Bittersweet – Goodbye Israel/Hello Barcelona!

I am legitimately lost for words. As I sit here and attempt to summarise my feelings about my 5 months in Israel on Aviv I struggle to find adequate vocabulary to quantify the number of great memories I have accrued, friendships I have made as well as positive changes in my character I have undergone. Israel is a very special place which means a lot of things to a lot of people, to me, the past 5 months have led me to believe that it represents hope for the Jewish people and without it we are significantly less rich as a people. Leaving Israel has brought me seriously mixed feelings; on one hand, I am very ready to move on, have a great time in Europe with new and old friends and eventually return home to Sydney and continue with daily life. On the other hand, Israel has been great to me and I leave behind some of my very best friends and in addition to this, I depart at an exceedingly volatile time following the discovery of the corpses of the 3 Israeli teens who were kidnapped whilst hitchhiking in the West Bank. I sincerely hope the situation does not escalate into yet another war in Israel, where there quite simply will be no victor thanks to mutual loss of life.

Aviv ended rather anti-climactically, after a final few days which included many introspective style programs as well as reflection on various relationships established, culminated in a farewell to the madrichim, a receiving of our Aviv jumpers, a slideshow of our time in Israel and a tear-jerking final goodbye session, I headed off to the airport still without a real comprehension that it had already been 5 months since I headed overseas. I sat at the airport for a full 6 hours waiting to checkin for my flight, which I passed by doing various quizzes online, before I boarded my flight from Tel Aviv to Munich, I flight which I slept the entirety of… including take-off. I then completed the final 2 legs of my poorly planned flight with a few hours spent waiting at each airport, Munich to Berlin and Berlin to Barcelona… yes I did go backwards to go forwards.

I finally arrived in Barca suitably exhausted, I collected my bags after my fears that the typically rude El Al staff had lost were thankfully not confirmed. I then attempted to head off to my accommodation only to be informed that the cab drivers were on strike today, using my newfound independence I hopped on a bus and headed for the city centre, arrived and then headed down to the metro station and hopped on a train, thinking how easy this travelling thing is and how soon I would be reclining in my accommodation. How wrong I was… soon after I realised I had boarded a train going the opposite direction that which I desired, and so promptly hopped off and headed in the correct way before missing my stop, opting to walk and getting lost in the winding labyrinth which are the streets of Barcelona. I did eventually arrive, and was shown to my quarters by the owner of the apartment; I sat down on the bed after over 12 hours in transit, let out a great sigh and thought “what have I gotten myself into?!” I was soon put at ease as I met up with Sam, Eli, Robbie, Robbie, Haim, Stevie, Ari, Jordan and Hannah, all people who I spent the much of my schooling life with, a good ol’ fashion reunion which really overwhelmed me. We soon headed off to the Park Guell, where we marvelled at a beautiful view of the entire city of Barcelona… also a dog slobbered on me. I soon retired home for a much needed rest.

The next day I awoke and ate some breakfast before heading off to the Camp Nou, home ground of the world famous FC Barcelona with Jordan, Eli and Sam. It was a truly wonderful tour, we saw the stadium inside and out, gazed at the museum and history of the club as well as some of its most captivating plays and players. I was truly able to comprehend where I was and I sure loved it! It was the perfect welcome to Europe! We soon headed back to our accommodation.

It truly was a whirlwind end to Israel and beginning to Europe, I sincerely hope I can make as many connections, new memories and cool experiences in Europe as I did in Israel. I am so excited to continue my travels for the next month and I hope that you can live the next two months vicariously through me via this blog!

Love from Barcelona!

Jake

Aviv: The Penultimate Post (Sderot, Raphsodia, ATVs and final Shabbat)

As I stared up at the kotel for a final time, I received a sudden burst of reality, an epiphany-style realisation that I would be departing the amazing country that is Israel on Monday following an unforgettable 5 months. It has been one unbelievable journey which has passed ridiculously quickly – most can still remember stepping off the plane! However, as a group, this final week has been about each other and been dedicated to the memories and friendships and more which have been realised and nurtured in a 5 months where we learnt just as much if not more about ourselves as anything else. A gap year is a special occurrence, one which most do not have the privilege of undertaking, and I believe it is important for each and every one of us to not take this experience for granted and use it as an opportunity to better ourselves, others and the world.

