Birthday Bash-- July 21

It has been said for a while that our cohort was like one big family. But, it wasn’t really true. We barely saw each other and had no knowledge of each other’s deepest, darkest secrets. Now, however, we can honestly say we get along just as well as your average family (a.ka. really well). J We have gotten sick and tired of seeing each other all day and then cried after being separated for a two hour activity. We have complained about what was served for dinner, fallen asleep on each other’s shoulders, and “borrowed” each other’s everything (shirts, dresses, food, towels, etc.)

But what truly makes a family close is celebrating together. Lucky for us, we have had three opportunities on this trip to really become “family”, both in the form of birthdays. Jessica’s birthday was on Sunday, July 17! She was serenaded multiple times throughout the day (in English) by her Los Angeles family before being surprised with a cake and congratulated by her Tel Aviv family (in Hebrew) as well. The celebration spanned about a third of the length of Israel as we started in Jerusalem that morning and then made our way down to camp out in the desert that night.

The second celebration was yesterday, Tuesday, July 20, when our amazingly talented medic, Shaylee, turned twenty-one! She was visited by many of the fellows as well as some “real” family later in the day. The third family party was the birthday of our fantastic JC, Emmanuelle! In honor of her eighteenth birthday, we surprised her with singing and cheering at every possible moment. At our evening circle, we celebrated with a yummy, Israeli cake, and presented her with a huge poster of our best wishes. We miss you all, but it is just so great to have birthday cake and sibling rivalry away from home…

Racheli Schuraytz

Ethiopian Experience

Here are only a few pictures from the cohorts' visit to the Ethiopian CommunityCenter in Yafo. The group had a great time learning 6 different Ethiopian traditional dances, listening to a women describe her family's exodus to the promised land, and eating authentic Ethiopian food made by the mother of one of the Tel Aviv Fellows, Getnet. It was so eye-opening to hear about the struggles the Ethiopians endured getting to Israel, and the ones they endure living here now.

Elyse Werksman

Homestay success

Hi everyone! Sorry it has been a while since the latest update on our progress. The Diller fellows have been enduring such jam-packed days in Tel Aviv with the Israelis that the moment we get home, our heads are on the pillow and we are fast asleep.

Since arriving at our homestay-homes on Sunday evening, the fellows have had the pleasure of seeing niches of Tel Aviv that we would otherwise not see, such as walking through "Dialogue in the Dark," meeting with the Deputy Mayor, speaking with Holocaust survivors, visiting an Ethiopian community center, seeing a play with Blind and/or Deaf performers, bargaining at the markets and much much more. There is so much this city has to offer that we are all torn by the fact that we only have 3 more full days left in such vibrancy!

Today is a new day, and I speak for everyone when I say that we are excited to celebrate the Sabbath on a different--more intimate level--with our host families. Each of us have different plans on celebrating, and we all look forward to experiencing each way.

Shabbat Shalom!

We are all missing home and can't wait to see you all soon!

Love,

Elyse Werksman

July 19--Off to Congress!

Today the Dillers had several short stops before we made our way to Congress. After spending the night at the agricultural college, the group visited Israel’s first Prime Minister David Be- Gurion’s grave. This grave stood upon a huge plateau with a breathtaking view of the endless desert that dominates the state of Israel. Following, the group visited the Bedouin tents, where we feasted on doughy pita-like bread, juicy chicken, flavorful corn and sweet tea. From the Bedouin hospitality the group separated from the Israelis until congress, and made our way to Givat Haviva for the North American Kenes! Since we’ve arrived, the group has made friends from across the US, including students from Pittsburgh, New Jersey (referred to as Metro-West) and San Francisco. As an introduction to each other, each group created a presentation that displayed who they were, and where they were from. Ours was a mash-up between “California Girls” and “We Run LA”!

Elyse Werksman

Tuesday, July 19 - The Beginning of a New Experience

Today marks a transition in our ISS from the Travel Week to the Congress week, beginning with 2 1/2 days at the NAK (North American Kenes-a pre Congress conference for just the North Americans).  Hard to believe that the first week is already behind us!

But first there is more to explore in the South together with our Tel Aviv fellows,  beginning with a visit to David Ben Gurion's grave. Located at his beloved Sede Boker kibbutz, the location of Pola and David BenGurion's resting, surrounded by carefully landscaped pathways with olive trees and shrubs, has incredible vistas of the stark and beautiful desert.  Ben Gurion fell in love with the potential of turning the desert green.  Was his dream fulfilled?  Is it still in process? Was his original dream counter to the modern concept of preserving nature?  These were questions the Fellows had to ponder as we traveled to our next location.

