Thursday, August 7, 2014
Bus on the way to Baltimore Washington Area
Their new ETA for Baltimore is around 12:00 am which makes their ETA for Blair 1:00 am.
I apologize for the late arrival. I am sure the timing is an inconvenience and I appreciate your patience very much.
I apologize for the late arrival. I am sure the timing is an inconvenience and I appreciate your patience very much.
Bus arriving in Philly Now
The bus arrived at Gratz College around 9:45 pm.They will be on the road again soon. Once they are I will have an ETA for Baltimore and Silver Spring.
Bus to Philly/Baltimore/D.C. 90 min from Philly stop
Due to traffic leaving the city in New York and the late start the group is still about 90 minutes from Gratz College.
New ETA at Gratz: 9:30 pm
Bus To Philly And D.C. Is On Their Way
The bus to Philadelphia, Baltimore and Silver Spring is running late. They did not leave the airport until 6:10. I will keep you posted on their location and their ETA.
All Americans and Canadians Through Security
All the Americans with connecting flights are through security and on their way home.
The Canadian group to Vancouver and Victoria is also through in Toronto.
Landed In North America!
Both the New York and Toronto groups have landed and we are waiting for them to come through security. More updates on the connections to come.
On Their Way Home
Both the American and Canadian groups are in the air and on their way New York and Toronto.
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Wrapping Things Up...Final Day Of MBI
MBI woke up today for their last full day together in Israel. The last day of MBI is always dedicated to Sikkum (summary and reflection). They began after breakfast with a peulah about what else...Israel. They spoke with each other about how having this experience in Israel has effected them as Jewish people and reflected on what it felt like to be in Israel together as Jews. They also expressed their reactions about how it felt meaningful for them to be there as part of a youth movement that is striving to do more than only tour together.
Then, organized by bus they all had an activity called "warm and fuzzies," where they received booklets, decorated them and then wrote notes to each other in the booklets sort of like yearbooks. "Warm and fuzzies" are a great way to leave each other with a special note or to say something you didn't have the chance to over the summer.
Later they split into kvutzot, had a few activities to bookend their summer with their madrichim and each got their shwag for the summer that they will take home. Each bus designed a t-shirt that represents as a group. In addition to the bus shirt, they all received a sweatshirt that was designed for all of MBI. Then, they all met for a tekes (ceremony) sporting their brand new tops. At the tekes a representative from each bus spoke about their experience on MBI and what they will take back with them to Habonim Dror North America.
After dinner there was a final musicale where they performed for each other a few goodbye tunes and a there was a dance party that followed. Tomorrow morning they will leave for the airport at 5:40 am, to make the American and Canadian flights at 10:40 and 11:30 am.
Please check the blog tomorrow for updates through out the travel day.
Here are some photos from today...
Bus one in their new shwag
Later they split into kvutzot, had a few activities to bookend their summer with their madrichim and each got their shwag for the summer that they will take home. Each bus designed a t-shirt that represents as a group. In addition to the bus shirt, they all received a sweatshirt that was designed for all of MBI. Then, they all met for a tekes (ceremony) sporting their brand new tops. At the tekes a representative from each bus spoke about their experience on MBI and what they will take back with them to Habonim Dror North America.
After dinner there was a final musicale where they performed for each other a few goodbye tunes and a there was a dance party that followed. Tomorrow morning they will leave for the airport at 5:40 am, to make the American and Canadian flights at 10:40 and 11:30 am.
Please check the blog tomorrow for updates through out the travel day.
Here are some photos from today...
Tisha B'av
Yesterday MBI observed Tisha B'av, a Jewish day of mourning. There was a sleep in scheduled for tomorrow to begin their relaxed day. In the morning the staff showed the movie, "Life Is Beautiful." After there were chugim (special interest groups). Chanichim were able to choose one of the following topics to learn about:
- The story of the book of Job.
- A discussion on why we fast.
- Chavka - the courier from Dror Movement ghetto flights during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.
- How to educate youth about the Holocaust and Janusz Korczak - his history and philosophy on children.
Then there was a tekes (ceremony) to close the day before dinner where the chanichim were able to reflect in public with one another about the day. After dinner, the madrichim masa (tour guides) ran a sikkum peulah (summarizing activity) where they reviewed all of the places MBI visited and learned about. They used a giant Israel map to assist them in putting all the places in geographic perspective. After they played a few games with their madrichim and went to sleep.
