Back in Indiana, Missing Israel

Shalom friends!
It sure feels weird writing a blog post from America. I have been home for a week now and I am still having trouble adjusting to the American lifestyle. I miss Israel very much and I keep reminiscing about the past four months.

The final week of TRY was busy and exciting. Even though it was the final week, I didn't feel like I was going home until I saw my family at baggage claim in O’Hare airport. For our final tiyul, we went up North to the Golan and Galil. It was a gorgeous three days. The first day we went to the Mitzvah Hashalom (Peace Vista) where we had a beautiful view of the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee). It's hard to remember everything we did and every place we went now. But I do remember that we went on a nice walk/hike at the Gilbon Stream Nature Reserve where we saw a gorgeous rainbow in the waterfall. We also got to go shopping at the Naot shoe factory and visit a memorial for the 73 soldiers who were killed in a helicopter collision in 1997. I found our visit to Kibbutz Misgav Am very interesting. The kibbutz shares a perimeter with South Lebanon. From the kibbutz you can easily see the homes from which rockets were fired during the Second Lebanon War. Being so close to the border really makes you realize how close Israel is to its enemies, and how quickly another war could begin. The final day we woke up early to experience the sunrise on Mount Arbel followed by a nice hike. Our last stop we went to a water park on the Kinneret.

When we got back to the Chava Thursday afternoon, we had to start packing and cleaning up the dorms. Thursday evening was the last time to go to Ben Yehuda and hang out. Ben Yehuda became so familiar, it was sad leaving not knowing when I would be going back. It took a looong time to pack, as the dorms were disgusting. Our final Shabbat we spent together on the Chava. On Saturday night we had to finish packing and had the final party. Everyone stayed up most of the night hanging out for the last time. Sunday we had our last day tiyul and went to Mount Herzl, the Kotel, and had a closing ceremony on Mount Scopus - the same place we had our first ceremony.

After the final dinner we headed to the airport for a 1 A.M. flight. The next twenty-four hours were filled with many tears and hugs. I didn’t think I was going to be so upset leaving, but it was very hard saying goodbye to some of my good friends I made, and I am still having a difficult time adjusting to American life. Now I am home and still reminiscing about the past four months. I can’t believe it has been a full semester; everything here is just like when I left. American living is so different than Israel, and I feel so much more comfortable in Israel. While I am stuck here for at least another year, I know Israel will be there for me in the near future. I hope you all enjoyed my blog and learned a little bout Israel at the same time. It is an extraordinary country and I seriously urge each and every one of you to visit the land. As the famous poet Yehuda Halei once wrote, “My heart is in the East, and I am at the ends of the West.”

Shalom until my next journey,

Hannah

Last Post from Israel!

שלום שלום
(As the security guard always says)

Wow! When I was thinking of a title for this post, it hit me that this is probably my last post written from Israel!! Today is May 22nd and I am of course with Bri and Sheli in Modi'in! But, I will get to that later. This past week has been pretty stressful with finals and I am also an editor of the yearbook so I have A LOT to do by Sunday evening and I don't really know how it all is going to get done...

Last Sunday and Monday were the final day of classes. Even though I should have been completely focused and glad I had time to study, it also was a somewhat boring week. And, I am someone who hates not being busy all the time (just ask my parents). Tuesday was the ICC final. The test took me 5 hours! Even though it was long, I didn't really mind much because Israel's history and current events are what I found so interesting. I can easily say that my ICC course has been the most rewarding of all my academic courses. It has inspired me to continue learning about Israel.

Tuesday evening we celebrated Erev Shavuot. Before this year, I had no idea what you did on Shavuot or what was being celebrated. I know now that Shavuot celebrates the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai and is the second major pilgrimmage festival to the Kotel (other pilgrammages include Pesach and Sukkot). You are supposed to study Torah all night, eat a lot of dairy, then pray early in the morning . We had dinner together, then starting at 10 P.M. we had study sessions till 3 A.M. at which time we walked to the Kotel. It was really neat to be walking at such a hour with many other people who had the same destination. Once we got to the Old City, the sun was rising and with a bunch of others (many American's from different programs) had Shacharit at Robinson's Arch. We then went to the Kotel, which was very crowded, and the mechitza(separation of men and women) was extended, keeping women from using bathrooms on the other side of the men's section. The Chabad was passing out little bags with cakes for everyone. We then headed back to the Chava and stopped on the way at a park for breakfast. Exhausted, we slept all day until dinner and then had a Peulah for Shavuot in which we had to make a Torah out of food provided for us (like Ironchef). My group's Torah was not very good, but it tasted delicious. Once Shavuot was over around 8:15 P.M., we had a short free night and I went to Ben Yehuda with several friends.

