Aviv Days 28 + 29!

By Wednesday working was well under way on kibbutz, with routines slowly being formulated in order to ensure people arrive to their various forms of employment both awake and fully nourished. For those relentless enough to get themselves out of bed in time for breakfast at the dining hall, reward was fully received as Basil served up shakshuka, a sight which had many of the girls’ mouths watering. Whilst others, such as myself, took the lazy option and purchased themselves cereal and milk in a fiendish plot to eliminate the need to make the trek all the way to the dining room whilst still in a state of sleep-depraved inebriation. Following breakfast all set off to work, in their various areas of kibbutz. The gardeners found themselves trimming the hedges of the local cemetery much to the disgust of some, myself and Rachel struggled to adapt to the demanding life of a chicken coop worker, and the hospitality crew found themselves much happier painting tables rather than having old chairs fill their airways with dust. The banana boys breakfast was mouth-watering as usual and those stationed in the various kibbutz kindergartens (Sarah, Jared and Alexa) continued to attempt to learn the names of their children whilst avoiding the laughter of their fellow employees and bosses due to their attempts to converse in a foreign tongue.

Work was separated by lunch, a meal which Basil called shwarma… it certainly was not shwarma. Pieces of meat in sauce along with salad and sides, not exactly what is universally recognised as shwarma. Following another hard session at work, we called it a day and undertook a program led by Amir about various forms of Israeli foreign affairs and a different perspective on them, through the use of YouTube videos by Israeli group Latma. Debate stemmed greatly from these clips, which often used stereotyping and offensive language to draw a response in its audience to get across its message, a method which not all agreed was effective.

Next up was dinner and finally a relaxing movie night rounded out the day. We watched The King’s Speech, a movie not enjoyed by all, however a decently popular choice. Thus ended another day on kibbutz and we were all prepared for another one ahead.

As we awoke on day 29, there was a buzz in the air owing to the knowledge that later that day we were to be released from kibbutz and granted another free weekend. The day began early for some, with Ulpan lessons being staggered for the three classes, beginning at 8:30, 10 and 11:45. After learning some new verbs and vocabulary which Morah Meital believed would benefit us out and about in Israel, we headed off to lunch. There was pasta and bolognaise sauce on offer, not a disappointing meal. Our next program began at roughly 4PM, promptly after our passing of a brief room inspection conducted by Tracey and Daniella, who will replace Oded for the week as he resides in London for the week due to a work commitment. Our program was led by a friend of Tracey, Ariel Shapiro, who recently made Aliyah. We debated various issues of Zionism, and post-Zionism, in small groups, in an overall very enjoyable manner. We were then allowed to depart for our free weekend, with many heading to Tel Aviv and Haifa, leaving 9 participants at Kibbutz Yechiam due to leave in the morning. As per usual, I shan’t be divulging the activities of any one’s free weekend.

Another awesome couple of days down, 121 days to look forward to!

Jake

Aviv Days 26 + 27!

Following a reasonably hectic and for some intoxicated Sunday night, owing to the occasion of Grant Goldman’s 18^th birthday, an early Hebrew lesson was not exactly what anyone had in mind. However the addition of the Hebrew word for sleep to our vocabularies will surely be appreciated by everyone other than Oded, and our prospective Hebrew-speaking bosses for our various kibbutz jobs. In addition to this “anachnu lomdim” (we learnt… sorry for showing off) a large range of adjectives which Morah Meital ensured us would be useful in daily Israeli life, particularly handy are the words “shitzer” (arrogant) and for the girls “me-ro-ar” (ugly) which they intend to use upon the legion of men who attempt to try their luck at each and every club in Tel Aviv. This Ulpan also saw the beginners, or dumb class, as we have come to be fondly known, split into two due to a number of disruptions caused by a talkative side of the classroom.

Following Ulpan was lunch, chill time and then a program beginning at 5PM which saw us split into groups of roughly 6 or 7 in which we were handed a number of excerpts from various books as well as the torah and were asked to summarise the messages within. We came to the conclusion that the texts pointed towards the family values and traditions passed down in a number of way, shapes and forms, including but not limited to a name. We were then asked to do a bit of research in the always entertaining urban dictionary, as to the definitions provided for our first names. Some believed their definitions were accurate, others not so much, but all in all, laughter was the result. Finally, we were supplied a list of the origins of various Jewish surnames, some were provided clarity on the past occupations of their family whilst others, such as myself with the ridiculously uncommon last name of Rosengarten, left without an increase in knowledge as to the long last origins of a surname which they take for granted on a daily basis.

Dinner was the always disappointing usual, shaped chicken accompanied by lentils and couscous. Our final activity of the night began at 8PM, led by the current affairs committee of Alex, Alexa, Grant, Jason and Claudia, it was a jeopardy-style trivia night featuring the topics of politics, sport, historical fact, gossip, random and the ever-mysterious miscellaneous. After much toil and surprise, a winner was crowned before all headed off on their various paths, all which eventually led to our individual beds, most at a reasonable hour, owing largely to the knowledge that in the morning we would begin our first days of work on kibbutz, eager to impress our new quasi-employers.

Tuesday morning saw Avivians rise at a variety of hours, the earliest of which being Adi, Jared Ellison, Toby and Harry’s pre-6AM rise thanks to their early start, working on the banana plantation for the very first time. The latest start time belonged to Jason and Claudia who were due to begin work with the kibbutz horses at 12:30PM. As everyone began working news began filtering back as to the difficulty and fun factor of each occupation. The gardeners (Jenna, Lucy, Bec and Molly) all enjoyed their first days immensely, becoming mates with the gardening crew and consuming wafers and Arabic coffee as thought they had never even heard of it before! In fact, all unequivocally enjoyed their first days as kibbutz employees other than those placed in hospitality (Zoe, Millie, Azi, Daena, Gabby, Robbie, and for the day Rachel and myself due to the temporary closure of the chicken coop) whose days included the stacking and cleaning of dusty old chairs in the dining room, needless to say none were impressed with boss Basil, delightfully dubbed Bastille by Emma, who along with Grant had been working under him from day one on kibbutz.

