or trying to sing songs to pass the time really made for a memorable experience.
By Karen Slachetka
On Monday night I had the opportunity to participate in a volunteer event with our visiting Israelis. It was great to learn with the Israelis about how extremely active the Washington, DC Jewish Community Center is in the area of community service. Our efforts for the evening aimed to support local after-school programs and food banks, providing food and toiletries to the needy in Washington, DC. The kitchen team, of which I was a member, had a great time making tomato salad, peanut butter sandwiches and bag lunches. It seemed like such minor things, but showing the Israelis how to make a peanut butter sandwich for the first time, hearing about their day, playing games or trying to sing songs to pass the time really made for a memorable experience.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Reverse Mifgash 2009: Day 1
Sunday, November 1
By Yelena Barakh
It was really rewarding to see the Israelis on Sunday night. There was a sense of "Wow, they are here!" After a year of planning, fundraising and talking about their arrival and everything we wanted them to get out of the experience, it was here! I got the feeling that they were all very different, yet had common ground, similar to the members of the young D.C. Jewish community. I'm hoping this is an amazing 10 days for all of us!
By Yelena Barakh
It was really rewarding to see the Israelis on Sunday night. There was a sense of "Wow, they are here!" After a year of planning, fundraising and talking about their arrival and everything we wanted them to get out of the experience, it was here! I got the feeling that they were all very different, yet had common ground, similar to the members of the young D.C. Jewish community. I'm hoping this is an amazing 10 days for all of us!
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