This week saw us visit Sderot, a town which has been ravaged by rocket fire from nearby Gaza for over a decade. It is a town where local playgrounds, schools and almost any other building you can think of also functions as a bomb shelter, a sad reality, and one which we learnt has hugely psychologically damaging effects on the population. We were guided through the area by an organisation known as ‘Kol Voice’ who work to ensure that both sides of the conflict are heard by groups and individuals both in Israel and all over the world. We were afforded the perspectives of both sides before and after viewing what like is like in Sderot, at one point we stood just a few kilometres from Gaza itself, a somewhat worrying thought. A large amount of discussion came from this, as all attempted to ingest the politics and reality of the situation with which Israel is faced, something which I found hugely positive. Sderot really gave me the reality of the situation on the ground, and that is the fact that people are being injured and for some bombs, death and destruction are the reality. Something that is unacceptable and must be stopped by any means – short of mutual death and destruction.

That night we watched the Socceroos be comprehensively beaten by Spain as Australia tumbled out of another world cup, however I wanted to document my pride in them on the internet… well done boys, you did your country proud, keep your heads high and come back stronger in 2018!

The following day we headed up north to the Kinneret where we met up with the other Australian gap year programs for the ZFA’s first annual Raphsodia, an event where we were to build a raft and sail across the Kinneret. Aviv one managed to build their raft and get it in the water with a few indiviudals doing the bulk of the work… I shan’t name names. Nevertheless, we eventually got our raft together and she was more than seaworthy, we boarded and sailed three hours across the Kinneret before arriving at Golan Beach! Raphsodia was a great opportunity for team building during the construction process as well as an amazing chance to say a final farewell to our friends, new and old, from other programs some who we won’t be seeing for a number of months if not years.

Leaving raphsodia we headed to Jerusalem, our final accommodation of Aviv, arriving late at night and heading straight to bed. The next morning we awoke bright and early, much to the derision of my roommates Jason and Toby, and headed to the Judean Desert for a spot of ATV driving. This activity was exceedingly enjoyable as everyone harked back to five months ago, the last time we had all driven anything even resembling a car! After this we were afforded a few hours in the city centre to run our final errands.

Friday night saw our final Shabbat of Aviv and we fittingly headed to the Kotel, our first and last group Shabbat there. Of course being a group of Australian teenagers, a flurry of photography ensued, but following this we headed off into the wall itself where the boys conducted our own little kabbalat Shabbat service. It was an incredibly fitting symbolic end to the program as we all sang and linked arms for a final time at the amazingly spiritual place that is the Western Wall.

That night we gathered and voiced our first memories of Aviv as well as our concerns for the future, knowing our time together is now running out. Our final three days will no doubt yield more amazing memories and nostalgia from the past five months.

\This is my second last blog post Israel, it has come to the point now where almost everything I undertaken is the last time I do so. This is a scary thought, one which seemed millennia away months ago, but it has now arrived and it is incredibly bittersweet. A summary of my feelings on the entirety of Aviv shall feature in my final Israel blog post.

Another awesome few days down, 3 days to look forward to!

Shabbat Shalom,

Jake

Aviv JNF Week

After missing out on Desert Experience it was a pleasant surprise to find ourselves in Nitzana, a small commune located in the Negev adjacent to the Egyptian border. JNF week kicked off with a visit to Sha’ar Ha’Negev, a school whose entire campus was recently rocket-proofed due to an abundance of attacks which had disrupted learning there in the past. We were shown around by a group of 11^th graders who explained to us the ins and outs of life in the area as well as treating us to an impromptu singing performance. Next up was what is known as the ‘salad tour’ in which we learnt of the agricultural intricacies of growing fruit and veg in Israel’s exceedingly dry desert. Following this we were introduced to our guide for the following 2 days, Liam whose youthful appearance caused many to question when his bar mitzvah was scheduled for… however he exceeded all expectation with his energy and legions of knowledge. Liam began by showing us around the ‘Anzac trail.’ Soon after, when we were all suitably exhausted we headed to Nitzana, our accommodation for the next 2 nights. The day was rounded out by an entertaining program run by Liam and Peleg (the other group’s guide) known as ‘Israeli Night,’ in which we were quizzed on our knowledge of Israeli culture such as food, celebrities, music and famous people.