Following our shifts, a program was scheduled for 3:30PM but was cancelled due to the occupation of the activity room by our new French neighbours who will be residing in our vicinity for a 10 day period. Come 6PM, after a protracted saga we were finally privileged to location of the washing facilities at the kibbutz, most rejoiced at the prospect of finally having clean clothes to wear. Dinner was next and we were fed sausages prior to a short program run by Tracy about perspective and life, painted in an economic and graphic method. Bedtime and chill time rounded out another good day.

Another awesome couple of days down, 123 days to look forward to!

Jake

Aviv Days 24 + 25

Shabbats on Aviv provide a chance for some much needed relaxation, facilitated by our amended wakeup time which was this week set at a mouth-watering 1PM. Not all took their opportunity for additional sleep, with most awake only slightly later than usual whilst Harry ‘could sleep on a bed of nails’ Rosen managed to grab more shut eye in one night than some have had cumulatively for the entire trip! All those who made the tiring 5 minute trek to the dining room discovered that breakfast was surprisingly nice, consisting of actual challah, shakshuka and cereal amongst other edible items. Following breakfast was lunch which was yet again comprised of chicken in various shapes, accompanied by sides, which on this occasion were corn and some less than scrumptious potatoes. Chill time followed as gradually people headed off to the Wi-Fi area near our rooms to Skype those who they miss most, close family and friends. Our next program of the day was a Judaic themed one, in which we were split into groups, handed a summarised torah portion, a genre and a sect of Judaism and assigned the task of acting out the portion, in a manner owing largely too our genre and sect. The portion shared by all was the story of Jacob’s marriages to Leia and Rachel, his years of work in the field followed by his dream and arrival in Canaan. Some genres included science fiction, rom-com and soap opera, whilst sects included modern orthodoxy, ultra orthodoxy and Reconstructionist to name but a few. Performances were… entertaining… to say the least.

Next up was havdallah, a short service was conducted by Oded and Jared Engelman, in which the traditional candle and odours made their appearances as we bid farewell to Shabbat for another week. Dinner was next and yet again indiscriminate slabs of meat and sides were served, with vegie patties provided for our vegetarians. Our after-dinner program was run by the Media Committee consisting of Millie, Sarah, Bec and myself. The program featured an ‘Aviv Quiz’ in which participants were split into pre-determined groups and asked to answer questions on the goings-on of our first three and a bit weeks of Aviv. Questions were humorous... if I do say so myself. Smiles dictated me to believe that the program was a success. Chill time and bed time soon ensued, with all aware of the impending birthday of one Grant Goldman which would fall on day 25.

As Grant awoke on Sunday morning he was greeted with ‘happy birthdays’ from all directions, mitigated only by the fact that he was forced to wake at the earlier than desired time of 8AM. We headed off to Nahariya, our nearest somewhat major city, looking for a spot of non-Kibbutz fun and to complete our necessary shopping and personal upkeep. We were rather disappointed… after some were ripped off by pushy Israeli cab drivers, the Nahariyan sign which read “a resort for fun-lovers” gravely misled us. Basically put, there was nothing to do in Nahariya bar sit in coffee shops, purchase products and fill our stomachs. However, some of the girls manage to occupy themselves as the beautician as after just three weeks they could not bear to go any longer without a wax. As most completed their shopping there was nothing to do other than take a seat at a coffee shop, eat as much as our budgets dictated we could and waste time until it was time to depart. We did so gradually, returning to the kibbutz just in time for lunch which was skipped by most owing to the large meals eaten in town largely thanks to the availability of food which was actual edible, which has been few and far between as of late.

Next on the agenda was Ulpan, we learned about times and the days of the week, in a rather conversational method. Following Ulpan was dinner: beef patties, bread, runny tomato sauce and salad were the best of a bad bunch. There was a buzz at our various tables as most discussed what they were to wear to Grant’s secret 18^th birthday party which was to be conducted that night, subtlety was encouraged. As the boys preoccupied Grant, the girls set up the party, complete with costumes and drinks. As Grant entered, his look of surprise brought happiness to all as we completed a short program including various discussions in ‘speed dating’ style before getting into the party or as the Israelis like to say ‘mesiba.’ Drinks flowed and games were played until the night came to an end, as all departed back to our rooms, ready for chilling followed by bed. Grant’s birthday was celebrated by all, and each and every one of us are grateful we got to spend his 18^th with him!

Another couple of awesome days down, 125 days to look forward to!

Jake

Aviv Days 22 + 23!

As Aviv group one awoke to kibbutz Yechiam on day 22 of their whirlwind adventure through Israel a feeling of togetherness, comfort and routine was evident. As we arose to yet another less than awe inspiring breakfast, we were all eager to complete our one or two lessons of Ulpan for the day in order to move onto more relaxing and social activities. The Hebrew lessons of the day included some rather useful vocabulary and questions for our time in Israel such as “where is the bathroom?” “How much for that?” and more popular among the girls, “do you have skim milk?” or in Emma’s case “do you have soy milk….” Following our lessons we were able to indulge in more relaxation time prior to lunch in which we were again faced with some shape of chicken alongside some less than appetising sides. However, it is looking up for the vegetarians of the group as vegetable patties are now being offered as a somewhat viable meal alternative, of course now that they have purchased their own food.

Post-meal we were privileged to participate in our first participant-led program of Aviv. Run by our very own fitness committee consisting of Jenna, Toby, Harry, Daena, Lucy and Robbie, who put everyone through their paces with a fitness circuit and a largely contested soccer match. Following the necessary refreshments such as showers dinner was next up on the agenda. After we refuelled following a gruelling workout we were treated to a ‘café dilemma’ of sorts by the Judaism Committee comprising of Zoe, Adi and Jared Engelman. We were split into groups and were challenged to debate scenarios in which moral and ethical decisions would force us to question our core values. It was a rather intriguing program, enjoyed by all owing largely to its questioning content as well as the supplied foodstuffs which we all have trouble turning down. As per usual, movie and chill time was next and finally followed by eventual bedtime for all.

