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!
3 comments:
I hope the previous months have not been a waste I hope you always remember this time and that you have a been focusing on wether you still want to make aliah
glad your enjoying everything. live it up while you can. :-)
Love You,
~Laura~
Your comment about the small things in life that mean so much was very insightful. Your tutoring the young, teaching computers to the elderly, painting, meeting people--all that often accomplishes more than those big non-productive peace talks. Most teachers feel frustrated and think they are not making a difference, but years later students will remember what a difference a small act of kindness made in their lives. Your meeting with Racheli should remind you about the impression you have made in the past and the difference you are making now.
We're proud of you! G&G
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