Monday brought a nice change of pace as we headed off on a bike ride around Nitzana, noting its proximity to Egypt as well as the beautiful desert surroundings. Next we visited the Desert Agricultural Research and Development Centre, where we were suitably bored due to a combination of a 7 hour gap between meals as well as the unbearable heat and the less than inspiring topic of discussion. Following lunch Liam led a program which aimed to inspire us to make a change in the world via an identification of contemporary issues and the fact that we do nothing to impact positively on issues which we do care about. Subsequently we were shown to Nitzana’s interesting scientific section which houses quite a few cool scientific exhibits such as a cooling mechanism for the area and more. That night we spent out in the desert, cooking our own dinner and enjoying the company of each other and the sand dunes which surrounded us.

A somewhat interesting trek through the Yatir Forest where we learnt of the goings-on during the times of the 2^nd temple such as the disposal of bodies and the making of wine was followed by a far too belated lunch at Kibbutz Kermamim.  There we learnt about Kibbutz committees (again) as well as the kibbutz’s evolution through privatization and issues of religious and secular members of the communities. Our next stop was an archaeological dig in the area where Bar Kokhba and his men hid in tunnels from the Romans thousands of years ago. We were able to uncover small pieces of pottery but nothing more. We were also able to crawl through the caves whilst learning of their origins and uses. Following this we finally made it to our accommodation for Tuesday and Wednesday, Nes Harim, where we had previously resided for the ZFA’s Anzac Day ceremony.

Wednesday saw us head into the Old City of Jerusalem where our tour guide Eytan detailed the battle exploits of the Jews in this area in the 1948 Independence War. I can confidently say without doubt that Eytan was one of the best guides we had ever had due largely to his charisma, humour and ability to engage with the distractions and thoughts of the teenage mind. However there was something else on the boys’ minds as we were granted leave for a few hours to watch one of the most important football rivalries in Australian sport, the state of origin. It was an amazing site to see roughly 30 Australian gap yearers gathered in a Jerusalem Bar cheering NSW on to a momentous win! Following a few hours of free time in Jerusalem where much shopping was engaged in, we headed back to Nes Harim.

A 2 hour hike began Thursday which was followed by lunch at Latrun another important place of battle in the Independence War of 1948. Next we visited Neve Shalom Israel’s only truly multicultural village where Jews, Muslims and Christians live side by side in peace. Our final activity of the week was a visit to the Herzl Museum where we watched a short video and learned about the life and achievements of Theodore Herzl, the father of modern Zionism. Soon after we were released for free weekend.

Another awesome week down, 30 days to look forward to!

Jake

Aviv Poland Journey: Day 2 (Yad Vashem Cont.)

Day 2 at Yad Vashem began with an experience which we were truly privileged to enjoy; listening first hand to the story of Chana Pick, a survivor of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp and a childhood friend of Anne Frank. Her story was unbelievable, we heard of her luck to remain in her family home for numerous years of the war thanks to various coincidences as well as strokes of luck which saw her and her sister both survive the war in extremely unlikely circumstances. We hung on her every word, recognising how lucky we were to be hearing the account of someone who endured the horrifying events which many consider today a faded nightmare. For me, it brought home just how lucky I am to be undertaking is journey, as well as the recognition that we are the last generation lucky enough to be hearing from survivors themselves and as such it is our responsibility to pass on the stories we accrue on our journey.

Our next session was a workshop with our tour guide Jonathan in which we took a closer look at the ghettos of Eastern Europe, namely Lodz and Warsaw, and the lives of those who lived there. We heard of the inversion of traditional bread-winning hierarchy in Warsaw as children were forced to scavenge and smuggle food in order to feed their starving families. We watched and heard testimonies of those who had spent time in these shocking places, one testimony particularly resonated with me personally. One woman stated that she had gone on dates in which she had passed rotting corpses in the streets and simply ignored them, for me this represented the an alternate and shocking normality created in the ghettos and eventually the camps, wherein death and destruction were simply the norm and people strived to live as normal lives as they could to little avail. We compared the actions of the leaders of these ghettos, one of whom committed suicide when the Nazis came for their ghettos citizens and the other who sacrificed the children in order to save the adults, eventually saving 8,000 lives. A debate arose as to who had made the correct decision, an answer which simply cannot be answered as to our inability in 2014 to know the entire background of the decision as well as our incapacity to avoid the use of hindsight to make an objective deliberation.