The next morning we woke up less than energised, with the knowledge that a hike awaited us. However it wasn’t one of Oded’s usual ‘hikes’ which generally consist of a leisurely stroll but rather one which actually challenged us to scale rocks and confront what is actually widely define by many as a hike. Following our survival from this treacherous hike we returned to clean up our rooms for our impending inspection by one of Yechiam’s staff. Needless to say, we all passed with flying colours. Following this we were escorted to the kibbutz’s winery and brewery where we were able to purchase alcoholic beverages made on the kibbutz itself. Some drank more than others, however all were appeased when Tracy and Oded bot happily indulged in a drink with us. It was an unbelievably entertaining afternoon….

Next was free time which most used to prepare their clothes for Shabbat, as one girl changed out of gym clothes so did each and every other, each in a more disgruntled fashion than the last, until all were ready for a kabbalat Shabbat to begin. As Rabbi Engelman marshalled us up to a nice spot with a view of the sunset, he began a service which made all just a little home sick whilst reminding us of the unbelievable land which we were currently standing in.

Dinner followed, consisting of chicken drumsticks, potatoes and baby carrots, an all-round edible meal, ruined only by the lack of challah and a decent grape juice. Following this, all were gathered in the moadon and for our weekly Shabbat check in. We were split into two groups and asked to pick our highlights and lowlights from another hectic week, not an easy task, especially for a week in which we resided in no less than three cities of Israel. As we all headed back to our rooms some headed out for a little bit of fun whilst others settled for a night in with a good movie.

Another awesome couple of days down, 127 days to look forward to!

Jake

Aviv Days 20 + 21

Israel is a country known for its rich cultural diversity, and there is no more unique element of the Israeli social landscape then the kibbutz movement. What better way for 25 Avivians to experience the land which means so much to our religious heritage than to spend a month of our time immersed in kibbutz culture, working hard in our various jobs and seeing what it is like to be an active part of an Israeli community. We arrived on Kibbutz Yehiam after a roughly two and a half hour bus ride from Jerusalem, upon arrival we instantly observed the differences in atmosphere and culture; leaving behind the amazing architectural and spiritual centre that is Jerusalem for a much more relaxed family-orientated area on kibbutz. We were swiftly shown to our accommodation, doors swung open amidst shouts of “shotgun” as bottom bunks and single beds were reserved for the next three and a half weeks. Girls were allotted four to a room, whilst boys rooms accommodated three, meaning a substantial increase in cupboard and storage space much to the disdain of the females. As we all emerged from our lodgings for the month, we were escorted to the dining room, eager to see if the food on kibbutz would be up to the challenge of equalling previous delicacies consumed or if it would rather set a new benchmark for food which least resembled human cuisine. Unfortunately, it was the latter, as we resigned to consuming chicken balls, a vegetarian option was nowhere to be seen, much to the frustration of Lucy and Zoe, our local vegetarians. Following a less than fulfilling meal, we were shown around the grounds of the kibbutz, remarking at the outdoor gym, football and tennis facilities as well as the supermarket where many would watch the size of their wallet dwindle at an unmistakable speed.

Following the tour many took the chance to purchase foodstuffs, after noting the clearly unsatisfactory level of ‘food’ which we were to be subjected to for the next month. In addition to this, we also realised the absolute abundance of free time which we were to have on our hands and began to search for the best ways to fill this time. Quickly, shock and horror filled the air, as someone proclaimed “there’s no Wi-Fi?!?!” for some, the three worst words in the English dictionary. However, the mood lifted as we were informed by Oded that Wi-Fi would soon be provided, but not for a few painstaking days. Following another poor dinner of chicken, we were ushered to the ‘moadon’ or activity room, and undertook our first program of many on kibbutz. It was a program to test each and every member’s brain power, a MENSA test and a number of word games which were enjoyed more by some than others. As the heads of some began to ache we returned to our rooms and then bedtime quickly approached.

As we awoke early the next day, breakfast consisted of cereal, eggs and bread, a clear theme was developing as to the standard of food we were provided, and not one person was happy about it. However we do get early warning from our resident dining room staff, Grant and Emma as to the edibility or inedibility, as the case may be, of the food. Next we headed to our first Ulpan session of the trip. For those who are unaware, Ulpan is the word used to describe Hebrew lessons in Israel for those who come from overseas. Our teacher Morah Meital, split us into two classes based on our own thoughts on or Hebrew ability. Whilst we can’t all be Hebrew whizzes like Jared Engelmann, Alexa and Sarah, many had a respectable level of Hebrew, however other, such as myself, with the Hebrew knowledge of your household pet, were to begin basically at square one… many despite already completing up to 10 years of Hebrew classes at a Jewish day school. The two classes alternate study time, and each fulfilled two sessions on the opening day. Learning of verbs, nouns, connectors and vowels. Some are enjoying learning more than others, however the level to which our Hebrew progresses will be told only with time.

Following Ulpan we consumed lunch and most headed off for free time, some working out and others simply chilling out and watching film and television. The boys checked out the football pitch and a fun game of three a side was played. Programs were run either side of dinner, with learning about the kibbutz movement itself, founded in 1902, conducted as well as the conception of participant led programs which will be run in the coming weeks. Following this bedtimes occurred in waves and another day came to an end.

Another awesome couple of days down, 129 days to look forward to!