Today they have started their day long Sikkum (trip wrap-up). They will finish the day with a celebration tonight and leave early tomorrow morning to head home.
Monday, August 4, 2014
Hatzbani Water Hike and Rosh Hanikra
MBI began their day with a water hike down the Hatzbani stream. They really enjoyed themselves especially after they found themselves at the water fall a ways down the run off. It was a great way to cool off from the hot Israel sun.
After the hike they enjoyed lunch at a Druze owned restaurant. Besides enjoying Druze food, here they also learned about the Druze culture. The chanichim learned from a member of their community that Druze feel very loyal to the society in which they live in , even though they are not Jewish. This is why they too serve in the Israeli Defense Force. They are loyal to the state where they live while also seeking their own freedom of religion.
Originally MBI was not scheduled to visit Rosh Hanikra, but because of the itinerary shuffling we were forced to do earlier in the summer, it freed some time this afternoon for them to do so. MBI was able to enjoy the spectacular view from the cliff overlooking the Mediterranean Sea at Rosh Hanikra and also experience some of the very cool caves the geological formation has to offer.
When the group returned back their hostel in Shlomi it was Erev Tisha b'av. They had a peulah by kvutza that was related to the holiday where they discussed how they choose to feel connected to Judaism.
Hatzbani water hike
Splash time in the Hatzbani
More from Hatzbani
After the hike they enjoyed lunch at a Druze owned restaurant. Besides enjoying Druze food, here they also learned about the Druze culture. The chanichim learned from a member of their community that Druze feel very loyal to the society in which they live in , even though they are not Jewish. This is why they too serve in the Israeli Defense Force. They are loyal to the state where they live while also seeking their own freedom of religion.
Originally MBI was not scheduled to visit Rosh Hanikra, but because of the itinerary shuffling we were forced to do earlier in the summer, it freed some time this afternoon for them to do so. MBI was able to enjoy the spectacular view from the cliff overlooking the Mediterranean Sea at Rosh Hanikra and also experience some of the very cool caves the geological formation has to offer.
When the group returned back their hostel in Shlomi it was Erev Tisha b'av. They had a peulah by kvutza that was related to the holiday where they discussed how they choose to feel connected to Judaism.
Sunday, August 3, 2014
Shabbat and Sunday Trip To Ghetto Fighters Museum
Shabbat
Shabbat began saturday morning for MBI with special chugim, a structure that you have probably grown familiar with if you have followed the blog closely. Chanichim were able to choose from learning rikud (Israeli dancing), playing music for each other, learning about the history of drag culture, writing letters, and learning together about the LGBTQ movement for equal rights in Israel.
In the afternoon, in kvutzot, MBI had a peulah on constructive rebellion. The peulah's purpose was to prepare the group for what they would see today at the Lochme Ha'Getaot (Ghetto Fighters Museum). They used the example of the ghetto fighters in Warsaw from the Dror Movement who rebelled in the April of 1943.
Yesterday was the five year anniversary of a shooting at the gay youth center in Tel Aviv. MBI learned about what happened there and led a small march around their hostel to remember the event and to symbolize their solidarity for those who struggle for LGBTQ rights.
Peulah time.
Sunday
This morning they traveled to Kibbutz Lochme Ha'Getaot (Ghetto Fighters Kibbutz), a few kilometers east of Acco. The Kibbutz was founded shortly after the war ended by members of Dror Movement and other movements who fought in the uprising. There is a beautiful museum there that MBI had the privilege to tour.
The first of two exhibits they saw was called, "Resistance In The Holocaust." Here they learned in depth about the struggle of the Dror Ghetto Fighters and how the Movement played a crucial role in organizing the battle against the Nazis.
The second they saw was, "Children In The Holocaust." Here they have an entire room dedicated to Janus Korczak. Korczak had an orphanage in Warsaw and hid many children there during the war until tragically, he and the children were taken away to camps.