Unfortuanetly, my whole sleep schedule was really screwed up from Shavuot and I was up all night. But I am so used to the lack of sleep it isn't a huge deal. Thursday I had my math final and had a recheck exam at the ear doctor, which was pretty pointless, then had some free time on Ben Yehuda. It was so different during the day! Many more stores were open and the streets had completely different vibes! I loved being out in Israel during the day rather than being stuck on the chava.

After a very long week, I was so excited for Friday afternoon to come to see Sheli! We had a wonderful day in Tel Aviv. We walked around the Tel Aviv shuk and the Nachlet Binyamin, which has a ton of art vendors. I love the shuk in Jerusalem, but this shuk was even better!! I could spend so much more time in this area! There is so much to do!! I was waiting for Friday evening all week. We went to see Batsheva Dance Company (my absolute favorite dance company)!!! It was amazing! I wish it never ended! Now it's Saturday and we are going to explore Tel Aviv some and return to the Chava tomorrow morning.

This next week we have a couple days of finals, although I am pretty much done. Then we head up north for our final tiyul in the Galilee and Golan. I will talk more about this in my next post, which will probably be done from Crown Point, Indiana!


שלום שלום
חנה

Article I wrote for ZimZoom Magazine

I was so excited to have a chance to write an essay regarding my feelings for Jerusalem for ZimZoom, a magazine distributed to Jewish day schools and Hebrew schools. Here it is minus photos:

Hannah Katz, an 11th grader from Crown Point, Indiana, is in Israel for the spring semester on a program called Tichon Ramah Yerushalayim (TRY- the Ramah Jerusalem High School). The program includes regular school classes like English, math and science, and also trips around Israel, Hebrew classes, and a course on the history of the land of Israel. On the occasion of Yom Yerushalayim, which celebrates Israel’s reunification with Jerusalem’s Old City in the War of 1967, we asked Hannah to explain what the Old City means to her.

Old City, New Connection
By Hannah Katz

Ever since my first trip to Israel when I was 13, the Old City has given me an indescribable chill. For most of humankind, the Old City is one of the holiest places in the world. For Jews, in particular, the Kotel symbolizes Jewish persistence and survival for thousands of years.

For as long as I can remember my family has said, “next year in Jerusalem,” and as we spin the dreidel on Chanukah we say, “Nes Gadol Haya Sham: A great miracle happened there.” Now I am actually there, in Jerusalem, for four months. Living and studying here, I feel a new relationship with the Old City for several reasons. Some of these include my new feelings of my role as a Jew, an increased appreciation for the state of Israel, and my growing knowledge of the history of our people.

Thanks to my coursework here, I was able to walk through the City of David and understand who King David was and how he conquered Jerusalem 3000 years ago. Now when I stand outside the Old City walls, I am able to visualize how David and his troops conquered the city, and how 300 years later King Chezekiah and his troops dug the underground tunnels to provide water for Jerusalem. By walking through the tunnel like Chezekiah’s men, rather than just reading about it, I felt a part of our history.

As I visit the Old City of Jerusalem, I think about how sad our Jewish brethren must have felt when they were forced to leave the city during the War of Independence in 1948. I cannot imagine the Jewish homeland without access to the Old City. However, I also feel the joy that our troops must have felt when they reconquered the city during the Six-Day War in 1967. Despite all odds, Israel defeated Egypt, Jordan, and Syria and regained Jerusalem. During my first trip to the Kotel, I had the opportunity to see IDF soldiers being inducted into the army. I stood in wonderment as each soldier received his rifle and Tanach. This ceremony truly made me realize the situation of Israel and how important it is to protect our homeland.

At home in Indiana where I am the only Jew in my school, I often feel alone and out of place, but as I stand in the Old City surrounded by Jews from all over the world, I feel united and at home. When I kiss the Kotel today, I do not just feel like I am kissing some ancient wall; I feel a connection to the land, people, and country that I never felt before.
ZimZoom 13

Only Two Weeks Left

שלום חברים!