Our next workshop delved into the end of the war, the establishment of displaced persons camps as well as life after the holocaust. We learnt of ridiculously snap decisions for marriage due to an unwillingness to be alone following the deaths of entire families. What struck me about this was that our ‘first world problems’ and thoughts of loneliness are simply insignificant and irrational compared to the situations which these people found themselves, a lesson which I believe my generation in particular must learn. Next up was a visit to Yad Vashem’s resource centre where we worked on ceremonies and presentations which we would present sometime over the next week, much research was undertaken. Finally, we spent roughly an hour in the visual centre, afforded some individual time with the enormous video database of testimonials, films and Nazi propaganda amongst other things, which is only available at Yad Vashem itself. We were informed that the video library contains over 60,000 individual testimonials, despite being worked on since 1995, which allowed me to reflect on the unbelievable amount of individuals whose lives were affected by this traumatic episode of human history which I hope shall never be repeated.

Jake

Aviv Poland Journey: Day 1 (Yad Vashem)

The holocaust is a time in human history which simultaneously repulses and intrigues people from all walks of life, especially young Jews due to its intrinsic role in the formation of their personal and family heritage and history. I feel as though in some way my Jewish education, both formal and informal, has led up to the next week or so in which I will visit the sites of some of the worst atrocities ever committed and consolidated hours and hours of learning about the Second World War and the genocide which it encompasses. Due to its importance on an emotional level to both myself and the entire group, I have decided to make a concerted effort to blog my thoughts and feelings each and every day of this journey through Prague and Poland.

Today was the first day of the journey as we departed Kibbutz Galon and arrived at Jerusalem’s holocaust museum, Yad Vashem. This was my first visit to the massive compound, which we were informed stretches over 2 square miles,  which placed me in the minority with many other Aviv participants having visited this incredible museum previously. A few things struck me about this place which I had already heard so much about; firstly, the sheer size of the complex which I personally felt was a symbol for the humongous importance of the remembrance of these events to both the Jewish population as well as all of mankind.

We were introduced to our Scottish/Welsh tour guide Jonathan who acted as our walking holocaust encyclopaedia, possessing a hugely impressive memory which allowed him to simply recite huge chunks of German writing on command. Jonathan, who had already been a tour guide at yad vashem for 6 years, guided us through the valley of the communities which included the name of each and every European community which was destroyed during the Second World War, the number of names was astounding. We were given the opportunity to find the name of a community which held special importance to ourselves or our families.

Next we headed to the hall of questions in which we were given the opportunity to examine some of the deep questions surrounding the actions of the Nazis, such as “where was god during the holocaust?” and “how did people become mass-murderers” accompanied by expert or controversial opinions on the subject. This bred great discussion and led to deeper thought.

Our next major stop was the new Yad Vashem museum which chronicled holocaust history between 1939 and 1945 and allowed us to learn the history behind the events accompanied by testimonies, letters and other important artefacts. Jonathan manoeuvred and guided us through the museum until we reached the final room, which contained the names of roughly 4.5 million Jews who perished in the holocaust accompanied by the pictures of many. It was simply harrowing to see the unbelievable amount of people who lost their lives depicted in such an understandably large quantity. We were briefed about the following week and then headed to our accommodation at Bayit Vagan opposite Yad Vashem, we are to return to the museum in the morning.

Today posed several questions to myself, from both historical and emotional perspectives. Firstly, where does religion fit into our commemoration of such important historical events? Can we really include g-d in any discussions surrounding the cause and transpiration of the holocaust? Surely, there must be a separation between religion and academics but at the same time, a rabbi said something in one of the exhibits which really got to me; how come we take the good and don’t say therefore g-d exists? But rather, we see the bad in the world and take it as evidence that g-d does not exist? Food for thought.

