This morning the MBIers awoke from their tents, washed up in the bath houses, and headed to breakfast in the chadar ochel(dining hall). They proceeded to have a busy morning having peulot(activities) with their new friends. A lot of the experience was continuing the exchange between the MBIers and the Israelis. While learning about the differences between North American and Israeli culture, one of the goals of MBI was being realized to have first-hand experiences with Israelis their age.
In the afternoon the MBIers took part in different Shabbat Chugim, where they got to pick from several different options. The activities included, Rikud(Israeli dance), Soccer, Sports, Cards, and "Crazy Fun Stuff" where they played different games and activities. Afterwards the MBIers had some to rest, clean up and get ready for their first joint Shabbat with Israelis their age!
The MBIers led Kabbalat Shabbat and sang many songs they are used to singing at machaneh(camp) and at home. For some of the Hanoar Haoved participants this was a new experience to both have a more culturally Jewish experience was incorporating the traditional elements of Friday night. Often these exchanges are quite meaningful as some Israelis are used to living more secular lives and are not exposed to the positive Jewish experience that Habonim Dror provides.
After a nice Shabbat dinner, the MBIers had a sort of Beit Cafe(Coffee House) where all the NOAL(Israelis) and MBIers got a chance to mingle, have hot drinks and cookies, while people were playing music, and eventually some people were playing sports. The evening was rounded out in no better way then doing Rikud(Israeli Dance) in Israel, with Israelis their age.
Tomorrow the MBIers will take part in short tiyul(hike) in the morning where they will get to cook their own breakfast! The rest of the day will be a more traditional shabbat on MBI. Sunday will being the Machatz(Kibbutz) part of the program. Shabbat Shalom!
Friday, August 8, 2008
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Machaneh Tnua Achot
Today the MBIers said goodbye to Ohalo and the beautiful banks of the Kinneret(Sea of Galilee). They set off to Yaar Levi to the forest and campsite there where they will be staying for the duration of Machaneh Tnua Achot(Sister Movement Camp). The morning was more relaxed as the MBIers got a chance to settle in and get acquinted to their new home. The Israelis their age came a bit later then expected and joint activities only commenced after lunch.
The MBIers were split into their smaller bus groups and each group was joined a number of Israelis their age who are from our sister youth movement, Hanoar Haoved ve Halomed. Each group played different icebreakers and get to you know games to start getting the new people to know each other. It also was a chance to grapple with the language barrier with the MBIers trying to use the Hebrew they know and the NOAL(Hanoar Haoved ve Halomed) youth tested their english skills. Fun, practicing and learning another language was great part of the afternoon.
Afterwards they had a peula(activity) to start to have an exchange to learn about the differences between Habonim Dror and Hanoar Haoved. While Habonim Dror North America is largely structured around our machanot(summer camps) and kenim activities during the year, the Israeli structure is quite different. While they do have summer camps, they are often 5 days to a week long and the focus is much more on the activities in the ken. In most areas the ken meets 1-2 times a week and clearly plays a different role then in North America. It was a great exchange of ideas and sparked a great energy and connection between the MBIers and the NOAL Israeli participants.
After dinner in the chadar ochel(dining hall), the MBIers took part in some fun in an Israeli game called a Salatron. It was a sort of color war with lots of different games and competitions. The joint group had really fun evening and capped off a great day with a lot promise for the rest of Machaneh(camp).
Tomorrow the MBIers will take part in a couple peulot(activities), shabbat chugim, and get ready to take part in much of the usual shabbat activities. It should be a nice way to end the week. Tomorrow I will post more about the return information as incredibly MBI has just over a week to go.
The MBIers were split into their smaller bus groups and each group was joined a number of Israelis their age who are from our sister youth movement, Hanoar Haoved ve Halomed. Each group played different icebreakers and get to you know games to start getting the new people to know each other. It also was a chance to grapple with the language barrier with the MBIers trying to use the Hebrew they know and the NOAL(Hanoar Haoved ve Halomed) youth tested their english skills. Fun, practicing and learning another language was great part of the afternoon.