Sorry I have not posted for a couple of weeks! As usual I have had little time to sit down, yet alone asleep. But I guess by this time I should be used to the lack of sleep! I am going to try and remember everything that has been going on! On top of everything else, I once again have a really bad ear infection! It has been very hard to function and get work done in school. I finally got to go to an ear specialist this past week, and I think after about three weeks it is beginning to clear up. I will be glad to go to my ear doctor back home who knows my history.

I also have been loving ICC because we are now into current events and issues of Israel all of which I find so interesting! Aside from general studies on Tuesday we went to Ammunition Hill, which was the key battle in the fight for Jerusalem during the Six-Day War in 1967. It was a very sad place in memory of the soldiers who lost their lives to regain Jerusalem from Jordan. I wish we could have spent more time there; definitely one of the places I will visit again. There we also heard a left-wing speaker give his views and ideas of the future (I won't go into detail on my opinion of what he had to say).

On Thursday we went into Judea and Samaria (West Bank) to Gush Etzion and Efrat. Gush Etzion includes four Israeli settlements which were all destroyed in the War of Independence in 1948 by Jordanian forces and reestablished after 1967. We then walked on a part of the Patriarch's Road to help understand the ancient religious and biblical significance of Judea and Samaria. We went to the settlement of Efrat, where we heard a right-wing speaker who represented a conservative approach to the Arab-Israeli conflict. I really enjoyed the speaker and his ideals. Our final stop of the day was at the Tayalet Goldman from which you can see the separation barrier and discussed the security and diplomatic consequences of the barrier policy.

On the evening of Tuesday, May 4, we had the opportunity to go to a Hapoel Yerushalayim basketball game. Even though I'm not into basketball, it was interesting to see the difference in Israeli basketball. The fans have a lot more spirit and sing the whole time.

This past Shabbat the group was divided between host families in Efrat and Ashkelon. I went to Ashkelon. We went to different homes in pairs, but went to shul and meals together. The teens from Ashkelon were very nice and fairly secular. During free time on Saturday I went with a couple other girls to one of the host's father's jewelry store in the mall. It was cool because the mall was closed, yet we got to go in and I got a couple more ear piercings!

We headed back to Jerusalem Saturday evening. Sunday and Monday were general studies days. Tuesday afternoon we heard from a Palestinian who told us his opinions about Israel and the conflict. Then we toured the Supreme Court and the Knesset (Israel's legislature). At the Knesset we watched part of a session and were lucky enough to hear Bibi Netanyahu (Prime Minister) speak!! Before we left we heard from a member of the Knesset, Aryeh Eldad..

Wednesday evening Jerusalem celebrated Yom Yerushalayim, which commemorates the reunification of Jerusalem and Israel control of the Old City in 1967 for the first time since the War of Independence. I could have gone to the Kotel that evening, but I went to Ben Yehuda instead. I am glad I decided not to go to the Kotel because I heard it was totally chaotic.

On Thursday rather than go on an ICC tiyul, we went to Tables to Tables, which is an organization that collects produce to give to those in need. We picked a lot of onions! In the afternoon we did a walk for Shutaf, which is a camp and afterschool program for kids with special needs as well as those without. TRY has been raising money for Shutaf for several weeks. We had a little party at the end of the walk to celebrate the money earned. Thursday evening we had a bbq for alumni of TRY and learned about what the alumni are now doing in Israel.

This Shabbat I am once again in Modi'in with Bri! We walked around Modi'in a bit this afternoon then went out to Bri's favorite restaurant called Zula's. It was delicious! Tomorrow we are going to make sushi then go shopping in Herzliya along the marina. I love our host Sheli! She has really become my second mom here and is an amazing person. I also have a lot of studying to do as next week is finals and I have the AP Lit exam on Friday. I will be sooooo glad when this next week is over!

That is it for now! It is hard for me to recollect all what goes on over the weeks! I'll be sure to write again once my finals and AP exam are over! Then I can finally breathe!
Lots of love!
חנה

Approaching Modern Time in Israel

Shalom Chaverim!