Jake

Aviv Community Program: Last Week in Ra'anana

The final week of community program could not have gone quick enough for some as the most frequently used terms in the Ra’anana camp somehow managed to be “anxiety” and “I’m done” by a long haul thanks exclusively to the females residing there. As the countdown to our final volunteering session at Leket pushed into overdrive the excitement to move on to an exciting new chapter of the program peaked, for some, Ra’anana had transformed from the world’ greatest location into a never-ending hellhole. Sunday was Yom Hashoah, the day in which Israel nationally recognises and mourns the 6 million Jews who perished in the holocaust, Ra’anana’s commemoration was nothing short of remarkable as almost the entire population turned out in Yad Levanim, the town centre, for a moving service. Despite it being conducted entirely in Hebrew it was still unbelievably relatable and emotional.

Monday Tuesday and Wednesday all began in the same way, featuring volunteering at Leket dividing various fruits into their places and divvying up orders, following this we headed back to the Mircaz Klita (absorption centre). Monday night saw our first peula in the lead-up to our impending trip to Poland in which we addressed some harrowing statistics about the holocaust and discussed our thoughts and feelings about Poland and the holocaust itself. We were also assigned the biography of a real person whom we could relate to throughout our emotional journey. Tuesday was a special day in which the madrichim treated us to a lavish lunch at Bleecker Bakery at the Raanana Mall, food which plainly and simply made the food which we had been making ourselves seem like complete and utter tasteless filth; later that night we were further treated to a movie. Wednesday night, our last in Ra’anana featured a peula run by Amir about the Israel’s history focusing mainly on its many wars and their effects on Israeli society.

When Thursday finally arrived the girls could hardly contain their excitement, our final session of Leket was over before we knew it and the excruciating task of packing up our apartments came and went; until finally we were allowed our final leave of absence. Some headed to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem whilst others dispersed to various other destinations across the country, as the curtain closed on a great month in Ra’anana on community program.

I don’t usually share the nuisances of my own personal free weekend however I have chosen to make an exception this weekend due to the unbelievably amazing surroundings which I found myself in. Myself and three school friends (Sam, Eli and Haim) from Sydney managed to find accommodation smack bang in the centre of the old city of Jerusalem, a 5 minute walk to the Kotel, which I found myself attending at each and every opportunity including in the middle of the night. Friday night was particularly special as we found ourselves joining in dancing and singing with soldiers at the Kotel before participating in a kabbalat Shabbat service with many other Australian gap-yearers, Shnat people, IBC and many others; as we looked around at where we were I was absolutely struck by the amazingness of my surroundings, the kotel, a place of ground-breaking spiritual gravity. We had arranged to be sent to a Shabbat meal at a family following our visit to the kotel, and soon found ourselves at a dinner in the middle of Mea Shearim (Jerusalem’s most religious neighbourhood) alongside a rabbi, his family and roughly 20 yeshiva students. At first, I was quite uncomfortable in such a foreign environment but quickly enough we got into the conversation and soon found out these were just people like anyone else. It was an amazing experience and an awesome weekend, one which I simply felt I had to put into writing and share.

Another awesome week down, 56 days to look forward to!

Thanks for reading!

Jake

ANZAC Day 2014

ANZAC day is not just a commemoration and celebration of Australia’s past and present servicemen and women but rather a symbolic occasion on which each and every Australian acknowledges the forging of our national identity, personified largely by the feats of the ANZACs during the First World War. On Australian shores, the ANZAC spirit radiates a societal value of mateship, a willingness to help out our fellow man and come together to celebrate things important to us. In line with these values, there was no better way for participants of Australian gap year programs in Israel to celebrate ANZAC day than to come together for a day of teambuilding and bonding.

Thursday morning began in educational fashion as individual movements and programs visited different sites relating to the ANZACs which are present around Israel; Aviv began with a trip to the edge of the Hayarkon River which featured a statue dedicated to the battles of World War One’s eastern front on which the ANZACs were pivotal. Our JNF guide did an admirable job of explaining the intricacies of the role of Australian soldiers in the claiming of Israel by the allies from the Ottoman Empire, then named Palestine, it was captured through successful battles at Beer Sheva and then Jerusalem. Our next stop was the hub of Israel’s water recycling program in Kfar Saba, a program which contributes 80% of Israel’s overall drinking water, a stat which leads the world by a huge margin to its nearest competitor. This stop further solidified our knowledge of Israel’s role as a leading force in world technology. Our final stop before consolidating with the rest of Australia’s gap year program was to the JNF’s tree planting centre in Nachshon Forest, at which we were afforded the opportunity to perform the mitzvah of planting a tree in Israel, the only country in the world with more trees now than when it was founded.

