WHEN A DREAM BECOMES A REALITY! AND EVERYTHING COMES TOGETHER!

      Caf Tet b'November (29th of November). A day in history where a dream became a reality. For those who don't know what I'm talking about and most Israeli's don't about it either which is a surprise considering it was a big moment in the creation of this country. November 29th 1947 was the day the UN voted and approved the partition of Israel. Yes Israel didn't officially get its independence till May of 1948 but this day was where the reality and beginning of the 6 month journey to independence.

     Yesterday we went to Atlit where we visited a interment camp where they brought illegal immigrants who tried to come into the country mostly by sea, who didn't have the appropriate papers, and the British only allowed so many people in at one time. so they either were turned back and sent else where or put into the camp. We saw the disinfecting area, some of the living quarters, and what not. it was interesting because we saw items from the original camp form 47.  and they showed us some videos of some of the people were in the camp and at the same time we saw someone that was there that was visiting and she was actually a person who was in that camp 61-62 years ago. So that was interesting even though she wasn't really comfortable to talk to use about it. This location for me summed up a lot from my first trip here in israel. in 2000 I came here on a program called through NFTY called Exodus. The exodus was one of the ships that was commisioned in attempt to bring jews from europe to israel illegally. it was a long venture but they made it. however like everyone else those who were on that ship was brought to Atlit to the camp.

      After that we took a short hike up along the Carmel mountains along a path that was walked along when the people in the camp broke out and made their way to a near by kibbutzim to safety.  there it was a tough hike up, and even hard when we got to the finger hold caves. where they were pitch black and all we had were dinky tea candles that we used to light the way it was sad. they hike down too wasn't any better. but a hell of a work out yet kind of painful. i strained my alkalis tendon while going up the mountain. from there we went to akko where we went to the arce fort. where it really had been used by the turks as a prison. It at one point held 9 men men who were apart of the yirgun a radical freedom fighting group. these men were imprisoned for fighting for something they believed in, a dream, a dream they would never get a chance to see come true.

      Yesturday was a day that dreams were realized. six years ago another dream was realized... my dream of coming to Israel the same way these immagrants came over 60 years ago. I came over 6 years ago on the Exodus experience re-enacting the Exodus voyage, and landing in the port of Haifa as they did years before. what a feeling and what a experience it was, to be able to hear first hand accounts from people on the ship was just heart felt experience.   it was a day that for me summed up a lot of what I have learned and experienced over the years. not only did their dreams of coming to the promised land get realized but mine have too. for years I dreamed about coming to israel and to have come over the way I did 6 years ago after really seeing what I did yesturday and with my background and beliefs, I couldn't really see a more fitting way of doing it! :-) well thats if for now.. till next time peace from the middle east!

 

ISRAELI WINTER, THE START OF A NEW ADVENTURE, AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE

     Israeli winters... The rainy season... When they say it rains here in Israel during the winters, they sure as hell dont lie! but i find it interesting... I can kind of compare it to Cleveland weather at times... you won't know when its coming. you wont know how much you'll get! and as we say in Cleveland if there's bad weather wait five minutes it will change! but it really comes down! the last week or so it rained a decent amount and has cooled down pretty nicely! it was very refreshing! just being to stand out side however wed there was RAIN, SNOW! AND A TORNADO!.. Also in the excitement of israel when it comes to nature! there have been few earthquakes the last 2 weeks apparently and i haven't felt them both but they were pretty big around the 4.2 range or so... they have said it could be leading to a bigger one in the near future.. this should be interesting!

     So I went to Beit Shean again this past weds/thurs. to be there to see the new prespective delegates. Thursday I met the 40 possible delegates and watched them as they did various group building challenges as they were being evaluated by professionals. I had the chance to speak to some of them it was very interesting to talk to them tell them about cleveland and asked them about things kinda seeing how their english was. I got to know a lot of them and they got to know me too. It was funny Tzvia and director of the program who was the leader when i did the program 6 yrs ago. It was interesting when I heard some of the names listed something clicked in my head. Could they be sibling of kids from my group? and yes they were. Noga shemesh a potential delegate is the younger sis of Maya who was apart of my group and looks just like her too. then there was a boy david levy. David is the brother of a Racheli Levy. Now here's the interesting thing that I will tell you all about Racheli and my memories of her. the biggest one is one that to this day still touches my heart and means a lot to me. It was our last day in Beit Shean and we were saying our goodbyes to everyone it was very hard for all of us we didn't want to leave cause we got so close to one another we were practically like family in that short amount of time thats how close we got and how effective this program was. So as I was saying we were saying our goodbyes and most of us in tears, including Racheli. she is a very bright and openminded person she was great to get to know back then. and I wish I hadnt lost touch with her. I came up to her and she just gave me this big warm embrace as she was crying. Now for me what she did meant way more than anything in this world at the time. You might be asking me why is that? well Racheli is a shomer negiah orthodox woman. They don't normally touch another man if they aren't married to them. Thus why it meant so much. This was something that never really happens normally. She is a great woman and I miss her to death. How Ever from what I heard she is due to be married in the next year or so so Racheli Mazel tov! So in all it was interesting experience to meet  them all, and I can't wait to work with the 16 that have been chosen as delegates!