I just had another busy week! In ICC we are gradually approaching modern Israel history, which I find really interesting! This week we did a cultures project in which there were seven groups that had varied themes and went to different parts of Jerusalem to interview different individuals. My group visited Mea Shearim, an ultra-orthodox Haredim neighborhood. Our theme regarded serving in the Israel Defense Force. The issue of Ultra-Orthodox Jews deferring from army service is a major concern among Israeli citizens. I then created a newspaper article pertaining to this subject. Here's what I wrote:

How do the Haredim Serve the Country?
Is military duty the only way to serve Israel, or does learning Torah contribute to protecting the state as well?
This issue of whether or not Haredi men and women should serve in the Israel Defense Force has been a major issue since 1948 when Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion granted 400 Haredim deferral from military service in order to study in yeshivah full time. According to Hiddush, the total number of Haredi men who request deferrals for the sake of devoting themselves to Torah education is about 55,000(2009).
In a recent visit to Mea She'arim, I interviewed several Haredi men and women about their feelings towards serving in the army. Mea She'arim, established in 1847, is inhabited by Haredim Jews who follow strict interpretations of Jewish law, and continues to retain the flavor of an Eastern European shtetl. During my interviews I asked the Haredim if they felt they should serve in the army like all other Israeli citizens, and if not how do they feel they serve the country. Tami, a Haredi teen said she would never go into the army, and that girls in general should not serve. "I contribute by doing mitzvoth, having good morals, and studying torah." Rachel and Michal similarly felt by learning Torah they do not need to serve the country. "There are enough secular people to go to the army, it's unnecessary for Haredim to go." Both girls also felt Hashem protects Israel, not the army. All three men interviewed agreed that by learning they are helping the Jews. Jacob* said, "The army is not the place for religious Jews, and Rabbis are against it." He further stated that God saves us and keeps us alive.
While the Haredim feel they are fulfilling their duty as citizens in Israel, many people, including myself, feel their reasons are unacceptable. Such attitudes give the Haredim a bad image to the rest of the Jewish Israeli population, who serve in the IDF because it is the law and their duty. Furthermore, a large majority of the Haredim do not believe in the Israeli state, yet they receive government funding in order to study Torah all day with no income, while continuing to have many children to feed. The Tal Law, which was meant to change enlistment requirements for ultra Orthodox Jews in 2005, has proven to be a failure. So what is the answer? Do we continue to let citizens of this nation defer from the army to learn the ancient texts, while we send the rest of our youth into battle? I and the rest of the population would like to know the answer.

On Thursday we travelled to Tel Aviv and visited Independence Hall where David Ben Gurion proclaimed the existence of the modern state of Israel on May 14, 1948. In addition, we toured the Palmach Museum, a very interesting museum with multi-media presentations and learned about the state's early defenders who were instrumental in aiding ships that were trying to help Jewish refugees reach the shores of Eretz Israel after WWII and who were also essential in providing aid via convoys to Jerusalem when it was under seige in 1948.

This past Shabbat I spent a wonderful few days with my friend Bri at Sheli's home. We attempted to make dried fruit and treated ourselves to a visit to a spa (my first time to do so).

Upon returning to the Chava, most of the group attended a bonfire for Lag B Omer. I continued my studies. AP US History exam is approaching rapidly (6 days). I'll be so relieved when AP exams are over! Sadly, that won't be until May 21st.

See you in less than a month!
Love,
Hannah

Sad and Happy All in a Week!

Shalom Chaverim!

I ended my last post mentioning Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha'Atzmaut. Last Sunday (April 18th) was Erev Yom Hazikaron. For those of you who do not know, Yom Hazikaron is the national memorial day for fallen soldiers and for those who were killed in terrorist attacks. As a member of the Vad (committee) I helped plan the TRY ceremony. We all sat together and read several stories of fallen soldiers and meaningful poems. Afterwards we watched the video made by Philadelphia Jewish community in memory of Michael Levin, a lone soldier who had made aliyah to Israel, who was killed during the Second Lebanon War. While the movie was very hard to watch, I strongly recommend everyone seeing it. On Monday we went to the Chava ceremony which was dedicated to past students and staff who were killed in war or by acts of terrorism. Even though I could not understand what they were saying, seeing everyone on the campus gathered together silent and all dressed in white really made me realize the significance of this day and how nearly everyone in Israel has a family member or close friend who has been killed fighting in war or while on duty. Later in the day we went to the Underground Museum in the Russian compound in downtown Jerusalem. While originally built by the Russians, the British turned the compound into a prison for the Jewish underground fighters (also Arabs) during British control. There is a lot more interesting information about the prison which I would also like to study!