After touring the exhibits MBI had a tekes (ceremony) outside the museum. The tekes featured a few songs, poems and was was in honor of Chavka Folman Raban, a former courier between the ghettos and those who established the Kibbutz. He was a great friend to Habonim Dror recently who passed away this year,
After their time at the museum they toured the city of Akko and learned about the history of the old city there. They also discussed the Arab-Jewish relations in the city since there were riots in 2008. Following the tour they had some time in the Shuk (market) and then drove to the nearby Shlomi Youth Hostel where they will be located until they leave Israel on Thursday morning.
In the museum in the room dedicated to Janusz Korczak
In the old city of Akko
Shabbat began saturday morning for MBI with special chugim, a structure that you have probably grown familiar with if you have followed the blog closely. Chanichim were able to choose from learning rikud (Israeli dancing), playing music for each other, learning about the history of drag culture, writing letters, and learning together about the LGBTQ movement for equal rights in Israel.
In the afternoon, in kvutzot, MBI had a peulah on constructive rebellion. The peulah's purpose was to prepare the group for what they would see today at the Lochme Ha'Getaot (Ghetto Fighters Museum). They used the example of the ghetto fighters in Warsaw from the Dror Movement who rebelled in the April of 1943.
Yesterday was the five year anniversary of a shooting at the gay youth center in Tel Aviv. MBI learned about what happened there and led a small march around their hostel to remember the event and to symbolize their solidarity for those who struggle for LGBTQ rights.
Chugim
Getting ready for the march
This morning they traveled to Kibbutz Lochme Ha'Getaot (Ghetto Fighters Kibbutz), a few kilometers east of Acco. The Kibbutz was founded shortly after the war ended by members of Dror Movement and other movements who fought in the uprising. There is a beautiful museum there that MBI had the privilege to tour.
The first of two exhibits they saw was called, "Resistance In The Holocaust." Here they learned in depth about the struggle of the Dror Ghetto Fighters and how the Movement played a crucial role in organizing the battle against the Nazis.
The second they saw was, "Children In The Holocaust." Here they have an entire room dedicated to Janus Korczak. Korczak had an orphanage in Warsaw and hid many children there during the war until tragically, he and the children were taken away to camps.
After touring the exhibits MBI had a tekes (ceremony) outside the museum. The tekes featured a few songs, poems and was was in honor of Chavka Folman Raban, a former courier between the ghettos and those who established the Kibbutz. He was a great friend to Habonim Dror recently who passed away this year,
After their time at the museum they toured the city of Akko and learned about the history of the old city there. They also discussed the Arab-Jewish relations in the city since there were riots in 2008. Following the tour they had some time in the Shuk (market) and then drove to the nearby Shlomi Youth Hostel where they will be located until they leave Israel on Thursday morning.
At the tekes after museum
Saturday, August 2, 2014
Final Day of Kibbutz Rotation and Last Shabbat
On the last day of the Kibbutz rotation kvutza Kinneret and Arava stayed on Kibbutz and spent time with their madrichim bonding and learning together. They also mixed in a little pool time. Kvutza Dan and Negev participated in the Kibbutz seminar day, where they toured Kibbutz Deganya Bet and learned about the structures of the old Kibbutz and new one when they traveled to Kibbutz Eshbal and toured there as well. And Carmel and Harel kayaked down the Jordan river at Kibbutz Kfar Bloom.
After all of the kvutzot completed their days they left for the Ohalo youth hostel where they will spend all of Shabbat. They were very excited to be reunited, though many of them raved about the time they spent on kibbutz. Before they began Kabbalat Shabbat, they had the chance to sit with their home machanot (camps) and reflect of the last week during mishpachot. Then, after Kabbalat there was dinner and rikud (Israeli dancing)
Dan and Negev on their Kibbutz seminar.
After all of the kvutzot completed their days they left for the Ohalo youth hostel where they will spend all of Shabbat. They were very excited to be reunited, though many of them raved about the time they spent on kibbutz. Before they began Kabbalat Shabbat, they had the chance to sit with their home machanot (camps) and reflect of the last week during mishpachot. Then, after Kabbalat there was dinner and rikud (Israeli dancing)
Camp Moshava before Shabbat
Camp Gesher
Na'aleh enjoying mishpachot
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Kibbutz Rotation Continued...