Jake

Aviv Days 18 + 19

Teenagers are a special breed; too much sleep and they crash, not enough sleep and they still crash, the right amount of sleep is paramount unless you wish to be dealing with a group of mindless drones who do nothing other than complain about the fact that they are doing something other than being nicely nestled in between a set of bed sheets. The madrichim of Aviv 1 learnt this the hard way on day 18, after some of the boys decided to have a late night in which they received a total of 45 minutes of shuteye despite the knowledge that they had to be in Jerusalem by the ludicrously early time of 9:30. They arrived on time yet in a robotic state of disengagement. The first program of the day was run by informal educator Mark Lazar, a man whose hippie-like appearance and large repertoire of sexual innuendos caught each and every group member off guard. Despite a sleepy start we were soon into discussions of societal importance in both Israel and Australia as well as games like that which have been played by many of us in various youth movements across our adolescence. After a couple of hours we departed for a nice hostel lunch, our new lodgings for the new day known as Agron Guest House, served up a delicious buffet.

Our next ‘program’ was scheduled for 5PM but it did not go ahead due to the suspicious disappearance of a number of tired participants, much to the dismay of Tracy and Oded. Next came dinner, which consisted of restaurant quality meatballs and schnitzel, needless to say they were quickly devoured. People quickly retired to their rooms in droves as tired teens’ heads hit the pillows in record pace. However not all had stupidly sleep deprived themselves, so many headed out to indulge their sweet tooths, consuming crepes and other not so Israeli delicacies. Eventually all hit the proverbial hay, not so eager to rise at 9AM the following morning however ready for whatever the new day would throw at us.

Monday brought pizza for breakfast followed by a brilliant speaker by the name of Yair Zivan who educated us about politics, Israel advocacy and its applications for each and every one of us during campus life at our various universities located all around Australia. However his lecture did not capture all as those uninterested in politics sat with dejection. For those who appreciated his speech it was ridiculously interesting, and a debate between Jared and Harry stemmed from it which has not been resolved to the minute of writing. Next we were handed 30 shekels and sent off into the big bad city of Jerusalem to purchase and consume lunch all on our own. Burgers Bar was the obvious option for most as prices of over 50 shekels were ignored due to the absurd deliciousness of the burgers on offer. Following lunch we headed back to Agron and chill time ensued.

Another awesome couple of days down, 131 days to look forward to!

Jake

Aviv Day 15 + First Free Weekend!

Freedom comes with its drawbacks, we soon felt this in our back pockets as our bank account balances dwindled swiftly. ‘Free’ weekends were certainly not free in the monetary sense of the word, with hostel accommodation and food as well as nights out costing us amounts of money which we would not dare inform our parents of for fear of disownment. However, before reaching a state of freedom we had one final half day which featured a visit to Rabin Square, the place where one of Israel’s most iconic leaders was gunned down in the year of many of our births. As we visited this place we were educated by our madrichim on the significance of the place and the man who was revered by so many. After a few quick discussions of politics and Judaism and the place of halachic law alongside state law in Israel as well as the notion of Din Rodef which Yigal Amir, the man who cruelly took the life of Yitzhak Rabin, used as his defence, we split into two groups, recounted our highlights and lowlights of an intense first week in Tel Aviv before departing for our free weekend.

We collected our baggage from Bnei Dan and headed off in our separate directions, however most stayed in large groups. A multitude of boys and girls were residing for the full three nights at a youth hostel uncreatively named Hayarkon 48 owing to its street name and number, whilst many of the boys were operating out of Toby’s apartment on Dizengoff St, how they managed to fit seven fully grown men into a one bedroom apartment is still beyond most. The weekend contained a number of fun nights out in Tel Aviv with many members of various Israel programs also spending time in Tel Aviv, needless to say there were reunions aplenty. As per usual, I shan’t discuss the tantalising details of who did things they shouldn’t have and such but all had a brilliantly refreshing weekend full of socialising as well as relaxation and we will all be nice and refreshed, raring to resume Aviv as we head to Jerusalem unbelievably early on Sunday morning.

Both groups will be staying together in Jerusalem for Sunday and Monday before we part ways and head to our separate kibbutzim for the next month. Group One’s kibbutz is known as Yehiam and is located in the North. I am unsure what sort of internet coverage will be available to me there but I will try and keep all those eager to know what we are up to informed via the wonderful medium known as my blog.

Another awesome few days down, 133 days to look forward to!

Jake

Aviv Days 13 + 14!

Day 13 kicked off slightly later than usual but contained a similarly intense set of activities. After consuming the now expectedly scrumptious breakfast prepared for us by the staff of Bnei Dan, we gathered in the lobby and the details of our day’s task was outlined. It was to be an ‘amazing race’ style day of adventuring in which each team of 5 had to visit and photograph themselves in numerous destinations before racing to a pre-determined finish line. The teams were devised by the madrichim and we were off, my team consisting of Jared Engelman, Lucy, Alexa, Claudia and myself, were touted as early favourites thank to our boasting of the brainpower of Engelman whose reputation as a future medical student facilitates a ludicrously high expectation. However a slow start saw us fall behind the pack as we proceeded to get close to our destination before venturing in the opposite direction only to realise where were headed all along. This occurred numerous times, needless to say the frustration was felt by all.

The race took us to many interesting destinations all over Tel Aviv, including but not limited to the Tel Aviv Museum of Fine Art, the Cameri Theatre and the Carmel Shuk. After most teams stopped for a lunch break in the heat of the race, it was an unexpected victory for the team consisting of Azi, Jared Ellison, Jason, Millie and Daena, a victory which self-proclaimed team leader Azi will surely never let us forget. Following the race we sat down for lunch with those who hadn’t already eaten attempting to eat a lunch consisting of two sandwiches, a muffin and an apple which proved a more difficult task then it should have been thanks to the less than appetising consistency of the meal. Next we headed to one of the most unbelievable exhibitions I have ever seen, a museum which put attendees in the position of a visually impaired person as we realised the difficulty of living without sight. Our guides, all without vision, were at home in the course and proved exactly how one can adapt to blindness if they must. It was an amazing experience for all and one which will surely not be forgotten any time soon.