We finally arrived at Nes Harim, our accommodation for the night, at around lunch time, greeted by the smiling faces of friends who take up residence on one of the many other Israel programs offered to Australians at the completion of their high school educations. As old friends reunited in all new surroundings the day got off to a flying start, soon after a delicious and plentiful lunch we were divided into program-mixed groups in which we were to participate in a variety of teambuilding exercises which saw friendships, both new and old, blossom. It was a marvel to watch over 250 young Jewish Australians interact with their counterparts in a beautiful natural setting. We were also treated to a demonstrations in Japanese martial art as well as Krav Maga, the deadly martial art of Israelis. We watched in awe as the instructors belted one another, until one humorously drew blood from the nose of the other prompting multiple jocular comments. Free time followed prior to dinner as a ‘forced march’ was offered by our instructors, an invitation taken up by the majority who undertook the 4 kilometre walk with gumption. A barbecued dinner soon put smiles on the faces of most before the day was rounded out by chill time in which most took the opportunity to make new friends, meet new people, wash themselves and finally get some shut eye.

Friday was ANZAC day itself, and it was a pleasure to see bus after bus of young Australians arrive at Mount Scopus for the official Jerusalem commemoration, each dressed in their respective uniforms or official garments. The Australian ambassador to Israel as well as multiple other dignitaries were in attendance as we witnessed a traditional ceremony which saw the usual staples of the last post, the ode and the laying of wreaths performed with utmost respect to the heroes of a nation situated on the other side of the world to where we stood, however to us it wasn’t just any nation, it was our nation. A huge amount of organisations were represented included almost all of the belligerents of the First World War as well as the United Nations and others, with all paying their respects through the laying of a wreath, including Australia’s many gap year programs, represented by carefully chosen participants of each program. Overall, the ceremony was unbelievably respectful and it made each and every one of us, miss home in some way, shape or form. The service was fittingly concluded by a mass recital of the mourners Kaddish in the Jewish section of the Mount Scopus cemetery.

I am personally exceedingly grateful that we were given the opportunity to celebrate ANZAC Day in fitting fashion on Israeli soil, after all, we are first and foremost Australian representatives in the holy land and what better way to represent our country than to be ambassadors on one of our country’s most important days. I hope that this wonderful initiative by the ZFA is continued well into the future.

By Jake Rosengarten

Aviv Days 46, 47 and 48!

As the day finally arrived where we were to leave the variously reviewed Kibbutz Yechiam the atmosphere was positive with Jerusalem the much anticipated destination. We awoke bright and early, ingested an underwhelming breakfast, our last kibbutz meal, consisting of eggs and cereal. After a quick room clean-up and pack, we boarded the bus, of course not before a group photo, assuming our positions for the ride to the holiest of cities. Arriving at the Yitzchak Rabin hostel, our home for the night, we were struck by the overwhelmingly nice appearance of the place as well as the presence of our ‘cousins’ Aviv Group 2 with whom we had not been reunited for just on a month. After the exchange of pleasantries we got down to our first program of the day, led by ex-Moriah student George Schneider who guided our discussions of Judaism and Social Justice through the introduction of various Biblical texts. It was a rather intriguing and enlightening program, following which he joined us for a delicious lunch, which reminded our taste buds of what genuinely appetizing food actually tasted like.

Following meal time, Amir led us through a program on the topic of religiosity in Israel and the diaspora, and the differences within. Again, a program which was greatly enjoyed by most. However, with a big night in looming, the minds of most switched quickly to the clock and how they were to create an eye catching costume for the Purim Street parties which we were to attend. Following pre-drinks on the hostels beautiful roof we headed to the shuk at Mahane Yehuda where entire streets were filled with revellers and DJs pumping party music all hours of the night. Needless to say we were in our element, surrounded by Shnat and IBC Australians amongst Israelis, it was an absolutely crazy night which was enjoyed by everyone, especially as we fulfilled one of the mitzvot of Purim in consuming alcohol…

People gradually returned to their rooms in the early hours of the morning, not looking forward to the minimal amount of sleep they knew they would receive. At breakfast, which was delicious, photos were reviewed as most pieced together a long night and laughed at new memories. As we checked out, cabs were called as we headed to a new hostel for a free day in Jerusalem, the Abraham Hostel accommodated almost the entirety of both groups. However, I shan’t outline the details of the day as all went their separate ways and completed various tasks which needed doing.