Next, we were privileged to be able to visit a really remarkable institution, Beit HaShanti.  When she was just 19 1/2, Mariuma Ben Yosef began inviting homeless youth into her home for Kabbalat Shabbat in order to give them a feeling of warmth, acceptance and safety. This was the beginning of Beit HaShanti.  Today, Beit HaShanti has two facilities:  The original in Tel Aviv, and the newer one in the desert between Sde Boker and Mitzpe Ramon.  The two locations provide love, support and acceptance for some of the thousands of abused and homeless teens in Israel looking for a place to heal and start a new life.  The sttory of Beit HaShanti is yet another example of "The Power of One:" How one person with one idea can make a huge difference!

Leaving Beit HaShanti, we went straight to eat a Bedouin feast in a Bedouin tent in the desert and to learn a little about who the Bedouins are and how they live today.  The meal, according to many of our Cohort, was the best one yet!!!!

Finally, it was time to say good bye to our Tel Aviv friends until we meet again at Congress, and off we went to Givat Haviva to start our 2 1/2 days of the North American Kenes together with five other North American Cohorts.

At the opening ceremony, each Cohort did a special introduction of themselves---L.A. rocked the house with their musical presentation!!  It's pretty amazing how loud 120+ teens can be!

Finally, the day was over and all of us were pretty exhausted!  However, with "Teen Zula" (A special tent/hang out place for Fellows complete with music and snacks and 100 new friends) beckoning, sleep would just have to wait!

There's so much more to come!!!!!

Shoshana

LA swagggg--North American Kenes [HD]

LA swagggg--North American Kenes [HD]

Ahhhh, North American Kenes -- click the link to see how L.A. introduced our cohort!

Sojourn in the Desert July 17 & 18




Getting started at the campsite near Arad



Setting up camp, team building exercises, making dinner together, rising at 4 to get to Masada in time for sunrise, eating a Bedouin feast in a tent in the desert and playing in the Dead Sea at Ein Gedi Spa....and heading north for the North American Kenes.....a lot packed into a short period of time!



Team building



   

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Mugging for the camera

Sunset at the campsite

Fixing dinner is a communal affair......

What, no electric can openers????



Happy Birthday, Jessica! 

Sunrise from on top of Masada --- 4:50AM

 Posing at Sde Boker - site of David Ben Gurion's grave

Eating again---this time a Bedouin feast! 




                                Taking in the pleasures of the Dead Sea at Ein Gedi Spa







Sunday July 17

Today the Americans experienced a range of emotions and tough memories while visiting Yad Vashem. Despite it being my second time, there is nothing repetitive or insignificant about this memorial. As we ventured through the state of the art building, with a California native tour guide, our tour began with the celebrations and stories from the end of the war in 1944. Still stoic, the group began understanding the brainwashing and propaganda the Europeans experienced, while under the Hitler reign. Quickly getting into the story of mass murders, graves and manipulation, we stood there dumbfounded and confused. Obviously we all know the story of what happened: there is no denying the millions of innocent mothers, sisters, daughters, sons, brothers and fathers who died, or the inhumane nature of the convoluted series of events that took place Germany. The memorial successfully drew from thousands of different forms of media, such as interviews, letters, diaries, wills, and pictures to illustrate the starving children, the grotesque living conditions, the blatant propaganda, and millions of people who fell victim manslaughter. As I write this now, I still can not seem to accept the millions of brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, sons and daughters lost, and the destroyed generations that resulted.With not a dry eye in the building, the nearby fire's ashes only amplified the tears and left us in a state of ineffable emotions.


Elyse Werksman

p.s. On a lighter note, we met up with the Israelis to start our second week of adventures!

Saturday July 16

Waking up on a beautiful Shabbat morning in Jerusalem, the fellows were presented with the opportunity to attend one of three synagogues. The services included one for Orthodox observance at the Great Synagogue, as well as Conservative and Reform services at other, and nearby, synagogues. Many fellows stepped out of their comfort zone and went to services different from their own practices: Reform Jews went to the Orthodox service, while Conservative Jews went to Reform services. Following our new experiences, the cohort had a profound discussion regarding similarities, differences and opinions they encountered. Perpetuating our Jewish culture, the cohort guide, Shido, gave the group a tour of the Old City, of the Jewish Quarters in particular; many of the stories he shared dated back thousands of years! The group indulged in a juvenile pleasure as they sat upon the stone outside the Old City and watched cars attempt to exit the Zion Gates: drivers usually received an applause upon their success. Our tour finished with an excellent view of the Western Wall and the area around it, as well as the Dome of the Rock and parts of the Muslim quarter. Finally, our guardians allowed us the privilege of roaming Ben Yahuda Street. Many view this area equivalent to the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica.Additionally, the fellows had the fortunate coincidence of running into other Diller teen groups, such as Baltimore, New Jersey, San Francisco and Montreal. Many purchased jewelry and clothing, while others purchased the delicious foods offered, such as Shwarma and Falafels. This was definitely a great way to finish up our limited time in such a cultured city!