Next we headed back to the hostel where we consumed a nice dinner and then put in our preferences for work on kibbutz as well as room preferences. Movie time ensued for the lucky few whilst others headed to bed early aware of the full day of volunteering we had ahead of us on day 14. Our volunteering was done in three places, first up was a factory for the deaf, blind and mute in which things were manufactured. Next was grapefruit picking, the fruits of our labour being contributed to those who cannot feed themselves around Israel. We heard that our fruits would feed 400 families in the next few days. Our final destination of the day was Save a Childs Heart, an organisation which flies in children from all over the world and pays for them to have lifesaving heart surgeries. After hearing what the organisation does we were able to spend some time with the children, who we immediately fell in love with. It was truly inspiring watching these upbeat children despite the difficulties they have gone through. Notably, Harry formed an unbreakable bond with one small girl who rested in his arms as he chatted to it in his unique banter for roughly an hour. It was adorable. Soon it came time to go and as the children were forcibly removed from our arms we boarded our bus and headed back to Bnei Dan, another day over.

A few more awesome days down, 136 days to look forward to!

Jake

Aviv Days 11 + 12

Day 11 brought a change of scenery as our bus delivered us safely to Tel Aviv from Jerusalem, albeit after an extended stay in Jaffa. The bus trip provided a much needed time for relaxation and sleep as well as forming our mode of transport for our journey. In Jaffa we were able to sample a much more relaxed vibe as we toured around an area which featured such sites as a mosque, theatre, port and beach until it was time to partake in a lunch, for which we ventured further on foot into the nearby shuk. People ate a variety of cuisines, largely felafel, salads and shwarma. Adi, Harry, Jason, Robbie and myself put in a bit extra effort and were rewarded accordingly as we stumbled upon an absolute gem of a shwarma joint.

Following lunch we continued on foot through Jaffa and stopped at a well renowned nearby ice creamery and sunk our sweet teeth into a large variety of flavours, chocolate wafer was the most popular choice. After all had completed their delicious treats we were retrieved by our trusty bus and made our way to our accommodation for the next 4 nights; Bnei Dan, a highly anticipated hostel nestled rather close to Tel Aviv Beach. Rooms were allotted and bags unpacked before showers were undertaken. Due to it being a free night, we dressed up nicely one and all and hit the town. Once again, drinks were flowing however I am not at liberty to discuss the specifics of our rather relaxed first night out in Israel’s party capital Tel Aviv. At the end of the night cabs delivered us home and as each and every head hit the pillow we happily discovered that sleep would be no issue upon mattresses which made those of Kiryat Moria feel as though they had just been retrieved from a junkyard.

Day 12 began bright and early as breakfast at Bnei Dan got the day off to a spectacular start, pancakes the featured element. However, it was all downhill from there as we headed off to independence hall, arriving half an hour early, facilitating time for the best hot chocolate of my life, before we entered the very space in which the state of Israel was signed into existence. After a less than riveting video and talk we exited and were given another half an hour free time to spend how we wished. Shwarma was delivered directly to us for lunch and its deliciousness was acknowledged by all.

Next stop was the Palmuch Museum, dedicated to the history of, obviously, the palmuch who were a fighting force in Israel in the 1940s and helped defend Israel during its struggle for independence. The museum was unique and used a video journey following a few of the group’s members throughout their 7 year involvement in the force, in order to document a history which is undeniably important to the establishment of the state of Israel. The bus was taken back to Bnei Dan by most aside from Lindi, Jason, Azi and Alexa who decided their immense tiredness was too much and hailed a cab in order to commute back to the hostel.

One more (slightly less) awesome day down, 138 days to look forward to!

Jake

Aviv Day 10!

Day 10 began with a much needed late wakeup which allowed many to catch up on the sleep which all teenagers dearly crave. However, not all made use of the amended 1PM start in their comfy warm beds. I amongst others decided to use it as an opportunity to get some exercise done with many engaging in walks or runs aiming to avoid an onset of weight as we eat our way around Israel. Due to our missing of breakfast many decided to take their stomachs into their own hands and headed off in search of foodstuffs which would hit the metaphorical spot. Toby and Jared indulged in rock-hard challah with a side of hummus whilst Adi, Bec and myself opted for the Israeli favourite Kariot which we ate out of cups and with plastic cutlery…. the most classy format available.

Next up was lunch which was actually the culinary highlight of our stay at Kiryat Moria, a place that we do not envy machon (shnat) participants for spending the next 4 months at thanks to the large possibility of food induced sickness.  It consisted of chicken schnitzel and peas which actually made me wish I had not consumed an obscene amount of chocolate filled cereal just an hour earlier. Following lunch was a program which consisted of determining which elements we, as a group, considered the most significant in forming the identity and Jewish identity of a person. Discussion raged on for an n extended period as we slowly established the fact that there was no right answer, each and every individual has his or her own opinion on such paramount human concepts.

Chill time ensued, it was used by many as an opportunity to pack their bags before our morning journey to Tel Aviv, our third overnight destination of the program. Come 6:15 Shabbat ended and havdallah was undertaken by both groups together in a short but sweet service which included the customary herbs, candles and singing. An almost inedible dinner followed and it had many, including Lucy and Zoe, running for the vending machines. Our final program of the day was a trivia night consisting of three rounds: general knowledge, Israel and trick questions. Teams were divided as many watched eagerly to see if the unbelievable ATARs of some group members could translate to points on the board for their team. Unfortunately for Jared Engelman, it did not directly correlate as his team ran-in an unexpected, controversial last place. After some sly tactics from Harry, his team miraculously ended the night in first place, controversy was rife.

After some chill time, most headed to bed at a reasonable hour, aware of our impending pre-7AM wakeup for the next morning,

Another awesome day down, 140 days to look forward to!

Jake

P.S sorry about the lack of photos…

NOTE: DUE TO TIME CONSTRAINTS I WILL BE UNABLE TO BLOG EVERY DAY IN THE FUTURE, EXPECT A NEW POST EVERY 2-3 DAYS SUMMARISING THE PREVIOUS DAYS’ ACTIVITIES.