Afterwards they had a peula(activity) to start to have an exchange to learn about the differences between Habonim Dror and Hanoar Haoved. While Habonim Dror North America is largely structured around our machanot(summer camps) and kenim activities during the year, the Israeli structure is quite different. While they do have summer camps, they are often 5 days to a week long and the focus is much more on the activities in the ken. In most areas the ken meets 1-2 times a week and clearly plays a different role then in North America. It was a great exchange of ideas and sparked a great energy and connection between the MBIers and the NOAL Israeli participants.
After dinner in the chadar ochel(dining hall), the MBIers took part in some fun in an Israeli game called a Salatron. It was a sort of color war with lots of different games and competitions. The joint group had really fun evening and capped off a great day with a lot promise for the rest of Machaneh(camp).
Tomorrow the MBIers will take part in a couple peulot(activities), shabbat chugim, and get ready to take part in much of the usual shabbat activities. It should be a nice way to end the week. Tomorrow I will post more about the return information as incredibly MBI has just over a week to go.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Final day touring the North
Before I start the update of today's events I want to go over a minor incident that took place on Tuesday. As some of you may or may not have heard, three participants of MBI were caught drinking alcohol on Tuesday night and were sent home today. They were caught in the act and as being both against the law and our rules, they needed to leave the program. MBI is meant to be an amazing experience and a safe place for all participants. We take our policies on drugs and alcohol quite seriously and as such was our reaction to the situation. The MBIers were briefed on what happened and were advised to not repeat the previous mistake and to speak with their madrichim(counselors) if they had any concerns or issues with what happened. We certainly want to help any participants who might feel driven to this kind of action, but we cannot tolerate participants taking part in this type of action, and any further incidents will be subject to the same consequences.
Today the MBIers set off from the lovely lodgings of Ohalo to explore the Golan Heights. The buses stopped at a couple vantage points including the Mizpe Shalom observation point. From there they could see much of the Golan off in the distance and was a great place as such to discuss history and politics. There they discussed the controversial nature of the Golan Heights in regards to its annexation, Syria's claims on it, and as such its place in negotiations and the peace process.
Then the MBIers went hiking around Mt. Ben-Tal which gave the MBIers the chance to see Syria off the distance and really begin to grasp the proximity of Israel's neighbors. They learned about the nearby military base and '67 and '73 wars and their impact on Israel and its neighbors. Part of all these discussions were to consider the Golan Heights and its place in Israel and the complex history behind its annexation. They got to look and see the Valley of Tears where one of the bloodiest battles took place during the Yom Kippur War of 1973. Seeing all these places first hand really puts into perspective the wars they have heard about or studied but now the MBIers have seen first hand where things actually took place.
Having had their fill of history and hiking mountains, the MBIers set off to walk around Nachal Snir(Snir Stream). It is part of the Hatzbani river which comes from Mt Hermon and eventually is a feeder into the Jordan River. The MBiers had a lot of fun walking along the river as the hike includes a part where the water is more of a pond and they got swim and splash around a bit. Some of the MBIers even helped one of the madrichot(female counselor) catch a fish with her bare hands!
The MBIers continued on north where they went to Mizpe Bnaya which is a lookout near Lebanon. The lookout itself is named after a soldier who had fallen during the 2nd Lebanon war. It again was incredible to travel not very far and see these two important neighbors of Israel and grasp their impact on Israel. Being there also was a chance to take stock of where Israel has come and the challenges it has and continues to face for its own safety and security in the long run.
After a fun and educational day, the MBIers returned to Ohalo for a hearty meal in the chadar ochel(dining hall) and prepared for the evening fun. The MBIers took part in a night of "Air Band Shows". Many of the MBIers got together in groups and picked favorite songs and went on stage to perform the songs as if they themselves were the guitarists, drummers, and singers. It was a hilarious evening with some amazing performances by the MBIers.
Tomorrow the MBIers set off for Macheneh Tnua Achot(Sister Movement Camp) where they will get spend a few days with Israelis their age from Ha-noar Ha-oved. They are our sister youth movement and the Israelis will be from all over Israeli and provide a different first-hand account of life in Israel for people there age. There will be lots of bonding activities and learning about the two groups. The machaneh(camp) will take place at the Yaar Levi forest and campsite.
