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