Aviv Days 8 + 9!

One cannot step foot in the land of Israel without being aware of the tension always present between Israelis and Palestinians over the land which they both claim to rightfully own. There are numerous places and attractions situated across the land which are symbolic of the divide between the two cultural groups however none more obvious and literal as the separation wall. For those who don’t know, the separation wall is just as it sounds, it is a roughly 8 metre tall wall which divides Jerusalem and the West Bank. The borders are tightly patrolled and security around the wall is ever-present. We were not actually allowed to exit the bus at the wall due to obvious security risks however we were given a firsthand look at the clearly tense relationship between two groups who culturally share so much yet seem as though they are unlikely to resolve their differences.

Next we headed to a nearby park to consume a packed lunch consisting of sandwiches and a muffin, however some were not content with the humble offerings and headed to a neighbouring shop to purchase and eat an entire pizza. Following lunch we proceeded on foot a nearby street where our security guard regaled us with a tale in which he came ridiculously close to becoming the victim of a bus bombing at the tender of 10. We soon visited the bus stop at which attack occurred and were put increasingly on edge. As a bus arrived at the stop a collective shiver was sent down the spines of all group members as we all scanned the bus passengers for any sign of suspicious activity. The stop featured a memorial to the victims, a constant reminder of the very real threat which lurks around each corner for all Israeli citizens in times of tension.

As tiredness set in on most we hopped on a bus and found ourselves back at Kiryat Moria. Our next activity was the viewing of a Palestinian movie titled Paradise Now, a tale of two young men drafted into becoming suicide bombers and their resultant ideological dilemma. For some, the movie was enthralling, for others the highlight was Emma’s loud snoring which I deeply wish someone had caught on tape for future amusement. After the film we got our glad rags on and hit the town, yet again I urge parents and other people wondering to consult individual participants for the details of their individual nights as my divulgence of such details could well result in my ommitance from future nights out… however I can say that Josh Shubitz and Jared Ellison had a few too many drinks and ended up with some lasting memories in the form of matching nose piercings.

Day 9 was an early start as we yet again boarded a public bus to much resentment before getting off and embarking on a train ride to Mount Herzl. This is a site which features the burial places of some of Israel’s most famous heroes and soldiers, notably including Theodore Herzl, Golda Meir and Yitzchak Rabin whose significance and achievements go without saying. The area marked for fallen soldiers was harrowing, a hugely large expanse covered by hundreds of individual graves which showed all exactly how many men and women Israel have lost whilst attempting to defend itself in battle. The most recent addition, Oded informed us, was just last week. Next we headed off to a contrastingly bright shuk known as Machane Yehuda where we roamed as we pleased. Most picking up a spot of lunch, and bringing home the tasty treats which they had been craving for the last week of at times hellish cooking. Nuts and pastries were picked up by many, needless to say we will all be well and truly full for the next few days.

We soon caught the bus back to Kiryat Moria and began preparations for our second Aviv Shabbat which is set to be yet another highlight of an already life changing program.

One more awesome day down, 141 days to look forward to!

Jake

Aviv Day 7!

The important institutions of each and every nation are located in its capital, Israel is no exception. Jerusalem houses the national precinct in Israel which is the home of the country’s most important political institutions, including the embodiment of each and every branch, legislative, executive and judicial. Following a quick breakfast we boarded the bus and headed off to the national precinct. As we arrived at Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, the groans could almost be heard all the way back in Sydney as bored young Australian women let all know exactly how disinterested in politics they were. After passing through a security checkpoint, we entered the Knesset and were met by our guide Chana who equipped us with our audio tour equipment and escorted us around the grounds of the hugely architecturally impressive parliament complex.

The building featured the work of artist Marc Chagall, including a captivating three panel tapestry which captured ‘past, present and future’ and was proudly displayed in the foyer. As we moved around to various rooms we learnt of the Israeli political system which although complicated is very interested for those who can understand it. We sat in on a live session of parliament which was not all that riveting thanks to our collective lack of Hebrew skills however the casual attitude of the MPs was remarkable as some took phone calls, seemingly played games on their phones, and even had a quick laugh with their mates during a speech by the Israeli health minister. We finished the tour and headed off for lunch despite the clock face showing the largely premature time of 11AM.

A large walk ensued until we finally settled down for lunch on the grounds of Hebrew University, consuming schnitzel sandwiches. Jared Engelman spiced up lunch by joining a somewhat odd Israeli game of leap frog, making some friends in the process. Much to the resentment of all dozing on the grass we left the campus and headed off to another institution in the national precinct, the Israeli Supreme Court, but not before walking past the offices of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or as most call him ‘Bibi.’ The Supreme Court was an interesting tour, led by a guide whose wicked sense of humour captured the imaginations of all members of the group. A barrage of symbolism was apparently present in the buildings architecture, in a manner which reminded many of the questionable hypotheses drawn during a VCE/HSC/WACE english class. The tour tired all, with most resorting to sleeping positions around the court precinct in a way which deeply angered security. We sat in on a live court session which we were again unable to follow thanks to the language barrier. We soon re-boarded the bus and headed back towards our temporary residence of Kiryat Moria.

A laundry run was offered to all for a measly fee of 40 shekels, most jumping at the opportunity thanks to the already filthy manner of our clothing. Next up was dinner and a chance to mingle with group 2 which was taken by some and not others. Our final activity of the day was a guest speaker who engaged us in an interactive session about Israeli politics, needless to say, some enjoyed more than others.

Another awesome day down, 143 days to look forward to!

Jake

Aviv Day 6!