Today the MBIers set off from the lovely lodgings of Ohalo to explore the Golan Heights. The buses stopped at a couple vantage points including the Mizpe Shalom observation point. From there they could see much of the Golan off in the distance and was a great place as such to discuss history and politics. There they discussed the controversial nature of the Golan Heights in regards to its annexation, Syria's claims on it, and as such its place in negotiations and the peace process.
Then the MBIers went hiking around Mt. Ben-Tal which gave the MBIers the chance to see Syria off the distance and really begin to grasp the proximity of Israel's neighbors. They learned about the nearby military base and '67 and '73 wars and their impact on Israel and its neighbors. Part of all these discussions were to consider the Golan Heights and its place in Israel and the complex history behind its annexation. They got to look and see the Valley of Tears where one of the bloodiest battles took place during the Yom Kippur War of 1973. Seeing all these places first hand really puts into perspective the wars they have heard about or studied but now the MBIers have seen first hand where things actually took place.
Having had their fill of history and hiking mountains, the MBIers set off to walk around Nachal Snir(Snir Stream). It is part of the Hatzbani river which comes from Mt Hermon and eventually is a feeder into the Jordan River. The MBiers had a lot of fun walking along the river as the hike includes a part where the water is more of a pond and they got swim and splash around a bit. Some of the MBIers even helped one of the madrichot(female counselor) catch a fish with her bare hands!
The MBIers continued on north where they went to Mizpe Bnaya which is a lookout near Lebanon. The lookout itself is named after a soldier who had fallen during the 2nd Lebanon war. It again was incredible to travel not very far and see these two important neighbors of Israel and grasp their impact on Israel. Being there also was a chance to take stock of where Israel has come and the challenges it has and continues to face for its own safety and security in the long run.
After a fun and educational day, the MBIers returned to Ohalo for a hearty meal in the chadar ochel(dining hall) and prepared for the evening fun. The MBIers took part in a night of "Air Band Shows". Many of the MBIers got together in groups and picked favorite songs and went on stage to perform the songs as if they themselves were the guitarists, drummers, and singers. It was a hilarious evening with some amazing performances by the MBIers.
Tomorrow the MBIers set off for Macheneh Tnua Achot(Sister Movement Camp) where they will get spend a few days with Israelis their age from Ha-noar Ha-oved. They are our sister youth movement and the Israelis will be from all over Israeli and provide a different first-hand account of life in Israel for people there age. There will be lots of bonding activities and learning about the two groups. The machaneh(camp) will take place at the Yaar Levi forest and campsite.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Continuing to explore the North
This morning the MBIers set off for a great hike this morning up Mt. Arbel. Mt. Arbel is located near the Kinneret(Sea of Galilee) in the lower Galil(Galilee) with terrific views of the surrounding areas. They hiked up the mountain and walked near some cliffs that had breathtaking views overlooking the Kinneret. They also took part in a great part of MBI which is the experiential learning environment to look off the Kinneret and consider the water issues facing Israel. They discussed the issues of sustainability as well as the rises and declines the Kinneret has seen over the last decade and what it means for Israel.
Later they went to the Chalutz(Pioneering) Settlement museum, located at Kibbutz Yifat which is near Migdal Haemek. There they got a hands on look at the early settlements and Kibbutzim in Israel. Many relics were present and a sort of round-robin presentation that included learning about the works on roads, living in tents and general living arrangements, doctors and more. One part even had someone playing old Israeli folk songs on an accordion and many of the MBIers were quite familiar and some impromptu Israeli dancing broke out. Clearly a lot of fun and learning about the sacrifices and hardship of the early building of the state took place.
They returned to Ohalo to enjoy being on the banks of the Kinneret and have a nice dinner there. They had a peula(activity) with their buses and prepared for a special guest speaker, Muki Tzur. Muki(Former Mazkir of the Kibbutz Movement) gave a great talk that captured the attention and enjoyment of most of the MBIers. Muki, not being a spring chicken, is an active older man who tell great stories and captivate an audience with his wit, charm, and immense knowledge. It was a privledge and great experience for the MBIers.