Today the Kibbutz rotation continued. Kvutza Arava and Kinneret (On Kibbutz Shaar Hagolan) went kayaking at Kibbutz Kfar Blum. Kvutza Carmel and Harel (On Kibbutz Ashdot Yaakov) participated in kibbutz seminar day. They learned about the history of the kibbutzim. The seminar included a tour of Ashdot Yaakov and Kibbutz Eshbal. Dan and Negev (On Kibbutz Deganya) had a yom kvutza. Dan and Negev had a really fun biker-themed tochnit erev (evening activity) last night, and today Negev had a few art based peulot while Dan talked about Habonim values and the philosophical idea of an absolute truth.
Getting ready to kayak!
They are ready also!!
Back on Kibbutz doing art.
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Kibbutz Kvutza Rotation: Day One
Today MBI began their three day rotation while staying on three separate kibbutzim. Each pair of kvutzot staying on each kibbutz will have a chance to kayak on the Jordan River, tour their kibbutz, learn about the Kibbutz Movement, and have a yom kvutza on their kibbutz. During yom kvutza their madrichim run bonding activities and value based peulot (educational activities) for them)
Kvutza Kinneret and Arava, who are staying on Kibbutz Sha'ar Hagolan, toured their kibbutz today. They had a walking tour of the grounds where they visited the chadar ochel (dinning hall), the children's house, refet (barn) and other locations on the kibbutz. Through the tour they learned about the original Kibbutz Movement. They learned how all of the structures on kibbutz came to be through values that the chalutzim (pioneers) held close. The madrichim challenged them to then think about the institutions they have at machaneh (camp) and the structures they implement every summer to resemble the kibbutz and to adopt the values of the chalutzim.
Talking about kibbutz life.
Learning about kibbutz structures.
For kvutzot Negev and Dan, it was there chance to kayak at Kibbutz Kfar Bloom down the Jordan. After the rush of kayaking ended and they were back on land, a pizza lunch awaited them. Afterward they had an afternoon of activities with their kvutza back at the guest house on Kibbutz Deganya
Carmel and Harel had their yom kvutza today. The yom kvutza the most relaxed day of the three in the rotationhey. Both kvutzot had chugim (interest groups) run for them. They had the option of learning about the Scottish Revolution, Israeli Literature, Kiyum Meshutaf (shared existene in Israel), and journal writing. All four of them enjoyed the pool later on, and bonding activities run for them by their madrichim.
Harel enjoying time on kibbutz.
With madricha masa (tour guide) Anat.
Kvutza Kinneret and Arava, who are staying on Kibbutz Sha'ar Hagolan, toured their kibbutz today. They had a walking tour of the grounds where they visited the chadar ochel (dinning hall), the children's house, refet (barn) and other locations on the kibbutz. Through the tour they learned about the original Kibbutz Movement. They learned how all of the structures on kibbutz came to be through values that the chalutzim (pioneers) held close. The madrichim challenged them to then think about the institutions they have at machaneh (camp) and the structures they implement every summer to resemble the kibbutz and to adopt the values of the chalutzim.
Afterward they had some much needed pool time (it was really hot there today). In the afternoon they visited Kibbutz Eshbal, a modern kibbutz that is not privatized. The Kibbutz is run entirely by members of Hanoar Haoved. Tamir, MBI's techni (technical director) lives there and showed the group around the boarding school that is based on the Kibbutz where he is a teacher. He explained to them how the boarding school came to be and about the demographics of the chanichim (students) enrolled. Many of the students are Ethiopians who come from underprivileged backgrounds. They come to the school for an alternative schooling because things were not working out for them in the schools where they were originally enrolled. The boarding school and where they go to school during the week is entirely run by HD's sister movement Hanoar Haoved and based in Karmiel.
Learning with Tamir about his kibbutz.
For kvutzot Negev and Dan, it was there chance to kayak at Kibbutz Kfar Bloom down the Jordan. After the rush of kayaking ended and they were back on land, a pizza lunch awaited them. Afterward they had an afternoon of activities with their kvutza back at the guest house on Kibbutz Deganya
Carmel and Harel had their yom kvutza today. The yom kvutza the most relaxed day of the three in the rotationhey. Both kvutzot had chugim (interest groups) run for them. They had the option of learning about the Scottish Revolution, Israeli Literature, Kiyum Meshutaf (shared existene in Israel), and journal writing. All four of them enjoyed the pool later on, and bonding activities run for them by their madrichim.