Jerusalem is exceedingly important to a wide variety of religious groups, notably Muslims, Christians and Jews, their importance is largely derived from the plethora of holy sites which can be found within its borders. During day 6 we visited a number of these places, some more significant to us than others, but each and every one remarkably beautiful and spiritual. Another rather early start saw group members seated at the breakfast table as early as 7AM, indulging in flavourless scrambled eggs as well as the occasional bowl of all bran. Following the breakfast rush we donned our most respectable clothing, many of the girls looking as though they were regulars at a Friday night Bnei service, and headed for our first stop of the morning, the tomb of the biblical King David.

The tomb is reasonably controversial and sparked a debate over religiosity and factuality, as some question the location of the tomb as well as whether or not King David even existed. At the tomb was a small synagogue-y type establishment in which we stopped for a quick daven, led by a rabbi who was apparently a bigwig in Jerusalem however who sounded as though he could dearly use a throat lozenge. As we completed our prayer, a chant of ‘David Melech Yisrael’ broke out, a song which brought back to home where in fact we were and its significance to the Jewish people. This was just the start in an unbelievably hectic day which tired all and made me rue Chuck Taylor for even inventing the unbelievably poor walking shoes known as ‘Converse.’

Next up on the agenda was the kotel, a huge deal for the Israel virgins of the group, Jason Kroser and myself. I was blindfolded on the way to the wall itself, just further increasing my anticipation for a moment which I had pictured for an exceptionally long time. As I touched the wall for the first time, the blindfold was removed allowing me to catch my first glance of the unbelievably spiritual sight known commonly as the western wall. It was a lot to handle, and I became rather emotional, I was able to hold back tears but the sheer spiritual force felt at this, the most holy of places, was relatively overwhelming. After a few prayers and the depositing of a few personal messages into the cracks of the wall we departed but not before Sarah realised she had forgotten her bag in kotel security, luckily it was yet to be deemed a bomb threat…

We proceeded onto lunch, a spot of falafel which we consumed outside the entrance to the Temple Mount, the site of our next holy site, the dome of the rock. However, as we neared the boys spotted some men in football tracksuits who we quickly realised were members of the Shakhtar Donetsk first team (for those who don’t know, they are the best team in the Ukrainian Premier League and are currently plying their trade in the Champions League), pictures and selfies ensued. After recovering from being starstruck by some members of the squad, we consumed our lunch and headed in to see the Dome of the Rock. It was breathtakingly beautiful, the gold dome surrounded by blue tiling was as stunning as any other architectural feature I have ever seen. Next we moved swiftly through the Arab shuk and headed over to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the resting place of one Jesus Christ. The church was filled with beautiful relics and stunned all with its beauty.

We soon headed out for our first free night of the program… but the details of that shall remain well and truly unpublished.

One more awesome day down, 144 days to look forward to.

Jake

Aviv Day 5!

Turning 18 is a big milestone for each and every person, one to be celebrated, Jared Ellison’s 18^th was no exception and of course a big night was ‘the go.’  Due to the mixed readership of this publication, the exact details of Jared’s celebrations shan’t be divulged however he did hit the town in a big way and many entertaining new memories and stories were created. The early breakfast time of 7AM was certainly not appreciated by Jared nor his fellow late night revellers. We indulged in some unexpectedly scrumptious French toast and the usual boiled eggs before boarding the bus from which we disembarked in the heart of Jerusalem.

Our first attraction in an intense day of touring was the city of David, wherein lay Hezekiah’s Tunnel. A long cavernous trail featuring water up to the bellies of some of the shorter members of the group, such as Robbie, Jason and Bec; the tunnels weren’t for everyone. Self-proclaimed claustrophobes steered clear as the rest of the group headed into the darkness preparing themselves for the inevitably cold water which would soon fill their thongs and even seep into the shorts of some of the vertically challenged. iPhone batteries dwindled as torches illuminated the tunnels, dating back to 7^th century BCE, which used to carry drinking water from beyond the bounds of the old city of Jerusalem inside for consumption inside the walled city. The tunnels were enjoyed by all, with the exception of the absurdly tall, Jared and Grant spending the entirety in a bent over position which is sure to be felt in their posture well into the trip.

The journey back to the rest of the group entailed further walking, much to the umbrage of Alexa and Jenna, whose complaints filled my ears for much of the journey. Once the group reformed in its entirety we spent a small amount more time inside the city of David, whose small convenience store we single-handedly kept in business for at least another week. Following this, we headed up towards Jewish quarter, stopping for lunch which consisted of a variety of quiches and pastries as well as drinks, before some ran into some familiar faces. A brief run-in with members of Bnei shnat allowed many to meet up with friends they had not seen for an extended period of time. Next we ventured into the Jewish quarter, an area whose narrow streets and amazing architecture had many, including me, in awe of its unique beauty.

We wandered its streets and tasted its delicacies during our hour of free time, a needed reprieve, as many girls were already resenting the lack of shopping opportunities they had thus far received. Following free time we headed up to an observation roof where the dome of the rock and other prominent sites were visible, during which time the sounds of Islamic prayer filled the air, a swift reminder of the special shared city in which we currently found ourselves. As 3:30PM approached we visited an old synagogue, boys and girls separate of course, for a quick Mincha daven. Subsequently we took to the streets as Toby, Jared and Harry busked in hilarious fashion, making a minute amount of kesef but entertaining all in the process.

Next we headed to the famous Ben Yehuda St where we did what teenagers do best, symbolically rebelled against society. A few girls in the form of piercings (sorry parents, I will not name and shame…) whilst the boys headed to the local bar for a quick beer in classic Aussie fashion. A fun time was had by all. We made our way back to Kiryat Moriah via bus and a huge day of touring and fun came to an end.

One more awesome day down. 145 to look forward to.

Jake

Aviv Day 4!

There are not many more anticipated destinations for 18 year old Jews than the holiest city in the world, Jerusalem, aside from perhaps the Greek Islands… so when the members of Aviv group one awoke there was a clear buzz amongst the group, a certain level of eagerness for our upcoming destination and a recognition its importance to each and every one of us individually. Bags were packed and placed in the lobby as one final breakfast was quickly consumed at Mitzpe Ramon, a place whose high quality food and accommodation was suspicious, chosen as our first destination by organisers simply in order to heighten our hopes and expectations before soon crushing them at future accommodation.

