Mini Gap: Blog 4

Masada was a personal and different experience for us all. Firstly, after a 4 day hike we had to then get up at 4am and climb masada. We took the snake path, which for many of us was a challenge – but a challenge completed! When we all arrived at the top, we were all amazed to see the lovely sun rise and the lovey views of which we saw. Many pictures were taken and we all enjoyed it very much. We then had a tour around the top of masada, and we saw and learnt about the history of the Jews there. An hour later, Jasmine, Ditza, Adam and myself climbed down the snake path whilst the others caught the cable-car. When we arrived at the bottom, we then had breakfast and made our way back to the hostel we were staying at in Ein Gedi. Soon after, some of us made our way to the Ein Gedi Spa. At the spa, we went into a salted pool which stung like crazy! We then found an outdoor pool, which we all went in and was so much fun! Soon after, we grabbed all our bits and had some lunch which included salads, pasta, chicken and deserts, yum! We then made our way to the Dead Sea. We all really enjoyed this, but we couldn’t stay for long because the heat was boiling! On our way back, we then learnt that the reason why it was so hot was because we were at the lowest point of the earth! We then went back to apartments, cooled down and got ready for Shabbas.

Shabbas is a lovely experience for us all, because we all spend time together and sing songs and do all kinds of activities.  Friday night we all went to shul, and then went for lunch then spent the afternoon together, and then gathered for Havdalah. Sunday morning, we were moving apartments, so the Saturday night was spent packing and making sure we were all ready to leave early Sunday morning. On the Sunday morning, we travelled from Ein Gedi to Kiryat Shmona, in which now we are staying in apartments for the week. After we settled into the apartments, we all made our way down to a centre in which we all met a group of Israelis of which we are spending this week with. We have been doing various different activities together such as volunteering in different places in the north, kayaking, paint-balling, bike cycling and having fun drama classes together. We have also been eating dinners together and in the evening’s we have all been together in different places. I feel that the Israelis and the mini-gapper’s have really got on and I hope that we all continue to stay in contact when we leave Israel.  

One place that we volunteered at was at the memorial of one of the soldiers who was killed in the 2006 Lebanon War. The memorial was a look-out point in the forest above kiryat shmona. We all heard from the son’s father about the son who died, and what he achieved and what kind of boy/son he was. For many of us, it was a very emotional time because we were hearing this from the father itself, but it also opened many of our eyes to the soldiers who keep all of us here in Israel and elsewhere safe. We all helped to clear the memory settlement for him and we all felt something from the story. We also volunteered in a bomb shelter and a hospital room – these are incredible to volunteer in because the hospital room saved so many lives and brought so many new lives to the world during the same war. We painted the walls and made it more homely to those who have to stay there. Again, we all felt a reward from helping there.

Through the rest of this week, we are looking at different look-out points from different wars, visiting a chocolate factory and having different tours around Tsfat. I hope that we will continue to learn more about the history of our people through these activities.

We would like to thank Adam and Tribe and the rest of the people behind the scenes, for setting up this week with the Israeli’s because we all feel that we have made new friends and we can relate more to Israel and the different people who live here.

J

Yam L'Yam Hike by Jasmine Johnston

We departed the kibbutz and took Israel to the extreme for the Yam L'Yam hike which was intense, walking for a total of 4 days and sleeping outside in tents for 3 nights. 

I felt the hike enabled us to reach our full potential as I feel a much stronger person, things we didn't think we could achieve.. We stuck through it and did it. The hike overall amounted to carrying a heavy load on our backs, waking up at 6am and hiking for 4 hours in the morning, a 2 hour break and then 3 hours hiking in the afternoon. It was really nice when we reached some streams where we could freshen ourselves from the exhaustion of the day. The sights along the way were also very pleasant.

The hike involved walking up mountains, rock climbing, jumping and walking through rocky walkways with our rucksacks on our backs. When we touched down at the place where we stayed in tents, everyone crashed out and this was a time to relax and have some awesome food. We also saw a beautiful sight of the stars, siting by a fire with marshmallows which made it an enjoyable experience. 

The thing that most helped me get through the hike is knowing we will have an 'i survived the Yam L'Yam hike' t-shirt with quotes we have found funny during our life changing experience and we also felt we have accomplished something. I feel this hike has done me a lot of good because it has made me appreciate the things we most take for granted in life such as a bathroom, shower, electricity and home comfort as now we can appreciate our homes a lot more!

My week in Jerusalem – Robyn Bharier-Prior

Whilst living in Jerusalem I feel I have learnt a tremendous amount. We have been doing so many different things; I am finding it hard to take it all in. Everything we are doing has so much meaning and purpose, being here is one of my biggest life lessons, so far.

Volunteering

First of all we were given an amazing opportunity to volunteer; all in places where we could see the help we were giving and the effects/results it had on others. I was volunteering in a place called ALEH – it is a hospital which cares for disabled people and I feel my time there was really well spent. I worked with a girl called Talia whilst I was there; I don't know exactly what disabilities she had but I felt it did not matter. Spending time with her showed me how to appreciate the little things in life. Strolling down the street, speaking to another person, and generally being able to do things myself. To me Talia is very special, I wish to continue writing to her when I leave Israel. We spent 8 mornings together; I spoke in rubbish Hebrew whilst she listened and laughed some of the time. The centre organises activities for all the people left out of society, sometimes just with the staff but a lot of the time outside organisations would come in to perform  including police, orchestras, singers, clowns and loads more. All the people working at ALEH are amazing people who are very inspiring. I never thought I would be able to do what I have done and embrace it all so much, it was a very big step for me and I'm sad to leave Talia and the centre. 