Right after Yom Hazikaron, which is basically the saddest day of the year in Israel, Yom Ha'Atmaut (Independence Day) begins. We went as a group to a transition service, which began sad and ended as a celebration. After the service, we walked to Ben Yehuda Street where the party had already begun! On the way everyone was singing and cars were honking. The atmosphere was completely different than the previous day. Ben Yehuda was a lot of fun, and I have some funny memories from that night. On Tuesday we went to a beach in Tel Aviv and had a BBQ, which every Israeli does on this day! The beach was very crowded and everyone was grilling. I don't normally like to hang out at the beach, but I had a good time collecting sea shells and getting an uncomfortable sunburn. I really encourage everyone to try and experience Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha'Atzmaut in Israel.

On Wednesday we had a normal day of classes, but then left at 1:30 A.M. for a night tiyul in the Negev near Sde Boker, which is where David Ben Gurion is buried and also where we had gone for Gadna. Although completely exhausting, it was a nice experience. I have never seen a clearer sky filled with so many stars. The purpose of this tiyul was to imagine going from darkness to light, as we and the rest of Israel had done the past few days. We walked for a couple hours and did Shacharit during sunrise. The rest of Thursday was a sorely needed rest day.

This past Shabbat I went with my friend Adiel to her great aunt's in Herzliya. We had a delicious Shabbat dinner with a bunch of her family. Saturday afternoon we went to the Tel Aviv boardwalk and walked around. After a nice lunch and ice cream in Raanana, we went to Kibbutz Shefayim for Havdalah. This kibbutz is highly commercialized and has a nice hotel and water park. At the kibbutz there was training for Israelis who are going to be counselors this summer at Jewish camps.
Sunday morning we left early to catch the Tel Aviv bus back to Jerusalem. This week I am really trying to focus on academics, especially AP classes! I am looking forward to next Shabbat as I am supposed to go to a spa with Bri!

Talk soon! Shavua Tov!

xoxo
Hannah

Time Continues to Fly By!

Shalom, friends!

Well, another week has somehow already passed! This past week has not been the happiest of weeks as it began with Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) and continued with intensive learning about the Holocaust. I was on the Yom Hashoah Vad (committee), and we organized a ceremony Sunday evening that followed the whole campus' ceremony. While it was neat to be with all the kids, the ceremony was all in Hebrew so I didn't get much out of it. During the "TRY" ceremony several kids told stories of their grandparents and other relatives who were in the Holocaust. On Monday we walked to a busy intersection to experience the siren that lasts for two minutes during which time everyone stops and gets out of their cars to commemorate the Holocaust. It was really powerful to see the whole country pause from their busy lives. On Tuesday we had a Holocaust seminar with our ICC class and watched a very disturbing documentary. On Thursday we spent the entire day at Yad Vashem. First we met with a Holocaust survivor, then went through the museum. I have been to Yad Vashem before, but had never heard from a survivor before. To say the least it was an emotional week, but I learned a lot more about the Holocaust and recognize even more how important it is to remember the Holocaust and "Never Forget".

This past Shabbat I was supposed to go to my Dad's friend Zvi's house, but I ended up getting sick and had to stay on the chava. I never get sick at home, but I have been sick several times already here. So many kids are sick all the time here and the dorms aren't the cleanest places in the world.

This upcoming week is filled with Yom Hazikaron (memorial day for fallen soldiers and those who died in terrorist attacks) and Yom Ha'Atzmaut (Israel Independence Day). I will say more about these two days next week!

Have a great week!

Shalom,
Hannah

Let Spring Begin!

Shalom

I hope everyone had a wonderful Pesach! The rest of my Pesach was spent up North with the group. After I picked up the bus in Tel Aviv on Wednesday we headed up towards the Kinneret for Yam L' Yam (Sea to Sea). Although we were technically suppose to hike from the Kinneret to the Mediterranean, we rarely saw the sea. The hike was condensed due to Shabbat. On our first day we hiked (waded) in water up to our thighs. We also helped prepare meals, as you can see by my photo. While I enjoyed hiking on Mount Meron, the evenings were pretty miserable. Even though it was hot during the day, it was freezing at night! I was not at all prepared for such cold weather, and sleeping(or lack of) in tents with only the sleeping bag they provided didn't help the situation. So, to say the least it wasn't the best three days of my life. Friday afternoon we ended our hike and headed to Kibbutz Hanaton for Shabbat and the rest of Pesach. Kibbutz Hanaton is the only conservative kibbutz in Israel and only has around twenty families. After going bankrupt several years ago, the kibbutz is now trying to rebuild itself in the Northern Galilee. I didn't really feel like I was staying on a kibbutz, but more like a close-knit community. During our stay at the kibbutz we went to the Kinneret Cemetery where the famous Hebrew poetess, Rahel, and Naomi Shemer, who wrote Yerushalyim shel Zahav, are buried. We also toured Tel Hai, which was important as an Israeli border outpost in 1918, and went kayaking. On the way back to Jerusalem on Wednesday we had "minority day" and met with Arab teens, visited a Druze village, and spent a short time at the Bai Hai Gardens in Haifa.