Following breakfast, the bus was loaded and bums hit seats for the 3 hour journey to Jerusalem, or J-Ru as it has been affectionately been shortened to by Daena and Azi. The trip was separated by various stops, the first of which was a short hike upon Mactesh Gadol, a naturally formed crater which boasts magnificent views the likes of which are unavailable in Sydney nor Melbourne, or even Alex’s native Perth. Photos aplenty were snapped by our resident photographers, complaints aplenty flowed and the odd slip up the rock face was a cause for concern, however thankfully no injuries were incurred. Following this short yet steep venture into the rocky Israeli landscape, we re-boarded the bus and headed towards Dimona for lunch despite the clock face displaying the ludicrously early sub-11AM time.

Different people opted for different lunch options. Aroma salads and iced coffees were popular amongst the girls whilst many opted to purchase their refreshments from one of the three consecutive shop fronts which boasted the sale of shawarma (Of which I tried my very first!). However, Lindi and Azi opted for the more traditional Israeli cuisine of which is referred to back in Oz as ‘Maccas.’ Suddenly, a vibe was felt amongst the group of excitement as a bus pulled up and Aviv group 2 hopped off to be met by their eager friends who had missed their acquaintance. After brief pleasantries we departed and completed the final leg of our journey to the spiritual Jerusalem.

The final bus ride was filled with music, conversations and more, before we reached our destination, unloaded our belongings and set up in our newly arranged rooms at Kiryat Moria. We soon headed out on a short walk, arriving at a brilliant viewpoint of all of the visual wonders offered by the Jerusalem skyline. It was a humbling sight, especially for me as one of the few group members who had yet to visit the world's holiest city in the flesh. After a short photography session, we were instructed to write down our feelings at the time. I thought of no better way to put it than "there was no place I would rather be." A simple, yet effective way of articulating the beautiful moment which I had shared with the people who I already feel are becoming like family to me. I have no doubt that Jerusalem will bring spiritual and personal growth to all, such sights have the ability to do powerful things to all manner of people.

We then returned to Kiryat Moria and chill time ensued as the other group arrived and more inter-mingling took place. Dinner was next on the agenda, with numerous people nurturing slim hopes that the food would resemble something edible. Most, if not all, were disappointed. I think Harry Rosen put it best when he questioned whether we had just been served “people food or dog food?” However, the accommodation and beautiful location almost do enough to make up for the sub-standard foodstuffs we are expected to put down our oesophagi.

Following dinner a further chill session resulted which concluded with the entire group in each other company wondering how on Earth we had only known each other for such a short period of time when it seems as though we were engaged in conversation with people with whom we had already formed a long-lasting bond. Finally, the madrichim collected us and we headed to a small room to engage in our final program of the day, hearing of our packed schedule for the next week and of the notion of Jerusalem syndrome. As the newly formed committee for sleep, or Jenna as she is more commonly known as proclaimed, bedtime was “right now,” and with that we headed back to our rooms, concluding another wonderful day on Aviv.

One more awesome day down, 146 to look forward to.

Jake

Aviv day 3

Shabbat is a time for reflection, a time for spirituality and a time for family and friends, the members of Aviv Group one already consider their fellow members both the former and the latter after a measly 3 days. Of course not in all senses of the word...

This morning yielded early and late risers with a revised waking time of 9 AM, allowing for that extra bit of shut eye. Of course, as jet lag continues to inflict its pains upon many, some rose earlier than others, as the daringly eager used their head start to get in some morning exercise. Lucy, Jenna and Gabby found themselves pleasantly surprised when they met up unexpectedly on their separate paths at roughly 8AM. However, the boys weren’t to be outdone as Toby and Harry stretched their legs later in the day, stopping at a nearby gym to pump some iron as only they can.

Of course being Shabbat, rest was the order of the day, with huge amounts of ‘chill’ time allotted in the schedule, group bonding continued in spates. Breakfast was surprisingly delicious as plates were filled with eggs, toast, yoghurt, salad, cereal and even a delicious spot of pudding. Spirits continued to be high as the unforeseen high quality of food and accommodation saw numerous remarks from even the notoriously hard to please Moriah girls. Following breakfast we were left to our own devices, with many going for scenic walks, into town or relaxing to some soothing music under the shade of nearby trees, however Jared Ellison’s party music was certainly not appreciated by those attempting to relax.

Lunch soon followed as meat aplenty was piled onto plates as well as of courses the occasional not existent vegetarian meal. Some dubiously coloured jelly followed, however Grant Goldman, rather ‘instagrant’ as he has been lovingly dubbed, failed to heed the clear warning fired by the acrimonious white colouring and delved into a bowl only to be met by an even less inviting taste. Lunch was proceeded by further chill time, and following this a program in which madrichim Tracy, Daniella and Oded led discussions on Shabbat, Judaism and faith. Which led to further discussions of a deeper nature, as Toby, Jared, Harry and myself questioned Oded on some of the deeper lying issues of Judaism, faith and spirituality which were common in the Sydney Jewish community.

Further relaxation ensued prior to havdallah which entailed some quick prayers as well as the indulgence of the all senses as a symbolic end to the Shabbat. Bec ably held the Shabbat candle as prayers were led by Oded, or as the boys like to refer to him in the witty Australianised moniker ‘Odie,’ as Shabbat exited in just as spiritual fashion as it had begun. Dinner was next on the agenda, with a choice of chicken or beef accompanied by vegetables and other sides. However the real show was not on the menu, but rather came from the preposterously confident young American girl by the name of Brooke who entertained all with her singing.

Post-dinner our final program of the day featured thoughts on different Israeli cities and the items which represented their contribution to Israeli culture. Hilarity ensued…

One more awesome day down, 147 to look forward to.

Jake