Thanksgiving in Israel!

When It hit me that Thanksgiving in Israel meant I was not going to get to be at home with my family and grandparents in Texas, I got really sad. So I decided that while it is not done every year, this year OTZMA needed to have a really great Thanksgiving celebration. So about two weeks ago a few of us started to plan thanksgiving, starting with the invitations.

As you can see on the invitation, the thanksgiving meal was not the only festivity of the day. In addition to dinner, we decided (per demand of many of the boys) to have a big football game. I'm sure it surprises no one that I was really excited for this part of the day. In fact, I even told Abby (who came to Thanksgiving with me, which thankfully also made the day feel more like home) that she had to come the night before so she could play in the football game. However I did not know what I was getting myself into. When about a dozen of us showed up to play (with another half dozen spectators
on the sidelines), the boys decided we were playing full on tackle football. Now while I have often joked around with friends that we should play tackle football, I have never actually played (and especially not with large boys...men?). But we began to play tackle football, and it was really fun. While I definitely got thrown to the ground a few times, I still had a great time. And abb came out as MVP! At one point a new spectator showed up and asked who was winning, and the answer was not "this team" or "that team", but simply "Abby". She evaded so many tackles and got half of our touchdowns!

Now even though I am vegetarian, having a turkey at Thanksgiving is a must. But finding a full turkey in Israel is not so simple (neither is finding an oven big enough to cook it...we only have toaster ovens in our apartments). While we ordered (yes, ordered) a turkey a week in advance at the grocery store, when we went to pick it up there was no turkey. Apparently there is currently an agricultural strike in Israel which meant that we couldn't buy a full turkey. So instead, we bought quite a few large breasts and legs. And then my future roommate, Amir, used the conservative shul's oven to cook the turkey. And props to Amir, I heard the turkey was incredible! In fact all of the food was incredible. The meal was potluck, and with 35 people there were a lot of really great dishes. Some of the dishes were sweet potatoes with marshmallows, green beans, stuffing, mashed potatoes, onion and garlic potatoes, rice and veggies, knishes, stuffed mushrooms, pea soup, and butternut squash soup. Plus, we had a few pies and some chocolate balls for dessert. Needless to say, I was really impressed with the cooking ability of my new family.

During the meal, we all went around and said what we were most thankful for. Most people said they were thankful for having a new family in Israel since we were all really missing home. And I have to agree, it was really nice to be able to come together and create whatever kind of homely feeling we could. And since we don't have cold weather, it hasn't really felt like thanksgiving. So in order to combat the weather (and lack of holiday decorations all around Israel), we made our own decorations. A few of the girls made turkey hats, we had nice festive table clothes, construction paper leaves on the tables, and some small candles to set the mood. Needless to say, we turned a once dreary room into a festive room.

GO BLUE TONIGHT AGAINST OSU!!!

Love you all,
Jenn

Upside of no fall? Running outside at the end of November

Recently many OTZMAniks have been missing the fall season. While most of us look forward to changing leaves and crisp cool fall air during fall, this year we haven’t even seen cold weather in Ashkelon. While it’s disappointing to miss something I have gotten used to over the past five years, the upside is that it is warm enough to go running outside. For the past few weeks, I have been running 5-6 times a week. While I started by only running a mile, recently I have been either running 1.75 miles or 2.4 miles (depending on the day). It’s been really nice to be able to get outside and be active as I sit inside all morning learning Hebrew. Hopefully I continue to run in the next few phases of my program so that come Spain at the end of December I will be in shape like the rest of my family.

Not much else to report. I am looking forward to OTZMA’s version of thanksgiving on Thursday. While it will not be my normal thanksgiving at home in Texas with my family (including my grandparents), hopefully it will feel a little like home. I will definitely write about it next week.
Hope all is well in the states.

I survived driving a car in Tel Aviv...

Sorry it has been so long. I have no excuse for not writing sooner. I guess I shall start at the beginning.

