שלום Diller teens! Much love to Google Translate! So the LA fellows have just experienced our final Shabbaton before the trip to Israel. Two members of our cohort generously donated their houses for the weekend, allowing us to come together in close, homey settings. Each teen took on a role for the weekend, mine being Shabbat rituals. One of the hardest tasks was planning the meals for the weekend, and two teens accepted the challenge in stride. They managed to take every dietary restriction into account, and supplied us with an abundance of really good food, including kosher doughnut holes. I learned that it's possible to make anything kosher.
The weekend focused on preparing for Israel and getting to know each other a little better. The number of programs allowed me to broaden my knowledge of Israel's history, including Israel's most difficult moments. I think it's important to go into Israel with a little bit of background knowledge. It's a lot harder to develop an opinion on important Israeli issues when we don't know the full story. An activity called "What Would You Do?" (Am I the only one who thought of that TV show with John Quinones?) made us take positions on uncomfortable topics like the debate over Gilad Shalit and an issue involving a potential suicide bomb in an ambulance. In a later discussion, we talked about our definitions of Israel. For some of us, Israel is a place of refuge. That influenced a discussion of Israeli hypocrisy through citizens' actions towards African migrants. We also discussed whether Israel is unfairly being held to a higher standard than other countries. What I found interesting was the parallel between the situation in Israel and treatment toward Mexican immigrants in America. That's the cool thing about Diller discussions. They help us think about and connect the world in a different way.
We also had plenty of bonding time, whether through activities like half-blind kickball and questions like "What kitchen appliance would you be?" As I shared with my fellow teens, I would be a blender because I love smoothies. We also spent free time having more conversations. We talked about everything from cute proposal stories to our feelings about our trip. I'm really looking forward to spending three weeks and two plane rides with these people, because we can really talk about almost anything.
Now that Israel is fast approaching, here are my thoughts about the trip. It'll be my first time out of North America. I'm not sure how to feel about the 16 hour plane ride, but I am looking forward to looking out my plane window and seeing Israel for the first time. Has anyone seen Princess Diaries? Remember when Mia sees Genovia for the first time? Well, seeing Israel is a lot better than seeing a fictional country. I'm ready to withstand the infamous Israeli heat that some liken to that of a thousand suns. I want to see things that have been described to me for my entire life and I want to try real Israeli falafel. Also, believe it or not, I have never tried schnitzel, so I'm looking forward to that. I'm excited to be surrounded by hundreds of Jewish teens that have chosen to be part of a program that emphasizes leadership and community. I can't wait to go into Jerusalem and put my note in the Western Wall. There is so much that I'm looking forward to doing, and I feel lucky that I get to experience everything with the Diller fellows. So, as we're preparing during our last few weeks in the US, here is a list I've created of suggestions before we board the plane. I hope they help!
1. Make a Target run: Target has everything, guys! This includes a large selection of small, portable items.
2. - Get notes from your family and friends for the Western Wall: It's a mitzvah.
3. - Figure out your favorite type of sunscreen: You will be wearing it ALL THE TIME.
4. - For girls: If you can, go out and get some Soffe shorts. I've been told that Kohls had a large selection. If your favorite color is neon pink, I would just go for it.
5. - For boys: I don't know, get basketball shorts or something.
6. - Figure out what souvenirs you'll want to look for in Israel: A list of people and potential ideas for gifts should make your search much less time-consuming.
7. - Figure our your priorities for packing: Remember 50 pounds per bag. I don't know about other parts of the country, but LA airport officials aren't known for being the most lenient.
8. - Take a look at your Israel schedule: It's nice to have a general idea of what you'll be doing.
9. - Go visit a sauna: I've never been to Israel, but maybe this could help.
10. - Make sure all of your responsibilities for the trip are covered: If you're planning an activity or presentation, start preparing now!
11. - Get excited (duhhhh….): We're going to Israel, the land of our people! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and every day, it becomes more real for me.
Looking forward to the experience!
Chelsea