ULPAN

We also had ULPAN (Hebrew) classes; which were very useful in ALEH and also when in shops and getting in taxis – the teacher tried very hard to teach us some sort of vocabulary, and he succeeded. Thank you ULPAN teacher, Daniel!

Tours

As you all know back in England, it is very hot here in Israel; we had some very exciting, insightful tours around the old city, including talks on the 12 tribes, the City of David, the tower of David and the general lifestyle around Jerusalem in the Christian and Arab markets. Although it was hot and we were all schvitzing, falling asleep and the like, I think we all tried to be engaged as the knowledge being given to us was too much to miss out on. Our tour guide Nati was excellent – he really knew his stuff. Learning about the history of the Jewish people made a big difference to me as I only had a little knowledge beforehand . Personally I would even do all the tours again.

Shabbat

For me Shabbat is something I just knew until now as Friday night dinner, it is something I have never ‘kept’ before in my life. For the past two weeks I have tried my best to keep Shabbat and get the most out of the days. Though I want to continue this, I know that when I go home it will be much harder and the atmosphere around me will be very different, but I want to try and continue this.

Learning Talks

We have had a wide variety of talks all relating to different subjects;

• Life importance and equality
• Israel lifestyle – worldwide knowledge of Israel
• Life stories
• Judaism – why the Jews? Jewish customs/Halacha, women’s roles, growth, why do bad things happen to good people?

We have also visited some very interesting interactive museums;

Mount Herzl

This is a place where many Prime Ministers and soldiers are buried, as well as having an amazing museum through which we explored Theodor Herzl’s life. When visiting this place I felt quite empathetic and emotional towards all  the brave people who have fought and died for their beliefs. They also relate to Herzl in the sense that they were, and still are, continuing his dreams. In my mind Herzl was quite prophetic - he saw there needed to be a Jewish state and even approximated how long it would take (and he wasn’t far off- one year)!

Yad Vashem

A museum dedicated to the holocaust – something I find very difficult to fathom in my mind and deal with. It is hard to know how to feel, what to think and what to say when you are thinking about or discussing the Holocaust. I just want to cry and feel utterly depressed for all those who suffered and did not have the chance to tell their tale and to live their lives like they were supposed to. But ultimately you do feel a sense of achievement for all those who did survive and also those who helped Jews, that you are standing here today as a ‘free’ Jew. It ultimately makes you appreciate what you have.

Palmach

The Palmach museum was very interesting, as we have no idea what it's like to be in a war. To not be able to do or go where you want. Freedom is why we live the lives we live and without that we could not and would not have the things we do. It made me appreciate the fact that I live in London where the level of threat is completely different. We do not have to worry about war but maybe we have to worry about the outside world immediately around us.

Independence hall

A very interesting place, where a lot of wise people stood and declared the State of Israel. Also without the 33 countries that voted in favour, Israel would not be here today for us to live and spend time in. It says so much that as as soon as the Jewish state of Israel was declared, the surrounding countries (Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Jordan ) decided they did not approve and would not be ‘putting up’ with this; thus started the independence war. A state in its infancy, the size of Wales, fighting against five countries simultaneously, yet we survived. It is incredible to be a part of such a miracle.

Finally I just want to say that this trip is impacting my life in a huge way. I am very happy I came to Israel – it was my first time visiting, and I love it. 

The beginning of Mini-Gap Israel 2012! - Nicole Eriera

From the build up of the trip no-one knew what to expect. We were pretty much clueless. But from the minute we all met all 11 of us just clicked, like we had known each other previously. On our first Shabbat we went to the Kotel on Friday night. I personally felt that this was one of the most incredible experiences that we could have witnessed, as a group that is now a family! All of the people there knowing we all have some sort of connection purely because of our Jewish identity. The whole atmosphere was incredible and is something none of us will ever forget. Also, during this week we volunteered at various places. I went to a soup kitchen and prepared all of the food to be cooked for people who are in need of meals. I felt that this was a very inspirational thing to do as we were there to help others and learn a bit about the soup kitchen including how and why it was set up. I just wanted to end by saying that we are all having an amazing time and boiling in this weather, but we wouldn’t want it any other way!

-Nicole Eriera

We have started to relive Jewish history at the sites where it occurred. Debby Davidoff said that “the views are just incredible.”

We have started to learn Hebrew and have learnt to say “ani rak medaber/et Anglit” (I only speak English!) and have heard many talks on various subjects related to us and Judaism. The most popular talk so far was by Dov Ber Cohen, who told us about his journeys in Asia until he got to Israel. Everyone commented on how inspiring a talk it was. The girls asked, “Can his wife come teach us yoga?”

 

We also met a religious scribe and practised writing with quills before baking challah in the Old City. Daniel Rose asked, “have you seen my perfect challah?”