My day to day life:
Sunday through Thursday (except Monday) I have Ulpan (Hebrew Class) from 8:30 am - 1:30 pm. On Mondays, the whole group travels somewhere in Israel for an “education day”. Since I last wrote, we have had an education day that was about Israeli Politics and one about Refugees in Israel. In addition to Ulpan, I volunteer with a program called Atidim on Sundays and coaching basketball on Tuesdays. On the weekends, I have been going to Tel Aviv every weekend (minus maybe two or three).
Atidim is a program set in place for children who come from hard backgrounds and have a difficult home life, but that are exceptionally bright and have the potential to do well academically. The program provides extra tutoring for these kids 8 hours a week. For 1.5 of these hours, two other OTZMAnikim and I put together a fun activity completely in English to help them realize English is more than just boring grammar. For instance, this week we did “human bingo” and “categories”. Next week we are planning an activity to help teach them slang.
On Tuesdays my volunteer activity is “coaching” girls basketball. Really, I just practice with the girls and since they are 13 and 14 year olds they think I am an extraordinary player. I get to run around and help them learn easy techniques such as picks and zone defense. It is really fun and gets me back on the court. Plus, they love having Americans around. Its funny how they think we (the OTZMAnikim) are so cool just because we are American. But I can’t complain, since it makes my job of connecting with them much easier.

Education Days: Israeli Politics and Refugees in Israel
During the Israeli politics day we began by doing an activity introducing us to the 12 different Israeli political groups. After a brief introduction to the groups, we met with the Editor in Chief of the Jerusalem Post (one of the largest English newspapers in Israel). The last speaker was a woman from the Israel Religious Action Center who spoke to us about how Israel deals with “Freedom from Religion” and “Freedom for Religion”. While the day was just a very brief overview, it was a needed overview as my knowledge on Israeli politics is very limited.

Our refugee education day started by visiting the Rigozin Elementary School in Tel Aviv (which happens to be the school where Abby interns) where we learned about the children of foreign workers and how the government is treating them. This is currently a hot topic in Israel, especially at the Rigozin Elementary School where many of the children could be deported due to their parent’s status as foreign workers. The principal of the school took an interesting stance on the subject. She stated that if the government doesn’t want immigrant workers to stay in the country after they have children, it needs to enact a law ordering them to leave. However since the Israeli government has not yet made an effective law, it needs to take responsibility and allow the current children (some who have spent their entire lives in Israel as Israelis) to stay in Israel. After leaving the school, we took a tour of south Tel Aviv, where the population no longer looks like Jews but instead like a piece of Africa. Lead by our tour guide from Africa Refugee Development Center (ARDC), we learned about African refugees from Eritrea, Sudan, Etheopia, etc. Since 2006, Israel has only given refugee status to 9 people, while there are currently 26,000 refugees in Israel (10,000 of which have come to the country since January 2010). Without giving refugee status to these tens of thousands of people, the refugees are unable to work, which therefore has a negative trickling affect on their lives. Overall the day was extremely informative and showed me a whole other side of Tel Aviv.

My Trip to the Golan:
This past weekend I took a trip up to the Golan area with Abby. I took Thursday off as a vacation day and we rented a car for the weekend. Since I am 23 (and she is only 22), I was given the exiting task of having to drive the car. At first it was quite scary to drive around Tel Aviv with the crazy Israeli drivers, but I got used to it and it was super fun. Who knew I could survive that?

Anyway, we headed up north on Thursday and went to stay with an Israeli family Abby knows from camp who lives on a moshav in the Golan. For those who don’t know a Moshav is similar to a Kibbutz, but is basically a community of people who live together and normally produce some sort of agricultural product. On the moshav we watched a beautiful sunset, kicked around a soccer ball, had some great food, and even when off-roading in the father’s truck. The next morning we woke up early and drove to the Yehudia hiking trail.

