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
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