Tuesday morning saw multiple groups of people make their way to our bus departure point, Binyanei Ha’uma, many had trouble reaching this destination and weren’t shy informing the madrichim of this fact. The bus ride to Eilat, was proceeded, with a pitstop at Ein Gedi, to take in the sights therein including not so hot springs and waterfalls whose natural beauty brought about numerous photo opportunities. Bagels were on offer for lunch and were gone in record pace. After lunch we re-boarded the bus and headed for our final destination, Eilat, where we are to stay for the next roughly 5 nights (to the best of my knowledge). We arrived at the hostel following a small detour to a historical statue capturing the capturing of Eilat in 1949 through the iconic image of a soldier hoisting a handmade mock-up of the Israeli flag. Our lodgings, known as the Eilat Field School, whilst in a frustrating location away from the city centre, are rather nice and as we learnt at dinner, serves delicious meals. We are looking forward to exploring Eilat in the coming days.

Another awesome few days down, 104 days to look forward to!

Jake

Aviv Days 42 – 45

As our time on kibbutz comes to an end so do our short-lived Hebrew lessons with our beloved teacher Morah Meital. Wednesday was the penultimate lesson and it was followed by a lunch of spaghetti bolognaise and then a movie named ‘Bufor’ which chronicled the experiences of soldiers stationed at a fortress just inside the Lebanese Border during the Lebanon war. Dinner consisted of sausages and was proceeded by an extremely interesting program which explored the positives and negatives of social media use in contemporary society and its connotations upon youth and adults alike. Bedtime completed another day at Yechiam as we drew closer to venturing off our now accustomed surroundings and heading back to the big smoke that is Jerusalem.

Thursday brought our final ulpan lesson which was highlighted by the consumption of copious amounts of junk food provided by, without doubt, our favourite ulpan teacher in the entirety of Israel (Our only one…). Lunch was next up and featured Basel’s patented shwarma meat. Room clean up followed as the squeegees were once again removed from their resting places and engaged in the cleaning of numerous tiled surfaces. As each and every room passed our room inspections we proceeded to relax until dinner which comprised of meat patties, rice and peas, a more than adequate meal. Our final activity of the day was a program which highlighted the evolution of television via the medium of a documentary hosted by a British man whose pompousness and dark sense of humour had some immediate disliking his each and every statement. Nonetheless, the premise of the program certainly had a heightened validity whether or not it got through to everyone.

Friday was the day in which we were to head off to the big bad city of Nahariya and scour the vendors for cheap yet satisfactory Purim attire which was to last us both for the kibbutz’s own Purim party which was to be held that night as well as our nights in Jerusalem. Of course when in town everyone opened up their wallets and splurged upon delicious foods and drinks and most visited Nahariya’s premier shwarma dealership. With costumes in hand and stomachs full we gradually headed back to Yehiam mentally prepared for the big night which we knew was ahead of us. Sure enough, the night finally arrived as everyone donned their costumes and hit the bar. The theme was Las Vegas, a theme ignored by most, props to Harry for going as a magician the most Vegas-y of the group.  After an exceedingly hazy night we headed for bed at various hours, all assured of numerous new stories which we would vaguely remember for the months and years to come.

As we awoke the next morning, some remembering more of the previous night than the others, people steadily emerged from their quarters looking not in the best of sorts. We were granted the chill time we so dearly craved and were allowed to do however we pleased for almost the entirety of the day. Following lunch, the majority of the group headed up to Yechiam’s very own fortress, which was built by the crusaders in the 12^th century before being occupied by the Ottoman’s during their empirical reign and finally being used by the kibbutzniks to defend against invaders in more recent times. It was a fun experience and many got some solid photos out of it. After dinner we spent our final night on kibbutz Yechiam with a short program run by the media committee comprised of two short videos in which we reflected on our kibbutz experience both verbally and photographically. Family time featuring red light green light was the final item on the agenda as all retired to their rooms to pack their bags eager to depart for pastures new at the bright and early time of 7:45AM. Well Kibby Yechy, it’s been real! Thanks for having us!

Another few awesome days down, 107 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 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