This trail was supposed to be difficult and take us 6 hours, but Abby and I completed it in 3.5 hours! While the trail was not very difficult, it was fun. There was a section in it where you climb down a 25 foot ladder to a freezing cold spring that you must swim across to the land on the other side. While the spring is only 20 meters, it is extremely cold and you have to carry your bag on top of your head in order to try and keep all of your belongings dry.

After the spring, we continued hiking to the “heavenly waterfalls” where Abby and I “cliff” jumped off an 8 foot cliff.

After hiking, we drove to Haifa for dinner. While we planned on staying in a hostile in Haifa for the night, we came across complications and ended up heading back to Tel Aviv for bed on Friday night. However, since we weren’t in Haifa on Saturday, we took a “day trip” to Jaffa (only 45 minutes away by foot) to explore the area a bit. Overall, it was a great weekend trip!


More to come soon, I promise to write more frequently now.

Sukkot Hike and Acceptance to Madiso

During Sukkot I had a 10 day vacation from OTZMA programming. The first few days of the vacation I spent doing a very popular hike in Israel called Yam El Yam (Sea to Sea) which is a four day hike from the Mediterranean Sea to the Sea of Galilee. I went on the hike with four other friends (Nikki, Tracy, Vlad, and Michael). In order to prepare for the hike, we all went to the shuk (outdoor market, kind of like a farmer’s market) and bought lots of nuts and dried fruit to create a trail mix and some peanut butter and bread for sandwiches. Since none of us are true hiking specialists, we were somewhat nervous about making it safely on the correct trail across the country. Nikki and I bought a trail map and a compass and read as many blogs as we could in order try and decipher what the “sea to sea” hike actually entailed. Little was written in English, but after talking to a lot of people we thought we had some idea of where we were heading. So on Friday morning we set out each with a large backpacking bag filled with 6 liters of water, food, sleeping bags, a first aid kit, and limited clothing and started on the hike.

On day 1 we made our way to Ma’alot. We were having a great day but realized near the end that we were unsure if our ending location had a place to refill our water so Nikki, Vlad, and I  decided to hike out of the valley to go refill water. After our 2 hour detour that took us not only up the trail and out of the valley but also 3 kilometers down a road to a kibbutz where we used the dining hall’s bathroom to refill our bottles, we headed back on track with the remaining members of our group. When we finally reached Ma’alot we were exhausted and sunset was upon us so we had to quickly find a place to set up camp. However, we were literally in a suburb and didn’t know of any campgrounds so Vlad and I approached a random house and rung the doorbell to ask if we could sleep in the driveway of the home. The mother of the household answered and told us that we could sleep in the backyard. It turns out the family had three sons (a 4 year old, 12 year old, and 15 year old). The family was way to kind and brought us platters of fruit, coffee, and even small mattresses to sleep on. Before going to bed we all played with the youngest son and Nikki played guitar with the 12 year old. 

The next morning after a really interesting 2-hour conversation with the father, we headed back down into the valley (which we had to hike out of to sleep in Ma’alot) and began our day. However once we were back in the valley we were told by a park ranger that the trail ended for 10 kilometers and that the only way to get to the start of the next trail head was to hike BACK our of the valley (now for a third time) and hitch hike to the start of the trail. Since we refused to hitch hike, we decided to hike out of the valley and walk along the road for close to 15 kilometers. With most of it being uphill, by the time the sun was setting we were still 5 miles away from a campground and could not go any further. So, we stopped at a popular Druze restaurant and once again found a very nice Israeli who said we could sleep in his backyard. However, he lived in one of the villages we had walked through that day so being driven back to his home was defeating to say the least. This time instead of sleeping in the backyard, the man we were staying with said he would be much more comfortable if we slept inside in his yoga room. So, we headed inside and slept on the floor of his yoga room. 

The final morning we got up and hiked back towards Ma’alot and started along a trail. The trail that morning was beautiful as we walked on rocks right along a small stream. About an hour into the trail we found a dog, which we later named Spots, who followed us the rest of the day. 

