The past week has seen a return to the constant intensity
experienced at the outset of the program. In the past week alone we have spent
a few days at a MASA seminar for all Australian gap year programs on the subject
of Israel Advocacy, some of us visited Modiin for home hospitality and in the
last day or two we have learnt about the Bedouins who reside in the Negev and
their history and culture, and finally climbed Masada and visited the Dead Sea,
much to the delight of Instagram enthusiasts everywhere.
As we edge towards the final days of our stay in Israel one
question must begin to enter the psyches of all Aviv participants, how will our
Aviv journey help us to return to Australia and make a difference in our
respective Jewish communities? This exact question was addressed in our latest
MASA ceremony, co-ordinated by the ever so familiar George Schneider, we were
encouraged to explore our own Zionistic thoughts and the ways in which we
intended to engage our new skills and thoughts learnt in the holy land in a
beneficial way in our Jewish communities at home, whether it be Sydney,
Melbourne, Perth or even the perpetual Aviv joke that is Toowoomba’s J-Com.
Throughout the 3 day seminar spanning from Tuesday to Thursday afternoon we
heard speeches from Jewish people in various fields such as peace and
negotiation, education and the Zionist communities back home. In addition to
this, MASA generously scheduled time for the entire seminar to view the
Socceroo’s epic clash with the Netherlands in the world cup which we came oh so
close to grinding out a result in, however the same cannot be said about the
state of origin… just ask Toby and Ellison.
We were allowed the opportunity to choose between a few
skills sessions, of which I decided to attend one wherein I learnt the ins and
outs of interviews and the tactic of speaking with a purpose to one’s agenda as
is so elegantly practised by our politicians and ambassadors. Other interesting
sessions were also on offer such as ones about advocacy at university and media
within the IDF. The seminar offered an opportunity to engage in an Israeli Frisbee
prototype known as ‘Patriot’ which is a cross between baseball and Frisbee using
a magen david shaped disc, it was odd to say the least. The final session saw state
time ensure, wherein we split off into small groups and discussed possible
solutions to already present issues within our respective Jewish communities.
All up the seminar was fruitful and as well as providing a forum for improving
advocacy it allowed people to nourish and begin friendships with indiviudals
who they had yet to really meet.
The weekend saw roughly 20 of us head to Modiin where we
were paired up with a family for the home hospitality segment of the program.
Robbie and myself were hosted by the Ottolenghi family who had three children,
Noam (19), Shay (16) and Shalev (10). This weekend really allowed us to become
immersed in real Israeli family life and sample some of the everyday fun Modiin
had to offer. We were taken to the local swimming pool, the movie theatre, a
bar and as well as this we enjoyed delicious home cooked meals for two whole
days! Something we had not even had one of in the past 5 months! Needless to
say, this experience really made me miss home! It really was an amazing
weekend, an experience which I wish the entirety of Aviv had joined us on.
On Sunday the entire program reconvened at Modiin train station
and headed south towards the Negev to learn about the Bedouin peoples who
reside therein. Our guide Amir informed us of the plight of the Bedouins as
well as their history within the land of Israel as a sort of quasi-indigenous
peoples who were previously nomadic before the establishment of the modern
state who require them to have a permanent residence in order to pay the
necessary taxes. It is a plight similar to that of Australia’s native people,
the aborigines. We travelled around and were shown Bedouin villages and shanty
towns and learnt of their living conditions. Finally, we visited the home of a Bedouin
woman who was a prominent artist who regaled us with the tale of her family and
herself and the struggles which they had been through, it was fascinating.
The next day we awoke at 4:30 AM, yes that’s right AM, and
hiked up at varying speeds to the top of Masada, a mountain which means oh so
much historically to the Jewish people. It is the home of the remains of King
Herod’s palace as well as the site of perhaps the most famous mass suicide in
history where the Jewish people sieged at the summit decided to end their own
lives rather than take their chances with the Romans who surrounded them,
whether or not they made the correct choice is up to the individual. We made it
up to the peak for a truly magnificent sunset which almost made it all worth
it. Almost. Jokes aside, it really is a humbling experience which I would
recommend as a must do to all travellers in Israel. Following a tour around the
historical ruins which were, like every other historical site in Israel,
inundated with American Taglit participants, we took the cable car back to the
base and ate a quick breakfast before heading off to the Dead Sea. The dead sea
really was relaxing, refreshing and fun… before I managed to get salty water in
my eyes, mouth and cut myself on a rock, needless to say I was in blinding
agony. Again, it was a great experience which everyone must do!
Another awesome week down, 7 days to look forward to!
Jake
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