Off to the South

Well this will be my last blog for about two weeks. On Thursday we will be going to Masada and the Dead Sea. I'm so excited to hike Masada again, this time we will be hiking at three am and watching the sunrise from the top of Masada. I'm very excited, also, the Dead Sea is always fun (as long as you dont get water in your eye or have any cuts). From there we will be heading to what I think will be my biggest challenge: the army. It's a program called Gadna where we are in "basic training" for a week which includes drills, army neatness, strict schedules, nighttime attack drills and shooting an M16. It will be very difficult but very fun. I hope... After our week in the army we are headed to the "hot spot" of Israel, Eilat. It should be awesome!


This week has been pretty nice, rainy a few times (which is good for Israel) and really calm. Not much is going on. I must say, this past week it has really hit me that I'm here for four months and I've started to miss home a lot. I love it here, but there's always a part of me that misses my bed (seeing as we only get two blankets here...), my parents and my friends. Just as we started settling in to our rooms, making it feel like home, we have to switch roommates. I'm bittersweet about this, I understand that it will be a good oppurtunity to meet new people, but I really really love my roommate. We get along so well and she's probably my best friend here, plus we only get roomed with our buses and it was just by chance that we were roomed together because she's on another bus. But I hope my next room has better internet, there is only one spot that works (which I'm on right now).

The picture is a view from my favorite spot on the Kibbutz.

Also, I'm very happy to say that Ben Azriel, who left us earlier, will be returning to Kibbutz Tzuba today! Along with this excitement comes the sadness that my friend Judith will be leaving because her parents want her home because of her shoulder injury. She will be leaving as Ben is coming tonight. It really is bittersweet.





I almost went a whole day without chocolate. Almost...


Well, I have to go to Hebrew!


B'Shalom,


Bari (or my Hebrew nick-name here: Shablonah... it's my favorite Hebrew word, it means stencil)

Second Shabbat

Today was quite a rollercoaster of a day. In the morning we rolled out of bed to go on our weekly Tzedakah project (charity work). This week's project was amazing! We went to a preschool and planted flowers and make fruit salad with little underpriveleged children. The only issue was that they spoke no English. It was challenging but great, I could talk to most of them (seeing as my speaking abilities are right where they are). One of the children, Libby, was quite a talker, and another girl proceeded to sit on my lap in the sandbox, she was adorable. And one girl, Talia, looked just like my sister when she was that age. Talia adorable and really curious about where we were all from, you could tell she is very smart.
When we got back, we were dumped with very upsetting news. One of my camp friend's (who is on EIE with me) father passed away. He left this morning. I knew his father because he would always host camp reunions, he was friendly and warm, I'm very sorry to hear the news. He and his father are in all of our thoughts.
After a while I started homework and then went to get ready for Shabbat with a few friends. We got ready by singing Disney, Backstreet Boys, Michael Jackson and Moulin Rouge. I can't believe this is only our second Shabbat, it feels like forever since we've been here. I've already had a test in Hebrew, gone to an amazing place called Tel Gezer (where it's believed that Abraham camped near) and created amazing friendships. I'm so excited to know that these experiences will only continue to grow. Now I'm off to actually get ready...

-Bari

ps: The picture is of me and my roommate Ashley.

Wailing and Hailing

You'd think it'd be hard getting up every morning and going to school from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm, but when you are surrounded by the Judean Hills... things become easier. This past week was full with days that were better than the last. I've become closer with people to the point of real friendships, and have been immersed in a language I'm excited to study. We went to Jerusalem twice, once for the Western Wall, and once for Ben Yehuda street (the State Street or Loop of Jerusalem... touristy, but fun). We also began our classes, which are long but not too strenuous. The class that is most intimidating is Hebrew. I was placed in the highest class (I'm not bragging, trust me, I'm struggling quite a bit). I love my teacher, and the class is treated as an Olpan. An Olpan, for those who don't know, is where you speak only Hebrew. And I mean NO ENGLISH. It creates some confusion, but when I relax, I'm surprised to listen to our teacher and understand what she's saying. It is really incredible to listen to her speak, knowing its not English, but understanding her. Seeing as we don't have an Olpan class at home, it really is different.

My other classes are basically the same as home and I don't want to bore you with them. So for the fun stuff... how the students bide there time during the day. Other than school and homework, we make time for movie watching, dance parties, and late night gossiping about home. Saturday was by far the best, during the day me and a few friends went to this spot on the Kibbutz. It's back beyond the houses where there is a gorgeous view of the hills near a campfire, equipped with a large rock made for two or three to sit and do homework on. Then, I got a call from one of my friends to let me know that two of my camp counselors from two years ago were on the Kibbutz! They brought us food (which trust me, I dont need anymore...) and it was great to see them. When we were done stuffing ourselves I went over to one of my counselor's rooms to see someone very special from America, my Rabbi (who happens to be two of the staff members dads). I got to sit and talk with all of the Weinbergs (minus Daniel and his family) which was really, really nice. Rabbi then proceded to lead Havdalah, my first in Israel this semester. Later we boarded the buses to Ben Yehuda street. Now, I hope people know that Israel is majorly a desert, but in the North and central areas, in the wintertime there is some rain. But when we got to Ben Yehuda street, it didn't just rain, it didn't just pour... it hailed. In Jerusalem! It's funny how on our first real night out, we get hailed on. But it was fun, while it wasn't hailing, we were dancing in the streets and bargaining for lame Hebrew tshirts. All in all, this week has been pretty excellent. Until next time...

-Bari

For those of you who don't understand my genius: it's the Wailing Wall and when it was hailing... I'm pretty witty, I know.

The picture is of the Wall (I took it)

The Kotel

In my AP English class with Ephraim (an amazing teacher and person!), we were assigned a free write on our first Shabbat experiment in Israel, and I thought it would be appreciated by my family members and friends to share it with you. First of all, it was our first time in Jerusalem, and it was breathtaking. I had been there before but this time it was just... different. We went to the Western Wall for Shabbat and walked around the streets with my friends. So here it is:

The stones; ancient, stained with the blood and hope of our ancestors stood before me as tall and magnificent as I had remembered. I looked around at the black hats and long skirts, suddenly self concious, thinking I didn't dress modestly enough. But as I touched the stone, what was happening around me had suddenly vanished. The thoughts and prayers of a religion, a nation, came rushing though me and I felt my legs begin to tremble.
I found a crack just big enough to slie my note in. I had put thought and time into that note, but I still fear that what I wrote was selfish. I placed the note in and pondered what words were written nexst to mine. Words hoping for healing of body, healing of spirit, perhaps a second chance, world peace or maybe love. I put my head against the Wall and improvised a prayer; one that felt honest and holy.
I stepped back and looked upward at the towering bricks and roots pushing their way through. My view became blurry behind my tearing eyes, each tear dedicated to all those who have never been there. All those who dreamed of it, or fought for Jerusalem so that they could stand as I was. And I thanked them.
I walked away, staring at the Kotel, knowing I had just succumbed to the power it held. The power of my religion, the power of my people, and the power of God.



The Kotel (or Western Wall) really was a different experience for me this time than it was the first time. I really got to appreciate how old and how strong it is. It has only made me more excited to be here...
(I know I'm writing twice tonight in two seperate blog posts, but that's because this one was specifically for The Wall... and pictures will be up soon)

-Bari