      So this weekend was another Building future leaders (BFL) conference. this friday we went to be'er sheva and learned about a program where people live in a struggling shithole of a area that was basically renovated and preserved by the people that live there. So we went there learned about the program and wound up doing some hard labor of our own there. some of us laid new bricks on a path, others painted a shack. I painted the shack and i have the green suvinior on my jacket to remind me of it too... But that's besides the point! but as i was telling people afterwards. that i have been hear for three months volunteering in ramla and during that time i really haven't felt like i have done much here let alone felt like i've really done anything meaningful until that day! I figured that sometimes its not the big things that mean a lot is the small things that mean the most in life. And i am greatful to have been able to do that for that community, let alone the country! we also found out that the project that we are working on we have to write up a legitimate business plan for this and it will be submited to  a network of people around the world.. which we really didn't expect, and kind of put some pressure on us to make this look good. and who knows what could come of these it could be something huge! so this should be a crazy 5 weeks a head of me! OY! Well thats pretty much it for me here. till next time y'all Peace from the middle east!

P.S. if i forgot HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE!

BREAKING IT DOWN, SERVING MY COUNTRY, AND GOING TO A FAMILIAR PLACE

So where to start? well how about the beginning hehe! So Tuesday as a big group we all took the ever so exciting 6 am trip via train to Tel-Aviv where we met up with other masa people to go to a kibbutz in the Carmel, where  a professional dance troupe/ballet troupe is based. We had the opportunity to watch them rehearse along with a kinda more modern dance troupe perform. just prior to the performance we had the honorable chance to meet the director/ choreographer Rami be'er for those who do not know who that is and I'm sure you haven't... Rami is a reknown choreographer who take his troupe around the world and also is the choreographer for the israel version of so you think you can dance! t.v. show. afterwords we had the oppertunity to learn some hip hop moves from a different choreographer. Yes i got down i got funky! hehe! after all that excitement and work out we went to a music institute just out side of naharia it was very nice. it was a place where jews and arabs co-exist and are able to perform as one. it was very nice and interesting to see.

     after that i wound up going back to tiberias with that group and stayed there a couple evenings. however weds. I had the honor of doing my service for the country and volunteered on a army base in the golan heights area. I had the fun duty of stuffing padding in the soft shell of the combat helmets of the tank crew. it was a major and tough challenge but i prevailed, and with that done they are a bit closer to real protection!

    today thursday was a day i have been waiting for, for a long time, it was my great return to the small city of Beit Shean after a 6 year absence, I returned. there I met up with Zvia Shelly probably one of the coolest women I've met while in israel. She was in charge of ambassadors for unity when I did it 6 years ago. it was awesome! we talked a bit about the project i'll be working on for my program i'll be working with Ambassadors in the early stages of the process here, and then in cleveland i'd be helping them on their end of things. after we talked about that she took me on a brief run around of the city and took me to see the memorial of Art Neparstek who was a major contributor and reason why we have such a strong connection to beit shean. after that we went to this resteraunt that has become apparently a tradition for them to take the clevelanders to at least once for a meal. i was no exception. we had a wonderful mean along with another person who is taken on the task of putting together the delegation of the israeli ambassadors. after that she wanted to show me a different side of beit shean it was between either archiological or nature. i chose nature. she wound up taking me to places that no one would normaly know about let alone see in beit shean. the first place we went was to the mouth of the stream that turns in to the sachne it was amazing to see the water was so crystal clear and clean you could see all the fish in the water including a little crab crawling around, it was just simply amazing! i couldnt have asked for a more beautiful site! then she took me to this litte park/ water fall which was like in the most unexpected place that is tucked in the back of some fields it was contaminated so wasnt as pretty but nice either way. then it was time for me to make my long trek home! its true what they say if you want anything or want to get anywhere you have to be able to throw your weight around! meaning in order to get through a line dont be affraid to throw some elbow! and bot did i ever have to! dont worry no one was hurt! lol! other than that nothing really else to report for now! hope everyone is happy and healthy and i will see you in a couple mnths!  till next time all. PEACE FROM THE MIDDLE EAST!

 

fun in jerusalem

     So last we pretty uneventful to say the least at least until thursday. a thursday to remember. thursday we and when i say we i mean most of the tiberias and the ramla group went to jerusalem for a HADAG NACHASH (snake fish) concert. it was awesome!!! prior to the event there was a arts festival there was drummers, fire twirlers, and dudes in wierd costumes out side of the venue inside there was more! there was break dances and a mural that everyone contributed to!  after a while of the fun we all flowed into the theater when they all started to play a song. and it got everyone up and dancing it was kinda amazing everyone just dancing in the isles and what not! they played the same song over and over again! once they got settled they had a few speakers wellcome the roughly 700-800 masa participants to the event. then the fun part! THE CONCERT!

    it was a awesome everyone was up singing, dancing just completely getting into it!  they sang some of their more popular songs hi'ne ani ba! and the sticker song! i couldn't asked for a better night. what made it even better i saw a friend from home which definitely made my day. it was great seeing her!

      

ps: coming to israel my peak weight was 313 and now i'm down to a woping 273 i havnt been this low since my senior year in high school!! :-)