I was really happy to finally return to Jerusalem! While I love seeing other parts of Israel, the trips away from campus are always stressful with different roommates and so much time spent with all the kids. After three weeks away from the Chava, It felt good to get back into academics on Wednesday. On Thursday we went to Mount Herzl where we saw soldiers rehearsing for the Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) ceremony. Each unit, including the police, sends one soldier to represent its unit for the ceremony. It was really neat to see them rehearsing and setting up for the ceremony. Mount Herzl looked completely different. We also went to the multimedia museum about Theodor Herzl. In the afternoon we did a zionism project in which we discussed and learned about the different zionism movements throughout history.

This past Shabbat I went again with my friend Bri to Modi'in. First we went to the Shuk (Mahane Yehuda) Friday afternoon. It was so hectic and crowded! My Dad would have been in heaven with all the fresh breads and pastries. The rest of Shabbat I have been working on homework and AP prep. The tests are quickly approaching, and I need to do most of the prep on my own time, which I only have on Shabbat. Next week looks fairly calm with Yom HaShoah on Monday.

More to come next week!

See you all in less than two months!

Lots of Love!
חנה

Gadna and Pesach in Israel!

Shalom Chaverim!

Once again it has been a crazy couple weeks here in Israel. Time is going by way too rapidly. I can't believe I have already been here two and a half months! It is currently Tuesday, March 30th; and I am in Petah Tikvah with Avishag.

Right after we returned from our host shabbat last Sunday we went down south near Sde Boker for Gadna (army training). I have been looking forward to Gadna forever! During the week we slept in tents, ate army food, learned about the M16 rifle, and learned to take orders. Even though the program is patterned similarly to the IDF, it is nothing compared to actual army training. I really wish it would have been much more intense and physical, but then again I am not like most of the kids, who were ready to go home the first day. Since it was the week before Pesach we cleaned the kitchen and ate our last meals outside so the kitchen would be kosher for Pesach. On the final full day of "camp" we went to the shooting range. I was a bit afraid of shooting the gun a. because I am left handed, and b. because it was an actual gun!! My aim was completely off, but I feel I have more confidence now that I have used a gun. Despite my terrible aim, I am still determined to serve in the IDF, but doing something that doesn't involve guns.

We returned to Jerusalem on Thursday and after midterm evaluations and packing Avishag picked me up for Pesach break. We left for her kibbutz, Ketura (where our group stayed a few weeks ago) Friday morning and stayed until Monday morning. It was a different feeling being at the kibbutz with a family rather than as a visiting group. The little trip was pretty relaxing; we had meals with her family and spent one day in Eilat. The shopping day in Eilat was a lot of fun. Eilat is only about 20 minutes from the kibbutz. Because of the holiday, Eilat was getting very busy. Eilat doesn't have taxes so it is the place to shop! We went to the mall, boardwalk, and "Big" which is like an outside outlet mall. Later that evening we went back to Eilat for dinner with the family. On Monday we came back to Petah Tikvah and got ready for Pesach seder at Avishag's grandparents' house in Herziliya. It was weird not having the seder with my family, but it was also very nice spending it with an Israeli family. Her grandmother is a fantastic cook, and I became friends with her cousins. Today is pretty chill, but we are getting ready to go out. Tomorrow morning I meet back up with the group in Tel Aviv and we head up north for Yam L' Yam (sea to sea) for three days, then go to Kibbutz Hanaton until April 6th. I will tell more about these adventures next week!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Pesach!

Shalom,
Hannah

All Around Israel/ My Family Arrives

South to Middle to North

It's about time I caught up on my blog. I have been quite busy and find it hard to sit and work on this.
For “spring break” we took a long bus ride to Ketura, a kibbutz in the far south. (My friend, Avishag’s, family lives here). Some of our activities included a bike ride and hiking, and visiting with farm animals and camels. Kibbutz members led us in numerous activities. We also enjoyed a free night in Eilat and tried snorkeling (which sadly resulted in an ear infection for me!).