Elyse Werksman and Kyle Wasserman

Friday July 15

This morning, the fellows finished their last morning on the Hukuk Kibbutz. After a quick breakfast and a few stretches, we stepped into the bus for a two and a half hour ride to the heart and soul of Israel: Jerusalem. Starting at the Herzl museum, we observed Binyamin Ze’ev Herzl on his arduous journey to Zionism, learning the importance of the legacy he left behind. Next, we visited the memorial park and cemetery where Herzl and many other important leaders of Israel, such as Golda Meir and Yitzhak Rabin are buried. Additionally, at the same cemetary were many soldiers who died in combat, and their wished to be buried on the grouds. The group was shocked to see many soldiers who fought for their country as young as ten years old. Making our way down the hill, we stopped at the Shuk of Machane Yehuda; the fellows finally had some free time to shop and practice their bargaining skills! Following a speedy hotel stop, we changed into Shabbat attire and walked to the Old City and the Western Wall. The cohort had a small private service nearby, in which we sang and shared laughs over young children’s letters to God. Armed with small slips of paper, we then walked to the Kotel. Although the men and women were separated, similar activities occurred on both sides. Many felt a powerful connection in a quiet prayer touching the wall, followed by singing and dancing with members of the Israeli Defense Force, Orthodox Jews, and many strangers who congregated for the same purpose. It was agreed by many that this experience was otherworldly and unforgettable.

Kyle Wasserman

July 12

We have arrived! After a long 14 hours in the air, the Diller Teen Fellows received a warm Tel Aviv welcome by the very own Tel Aviv Cohort.

Although not too crazy of a day, we were simply exhausted as we jumped on the bus from the Ben Gurion airport and drove up north to an exquisite plateau, Mizpe Ofir, and looked upon the Sea of Galilee (also known as the Kinneret) and the entire northeastern side of Israel. This was our first true site of Israel, and, to me, it was utterly breathtaking: the cool breeze added a very refreshing dimension to such natural beauty.



While at the Mizpe Ofir, we did several prayers, including the Shehecheyanu, which is custom when we see something new and/or something pleasant occurs. As we looked over Israel together as a cohort, it’s appropriate for us to recite this blessing.


Houses at Hukuk



Evening "Jam Session"

 We are now staying at a Kibbutz, the Hukuk Kibbutz, for the next three days. The accommodations are very comforting. The showers—a shower head, a drain, and curtain—provide no barrier to the toilet, so we are learning to spare water…and multi-task!

Elyse

July 13

WOW, WHAT A GREAT NOF!! We visited the Kinneret cemetery— This seaside cemetery is where many of the first pioneers are buried, including the poet, Rachel (Rachel Bluwstein Sela).From there we went on to another historic site: Hatzer Kinneret- one of the "cradles" of Labor Zionism-is one of the early institutions in the area established as a school to teach agriculture, and where many of the early pioneers lived before establishing their Kibbutzim.

Visiting the Kinneret cemetery...in broad daylight!

 

Exploring the shopping opportunities in Tzfat



After the cemetery the group visited Tzfat, which was a center for Judaism for more than 400 years before any violence from Palestine erupted. With cute boutiques and beautiful synagogues, the group had a great time exploring on their own, and finding great deals on 5 shekel iced coffees!

Elyse

We finally are logged on to the blog!!!!!

Hallelujah! Here we are, the second day of the touring portion and the only problem we have experienced is trying to log into the internet at our lodgings at Hukuk!  However, at any moment the server may go down, so please keep coming back to watch our progress....

Today has been a great, ad exhausting day of hiking, visiting places of note in the North, and drinking lots and lots of water!  Stay tuned for some real news from our Fellows (as long as we can get back online!).

Shoshana

We Have Landed

Pre-Departure Jam Session at LAX

So we are here, in the land of milk and honey, we are staying in Givat Haviva, the location of the North American Kennes and the Congress and it is awesome!  We have met all the other JC's and they are all excellent leaders and all very unique.  They don't even have too many stereotypical aspects about them so no worries there.  We have discussed everything from concerns to praises and we are preparing for the arrival of our common enemy, the North American Fellows.  It is a battleground of respect and obediance, but I feel prepared for the storm they will surely bring to Israel.  Of course this last part was mostly in jest but since most of my fellows will not even check this blog anyway (and only one has even posted) i don't think i'll get in too much trouble.  Tomorrow we meet the Israel JC's and Tzama (who create the Congress) and i am interested to see how/if the two groups mesh well with us Americans.  I am looking forward to seeing all my fellows very soon, and possibly even some friends from last year!  Have a great 15 hour flight, and i will see you on the other side North Americans!

Our pile of luggage - do you think we brought enough?

Stage One = In Progress

Hence my packing is deep into its many stages, and filling the suitcase is what remains to be finished. As I am making my countless trips between Vons, CVS and Walgreens, I am beginning to realize how much stuff I need! These next three weeks will definitely put to the challenge all of the things I supposedly "can not live without." Hopefully I can learn to live an ascetic life as I travel...

Only 2 days left!

~Elyse Werksman