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Givat Haviva Seminar Day
Today the group traveled to the Givat Haviva Seminar Center which is located Northeast of Hadera. Givat Haviva is an organization that, "...aims to build an inclusive, socially cohesive society in Israel by engaging divided communities in collective action towards the advancement of a sustainable, thriving Israeli democracy based on mutual responsibility, civic equality and a shared vision of the future." One of the main ways they do this is by running seminars, like they did for our chanichim today, that challenge their views of the Arab-Israeli conflict from multiple angles.
When they arrived, each bus was designated their own madrichim (guides) that led a lecture about the conflict. The lecture differed from what the MBIers had previously experienced on our program. This time, the madrichim spoke about the history through different stories of individual experiences from both sides. Most of the narratives shared with the group were from those who live in the neighboring villages. It's important to understand because the seminar center is located right near the green line border, separating Israel from the West Bank where historically tensions have been high.
Then, all of MBI then came together for a lecture from an Amir, an Arab-Israeli. He told the group about his experience as an Arab Israeli. He focused on the discrimination in regards to the amount of public funding there is for Arab schools in Israel and the discrimination he faces in the job market. He told MBI that while he is proud of his Israeli citizenship, he identifies as a Palestinian.
They then left the building and went to an area that overlooks the Palestinian village of Barta'a. What is especially compelling about the village is that the green line border runs right through the town. To make things more complicated, the separation barrier that separates Israel from the West Bank runs behind the village placing the village within Israel. The Palestinian Authority still has governmental control over the village, but doesn't have much access to it physically because of the wall. This makes running the city extremely difficult for the Palestinians. The consensus among the chanichim was that it was interesting to see how the conflict and borders actually affects peoples lives. This seminar gave them many examples of this on both sides.
After their visit they were split by kvutzot and left for the kibbutzim where they will stay for the next three days. There will be two kvutzot on each of the following Kibbutzim: Deganya Bet, Ashdot Ya'akov, Sha'ar Hagolan. I will be sending out an email following this post with a document attached that shows who is in each kvutza and where they are staying the next three days.
When they arrived at the kibbutzim they all went to the pool and later had a peulah where they processed what they had learned today. They finished the day by reading a speech given by Yitzhak Rabin to Hanoar Haoved (the movement he was a part of growing up) about the importance for the youth to push for peace.
Their lecture from Amir.
Bus 3 got to pose with a couple taking wedding photos along the way.
When they arrived, each bus was designated their own madrichim (guides) that led a lecture about the conflict. The lecture differed from what the MBIers had previously experienced on our program. This time, the madrichim spoke about the history through different stories of individual experiences from both sides. Most of the narratives shared with the group were from those who live in the neighboring villages. It's important to understand because the seminar center is located right near the green line border, separating Israel from the West Bank where historically tensions have been high.
Then, all of MBI then came together for a lecture from an Amir, an Arab-Israeli. He told the group about his experience as an Arab Israeli. He focused on the discrimination in regards to the amount of public funding there is for Arab schools in Israel and the discrimination he faces in the job market. He told MBI that while he is proud of his Israeli citizenship, he identifies as a Palestinian.
They then left the building and went to an area that overlooks the Palestinian village of Barta'a. What is especially compelling about the village is that the green line border runs right through the town. To make things more complicated, the separation barrier that separates Israel from the West Bank runs behind the village placing the village within Israel. The Palestinian Authority still has governmental control over the village, but doesn't have much access to it physically because of the wall. This makes running the city extremely difficult for the Palestinians. The consensus among the chanichim was that it was interesting to see how the conflict and borders actually affects peoples lives. This seminar gave them many examples of this on both sides.
After their visit they were split by kvutzot and left for the kibbutzim where they will stay for the next three days. There will be two kvutzot on each of the following Kibbutzim: Deganya Bet, Ashdot Ya'akov, Sha'ar Hagolan. I will be sending out an email following this post with a document attached that shows who is in each kvutza and where they are staying the next three days.
When they arrived at the kibbutzim they all went to the pool and later had a peulah where they processed what they had learned today. They finished the day by reading a speech given by Yitzhak Rabin to Hanoar Haoved (the movement he was a part of growing up) about the importance for the youth to push for peace.
On the green line tour.
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