After hiking for five hours (at about 10:30 am) we arrived at the bottom of Mount Meron (the highest mountain in Israel). At this point, Tracy was struggling and said she was unable to hike the remaining six hours up and down the mountain to the next campsite. Since Tracy didn’t have a phone at the time and speaks little to no Hebrew, Nikki and I decided to take her back to civilization via the bus. While we didn’t necessarily finish the hike, I enjoyed a great three days of hiking with my friends. That being said, I plan on redoing the hike again (without all the extra hurdles) so I can finish the hike.

After the hike, I went to Tel Aviv and spent a week with Abby. Abby is currently on a 5 month program called Career Israel in which she is completing an internship in Israel. It was really great to get to spend time with Abby and see her part of Tel Aviv. We went and dined at great restaurants, went to the dog park near her home, went to the beach, went for walks around the city and played a lot of shesh besh (or what Americans call backgammon). Overall, it was a great Sukkot break. 

 

On a different note, I received an email yesterday that officially accepted me to not only the University of Wisconsin’s PhD program, but also to Enid Montague’s lab. I am very excited to start at Madison in Fall 2011. While it was very likely that I would be accepted to the program again this year, there was no guarantee. It is really nice to finally know for sure that I will be attending The University of Wisconsin next year.

Sending all my love home,
Jenn

Yom Kippur In Jerusalem

This past weekend we went to Jerusalem for Yom Kippur. While Friday was spent in seminars regarding the Yom Kippur, Saturday was given to us to explore the city and attend services (if we so desired).

Throughout the day on Friday we had three seminars (with food in between, of course). For each seminar we were given two options of lectures. Since all of the options seemed interesting, choosing was a serious dilemma.  However once I finally chose, I was not let down.

My favorite of the three seminars was one entitled, "Jonah: The "Art" of Prophecy" given by Rabbi Matt Berkowitz. In this seminar we dissected the Torah portion about Jonah (which is read on Yom Kippur afternoon) through artwork. Rabbi Matt started by showing us a piece of artwork by David Moss where he depicts each verse of the story of Abraham through the use of colors and shapes. After looking at the story of Abraham, we then created our own story of Jonah in a similar fashion.

Moss's artwork works as a scroll with the first section being the top photos seen here. In this initial frame, Moss presents a key that shows what each color represents. For instance, blue is God, white is Abraham, red is Isaac, and brown is land. After this frame, he then goes on to show each verse as a new picture. In the clip I have chosen (as seen in the second photo above), Abraham is taking Isaac to the mountain and they are climbing up it. As you see the white circles (Abraham) are going with the blue triangle (God) up the brown (land) mountain and at the top of the mountain is white (Abraham) and red (Isaac). I found this artwork extremely cool and was really excited to create our own version for the story of Jonah. We gave our scroll to one of the OTZMA staff who said she would scan it for us, so once we are given an electronic version of it I will post it as well. However, if you are interested in seeing Moss's full work you can find it at http://www.davidmoss.com/category.aspx?id=39&subcategory=87&page=0

Friday night after our last dinner (Seudah Mafseket), I went with about a dozen people to Kol Nidre services at Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem.  First off, the services were beautiful. However, even more than that, it was incredible to be in an English speaking service with a to die for view. The Bima was located in front of a wall full of windows that overlooked the old city. To make it even better, during Kol Nidre the sun set and we were able to watch a beautiful sunset over the old city of Jerusalem. Needless to say, the service was an incredible experience.

After sleeping in on Saturday, a few friends and I took a walk to the old city and walked through a dead city. The beauty of Jerusalem during Yom Kippur is that there is not a single car on the road so everyone walks (and bikes) in the streets. There are tons of little kids biking around and families walking to and from shul, however absolutely no cars. It is quite a site to see.

Anyways, it was an incredible weekend but now I am back in Ashkelon and need to go study for a quiz tomorrow in Ulpan.