After returning from Ketura, we finally got back into the classroom. Also, my dad, mom, and brother, Philip arrived in Israel to take part in the TRY family trip. While they participated in some of the planned activities, they also spent time at Bet Shean, Herodian, Tiberius area, and Tzippori to visit “Roman” sites (all areas I hope to get a chance to see). On Tuesday, March 9, our group visited an ancient Crusader fortress at Ein Hemed. Ein Hemed, also known as Aqua Bella (Beautiful Water), is the site of a spring which was used for agriculture in the Crusader period. We then visited Ein Rafa, an Arab village outside Jerusalem, where we visited a Mosque for a discussion with their Imam (Religious Leader) about Islam.

On Thursday, March 11, we went to Tel Aviv which is in the middle of the country and toured the first neighborhood outside the walls of Yaffo, Neve Tzedek. Imagine my excitement when I looked up and saw the studio for Bat Sheva Dance Company! We then visited the Diaspora Museum at Tel Aviv University where we learned how Jewish life continued all over the world after the destruction of the Second Temple and Roman Exile. The day finished with a visit to the Port of Tel Aviv on the Mediterranean Sea.

For Shabbat, we drove to Tzfat, an ancient city in the north of Israel. Here we stayed in a youth hostel while our visiting families stayed in a hotel that had once been a post office.We attended Shabbat services at a Sephardic synagogue and toured the old city of Tzfat and learned about Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism, which developed in the 16th century. Many people today have heard of Kabbalah due to Madonna’s interest in it. After Havdalah services I said goodbye to my family, as we students took the bus back to the Chava.

That's all for now. I'll try to update soon on my midterm week and visit with Avishag and family at Petah Tikvah.

Shalom,
Hannah

Chag Sameach!

Boker Tov, friends!
Technically it's no longer morning, but I woke up at noon so it is still morning to me. I am currently spending Shabbat in Modi'in again with my friend Briana, but I will get back to that later.

Wow... this week has probably been the craziest yet, but I seem to say that every week! Last Sunday seems light years away. The week started out relatively slow and normal with classes on Sunday and Monday. Everyone was stressing out for the first major ICC test over the first two units( Prebiblical-biblical, and 2nd Temple Period). The test consisted of an intense objective section(no multiple choice or word banks!!!) with a map we had to fill in etc., and then an essay section. We were given six different essay topics to prepare for and then randomly picked two at the test to write. I had to write about the repetition of mistakes and cycle during the Judges Period(1200-1000 BCE) and about the first three kings in the United Monarchy and their good and bad attributes (Kings Saul, David, and Solomon). When I think back to my lack of knowledge of Jewish history in January to now, I feel so much more connected to Judaism and our past. After this three hour test on Tuesday, we went to the Kotel Tunnels and then the mall to shop for Purim costumes.

Back in the US I don't really celebrate Purim. We used to make hamentaschen and went to Megillah reading when I was younger but never thought much of the holiday. Well, here in Israel, Purim is a MAJOR deal. While Purim isn't technically until Sunday everywhere except Jerusalem on Monday, festivities started Wednesday. On the Chava, each school had a different theme for costumes. We were black and white. I am not one to get excited about wearing costumes, so I am just being a cat. Wednesday afternoon the whole chava had a parade then a dance in the gym, followed by more dancing in the dining hall and then a special dinner. Ready for a shocker? I actually had a good time! Most likely because I met a boy(sorry Dad). He is from the Ukraine and we somehow ended up standing by each other and he helped me learn the dances. Later in the night we lame Americans had mandatory study hall, while all the other kids had Purim break and continued to have fun. But our counselors decided to let us go to the disco for an hour. Me being the nerd I am, I was only going to go see what was going on and then work on my AP Poetry Analysis, but once I went in and everyone was dancing and having a good time, I decided to stay. The party went late into the night, but we all had to leave when everyone else was just starting to come. Nonetheless, it was the most fun I have had in a really long time, and it was so nice to forget about all the stress and just dance.

Sadly, the fun night had to come to an end eventually, and on Thursday we were up very early for a full day Tiyul. We just started the Christianity unit starting with the life and history of Jesus. We went to Ein Karem where John the Baptist was born and where Mary came while pregnant with Jesus to visit Elizabath, who was pregnant with John. Despite the rainy day, we then went to the Mount of Olives for a quick lesson about the history of the Mount. The view from the Mount was extraordinary even in the rain. Next stop was the new outdoor Mamila Mall outside the Old City. It was a nice mall, but it was very fancy and most of the stores were American. Our last stop was walking around the walls of the Old City and then seeing the location of the Last Supper.

