Ofek: Tiyul Group

Our final group for Ofek, Noah, Max, Alex and Chantal spent five days hiking in the Negev. With the support of Ido, their madrich, they planned and ran the tiyul almost entirely on their own. During the preparation days, they learned how to navigate, including a practice navigation test throughout Rishon Letzion, planned their menu, planned fun activities, set goals for themselves and learned about safety on tiyulim. They also discussed their relationship to nature and watched the movie "Into the Wild." On Wednesday morning early, they headed down to begin hiking at Sde Boker. Over five days, they hiked over 60 kilometers through the desert. They overcame a lot of challenges, including a rainstorm in the middle of the night, with an amazingly positive attitude  and really enjoyed the time they spent together. The experience levels in the group varied significantly, but they met all of their challenges as a group and supported each other. It was an incredible experience, and for many of them the highlight of the year thus far.

Ofek: Bina Secular Yeshiva in Tel Aviv

The shnatties studying at Bina are Talia, Sophie and Amy, along with some American shnatties. Bina is a secular yeshiva, founded with the mission of connecting Israelis and Jews to Judaism in a non-religious environment. Using traditional methods of Jewish study, such as text analysis and chevruta (pair-based learning), Bina educators ask their students not only why Judaism is relevant to their lives, but also seeks to establish a basis of knowledge in Jewish texts and ritual.

The shnatties are taking classes in Jewish philosophy, Talmud, Shabbat and Chaggim, Tanach and some special topic lectures. In between classes, their madrichim are also running activities, movie nights, and projects to connect their learning at Bina to their role as madrichim in the movement.

Some of their classes are siyurim of Tel Aviv, themed around different topics. On Sunday, their first day, they had a siyur of Rothschild Boulevard, about the founding of Tel Aviv.

Examining a model of the original settlement of Tel Aviv, in Migdal Shalom.

The mosaic of the founding of Tel Aviv, also in Migdal Shalom.

On Tuesday, they had a siyur of Yafo about the Book of Jonah, as a complement to their Tanach studies. 

The whole Bina group with Elliot, their educator for the day.

Ofek: Agriculture on Kibbutz Ravid

Ofek has begun and the shnatties are currently split up all over the country. Talia, Amy and Sophie are studying at Bina in Tel Aviv, Noah, Max, Alex and Chantal are beginning their five day backpacking trip, and Harry is on Kibbutz Ravid, working in the orchards there.

On Ravid, Harry and the American shnatties is with up and heading to the fields by 5:30, where they are currently working pruning fruit trees. They break at 11:30, and then have time for lunch and resting. In the afternoons, they have peulot (activities) run for them, either by their madrichim, by the people who run the orchards, or themselves. They eat breakfast in the fields every day, and cook their own meals back at the kibbutz. So far, it's been a great experience and a nice change of pace to be outside all day.

Final Boneh Tekkes

The Shnatties have now left Ein Dor to begin Ofek, and are currently split between Rishon Letzion and Kibbutz Ravid. Before they left Ein Dor, they celebrated the completion of Boneh with a Sikkum Tekkes (Final Ceremony). The tekkes was a chance for them to say goodbye to their educators, and to celebrate with songs and speeches what they had learned. Lucy and Ido (their madrichim) shared a poem, and the Shnatties wrote a song.

The Boneh educators speech: "Sometimes it may seem like struggle and uncertainty is holding you back. We know it is a tough spot to be in. But we have a quick little Jewish anecdote that touches on this issue: The name "Israel" is derived of the verb לִשְׂרות (lisrot, "wrestle"); the second half of the name is אֵל (El, "God"). "Israel" is the name given to Jacob after he wrestled with God's angel. The first Jew, then, became a Jew through the process of struggle. Cool right? One message we invite you to draw from this story is that perhaps the most essential Jewish act is the act of struggling. Questioning—if it is done deeply and with honesty and integrity—should not make you feel lame, second-class, or un-Jewish. By questioning in this way, as we’ve seen you do time and time again throughout Boneh, you are actively tying yourself to the history and legacy of the Jewish people. Defeat only comes when you stop wrestling. Only dead fish go with the flow."

Boneh Machzor Yud Chet!

WZO Event: Har Herzl

On Sunday, the shnatties went to Har Herzl* for a siyur with their Boneh educators and a text study session with the WZO (World Zionist Organization), in honour of the UN General Assembly vote in favour of the partition of Palestine into Israel and Palestine. They started with a delicious humus lunch to celebrate their upcoming completion of Boneh.

After lunch, the chanichim went to Har Herzl, one of the largest and most important cemeteries in Israel. Aside from Theodore Herzl, most of the former Prime Ministers of Israel and other major Zionist leaders, it is also a military cemetery. The chanichim visited the graves of Herzl, Hannah Senesh, Yitzkah Rabin and the Last of Kin Memorial (in honour of the Holocaust survivors who died in the War of Independence). After the tour, they went to the Herzl center for a session about Herzl and the UN Vote. Each chanich was presented with a booklet of material. 

Visiting Herzl's grave.

*Please note: the shnatties were accompanied by a guard, and were within a secure area the entire duration of their visit to Jerusalem. They did not visit anywhere in the city but Har Herzl, and arrived via private bus.