Hope everyone had a great Yom Kippur.

GO BLUE!
Jenn 

First Few Weeks...Long Overdue

Upon first arriving to Israel, I met the 35 other OTZMA participantsn Jerusalem and had a quick meeting before immediately heading to a beautiful overlook where we broke bread and had a glass of wine with our madrichim (staff) to welcome us to Israel.

After seeing the beautiful city we went to a Bedouin tent for the night where we road camels and had some delicious food! The next few days continued with hikes at Ein Gedi and in the south, along with going to the dead sea and getting to know each other. 

About a week into the program, we moved to our new home in Ashkelon. Ashkelon is a beautiful little town about 50 minutes south of Tel Aviv. Our home in Ashkelon is a Mercaz Klita (Absorption Center) called Beit Canada. I live with three other girls in a one bedroom apartment and while it may seem small to some, I love it. We have our own kitchen and everyone gets to live together in one building. And to top it off, we are only four blocks from the yam (beach). The beach is really nice and a great way to relax at the end of the day (if we have time). 

A little about my days... I have Ulpan (Hebrew Class) from 8:30-1:30 during the week and then volunteering in the afternoon. Since most of our individual volunteering opportunities haven't started yet, we have been doing quite a bit of group volunteering. We have volunteered a lot at the absorption center where we live. The absorption center is mainly filled with Ethiopian families who have recently immigrated with small children. The children are adorable and we have gotten the opportunity to throw parties and carnivals with them. They are really outgoing and super excited anytime we get to hang out with them.

In addition to volunteering at the absorption center, one day we helped deliver fresh fruits and vegetables to poorer families for Rosh Hashannah. We are also currently painting apartments around Ashkelon.

When we are not volunteering we have had some incredible guest lecturers who have talked about topics such as Israeli Arabs, Israeli Culture, Shlichot, Rosh Hashannah, and Volunteering Jewishly. The lectures to this point have been great and I'm really excited to see what is still to come. This weekend we are heading to Jerusalem for an educational weekend. I am really excited to be in Jerusalem during Yom Kippur as I have heard the city shuts down and that it is an incredible cite to see. Plus, we have some great lectures lined up for us and the overall experience should be inspiring. 

As for now, I must go study some Hebrew or my Ulpan teacher, Nana, will not be thrilled with me. These updates should start to come more frequently now that we are settled. 

Sending all my love home,

Jenn

Pre Trip Information

Hey all...Welcome to my blog. Hopefully my writing skills will be decent enough that this will be enjoyable :). I plan on posting somewhat regularly with pictures and little anecdotes about my adventure.

However, before I even start my journey I wanted to provide a few pieces of information. First off, before I even get to Israel I will be spending 12 hours in London on a layover. One of my buddies from camp, Eli, is on my flight and we are planning on seeing as much of the city as we can in our short time. It's my first trip to Europe so I am so pumped to get to walk around London and see touristy sites such as Big Ben and Buckingham Palace.

Once I arrive in Israel, I will be spending my first week of the trip on an orientation outside of Jerusalem (so grandma and grandpa don't get worried if you don't hear from me for a week). During the week the entire group will be hiking, celebrating shabbat, walking around, and hopefully learning more about the exciting adventure we are all embarking on.

After the orientation (on the 30th) the group will be heading to our new home at an assimilation center in Ashkelon. I've heard great things about Ashkelon...it's on a beach...beautiful city...lots of young families. Ashkelon is located on the Mediterranean Sea about an hour south of Tel Aviv and a little over an hour southwest of Jerusalem. I'm really excited to see the city as I don't think I have ever visited on previous trips.

Lastly, I wanted to give everyone my contact information. In terms of my Israeli cell phone, if you are calling from the states the number is 011972503123680. If you are calling me from Israel the number is 0503123680. As always, I will be checking email (jperchonok@gmail.com) and using skype (account name: jperchonok) as often as I can.

Love you all,
Jenn/Jenny/Jenneth