The rest of the evening and Friday morning were spent back on the chava. Friday I had a stressful morning of classes. The pouring rain and hail didn't help the situation. I know Israel needs the rain, but it definitely wasn't fun getting soaked. My boots are still wet. After class, I left with Bri to go to Modi'in. We are having a relaxing couple days here, mostly sleeping and eating. Friday night I had a delicious meal once again followed by a scary amount of hamentaschen dough, cookies, and ice cream and then a repeat. While I feel disgusting now, it was fun at the time. Back on the chava, I run on about five hours of sleep each night and the food is not the best, so weekends like these are nice occasionally. It is now around two in the aftertoon Saturday and I need to learn my Megillah reading for Purim, even though I have absolutely no idea how! On Monday we leave for Ketura for the whole week for our "spring break". All I know about Ketura is that it is a kibbutz down south near Eilat. Find out more next week!

Chag Sameach!

Love,
Hannah

Another Busy Week in Israel

Shalom Chaverim!
As usual it has been another crazy week! We left Monday for a two day tiyul starting in the Old City and then traveling down to the Judean Desert. Because we have been studying the 2nd Temple Period(516BCE-70 CE), we started the day by having Shacharit service at Robinson's Arch where all Jews can pray together with no barrier between sexes. It was really neat because many other groups were having their Torah service and Bar/Bat Mitzvah's. Then we split up into our ICC classes and learned about the period and events leading up to the fall of the temple.

After several hours we went down to the Ein Geidi springs and stayed at the Ein Geidi Youth Hostel. The whole time we were there IDF jets kept passing by (we were very close to Jordan). It only takes 16 minutes to fly across Israel. After a delicious dinner we "tried" to go to bed early because we woke up at 4:30 A.M. to climb Massada!! Unlike most groups, we went up the Runner's Path and came down the Snake Path. It was a bit rough at first, but once the sun started to rise and after having a good breakfast, I was in heaven. Even though I have been to Massada a couple times, including becoming Bat Mitzvah there, I got much more out of this hike because I actually understood which zealots were living on Massada in 73 CE. After more learning, we took the Snake Path down and went down towards Dead Sea for another delicious meal before going into the Sea of Salt. This was my first time actually going into the Sea. I can't say it was super fun, but I am glad I went in. Before we left we covered ourselves in mud. It was such a mess but I think it made my skin a little softer at least for the day.

Once we got back to Jerusalem, everyone was exhausted and very dirty. I had the best shower ever. Wednesday was a stressful school day. But, on Thursday we had a full day tiyul. This tiyul was focused on the Bar Kokhba revolt (132-136 CE), which was the third and last of the Jewish-Roman Wars. The revolt established an independent state of Israel over parts of Judea for over two years, but a Roman army of twelve legions with auxiliaries finally crushed it. We first crawled through caves where the Jews hid, and then went to Bet Guvrin where the Romans built an amphitheater. I would like to learn more about this area in the future. The last stop of the day was an archealogical dig at Maresha. While it was nice and interesting, it was basically a repeat of our trip there several years ago.

This Shabbat we stayed on the Chava (Shabbat Yachad). Friday evening we had Kabbalat Shabbat in the Old City and then went down to the Kotel to pray Ma'ariv individually. I love being at the Kotel on Shabbat. It is such a different atmosphere than during the week. We then walked back to the Chava (hour walk) and had Shabbat dinner followed by oneg and singing. Saturday morning I went to Shira Chadasha, a modern Orthodox Shul on Emek Refaim then had Shabbat lunch on the Chava. I went for a long walk outside the Chava with a friend and a boy who is from America who lives in Israel now. It was a beautiful day and so many people were out walking and playing in the park. Shabbat in Jerusalem is SOOOO different than home. I can't even describe how amazing it feels. Later we had a picnic at the park followed by Havdallah. Food was the highligh of my weekend. I decided to enjoy the Shabbos and eat way more than any human being should ever consume. So of course, right now I feel like crap and can't really think straight.

With that I think I will study some ICC notes for a major test this week on everything from Abraham to 73 C.E. A lot happened between this period! Hope everyone has a nice week. Love and miss you all!

Lyla Tov,
Hannah