Tomorrow the MBIers will more of the Golan Heights and the North. They will get to take part in water hike, hike Mt. Ben Tal as well head to some vantage points where they will be able to Lebanon and Syria off in the distance. It will be a busy day and give the MBIers some perspective on the complexity and proximity of Israel's neighbor. Less than two weeks to go...time flies when your having fun I suppose!
Later they went to the Chalutz(Pioneering) Settlement museum, located at Kibbutz Yifat which is near Migdal Haemek. There they got a hands on look at the early settlements and Kibbutzim in Israel. Many relics were present and a sort of round-robin presentation that included learning about the works on roads, living in tents and general living arrangements, doctors and more. One part even had someone playing old Israeli folk songs on an accordion and many of the MBIers were quite familiar and some impromptu Israeli dancing broke out. Clearly a lot of fun and learning about the sacrifices and hardship of the early building of the state took place.
They returned to Ohalo to enjoy being on the banks of the Kinneret and have a nice dinner there. They had a peula(activity) with their buses and prepared for a special guest speaker, Muki Tzur. Muki(Former Mazkir of the Kibbutz Movement) gave a great talk that captured the attention and enjoyment of most of the MBIers. Muki, not being a spring chicken, is an active older man who tell great stories and captivate an audience with his wit, charm, and immense knowledge. It was a privledge and great experience for the MBIers.
Tomorrow the MBIers will more of the Golan Heights and the North. They will get to take part in water hike, hike Mt. Ben Tal as well head to some vantage points where they will be able to Lebanon and Syria off in the distance. It will be a busy day and give the MBIers some perspective on the complexity and proximity of Israel's neighbor. Less than two weeks to go...time flies when your having fun I suppose!
Monday, August 4, 2008
Near the Kinneret
Today the MBIers set off not too far down the road from Ohalo to explore the Kinneret cemetery. The Kinneret cemetery is a fascinating and beautiful place situated on the banks of the Kinneret and is the final resting place of many famous Israelis and Zionist thinkers. There the MBIers got to enjoy a performance by the tour guides and the madrichim who acted out the stories of the many people there. From Rachel(Poet) to A.D. Gordon(Zionist thinker) to Naomi Shemer(Israeli singer) a historical interactive experience was had by all the MBIers.
Afterwards the MBIers headed to Hatzer Kinneret which is the location of where the first Kibbutz in Israel was founded. There they took part in a round robin to hear, see, and understand the story and foundation of the Kibbutz movement. They learned about Dgania, the First Kvutsa there, Gender Equality and the evolution of the groups there. It is a very fascinating and inspirational story to look back at youthful pioneers and their role in building the state of Israel.
Later the MBIers went to Tiberias where they got to have some fun and have dinner of their choosing. The MBIers were given some money and got to choose from some local stands including the Israeli favorites of Falafel and Shawarma but there was also things such as pizza. After dinner the MBIers got to put their dancing shoes and sail on the Kinneret on a Disco Boat! It was a fun night of music, dancing, and sailing around the Kinneret and seeing the sparkling lights of Tiberias and the Golan Heights in the distance.
Tomorrow the MBIers will be hiking up Mt Arbel, going to a Chalutz(Pioneer) Musuem, and have a special guest speaker of Muki Tzur!(Historian and Former Mazkir of the Kibbutz Movement) See you here tomorrow!
Afterwards the MBIers headed to Hatzer Kinneret which is the location of where the first Kibbutz in Israel was founded. There they took part in a round robin to hear, see, and understand the story and foundation of the Kibbutz movement. They learned about Dgania, the First Kvutsa there, Gender Equality and the evolution of the groups there. It is a very fascinating and inspirational story to look back at youthful pioneers and their role in building the state of Israel.
Later the MBIers went to Tiberias where they got to have some fun and have dinner of their choosing. The MBIers were given some money and got to choose from some local stands including the Israeli favorites of Falafel and Shawarma but there was also things such as pizza. After dinner the MBIers got to put their dancing shoes and sail on the Kinneret on a Disco Boat! It was a fun night of music, dancing, and sailing around the Kinneret and seeing the sparkling lights of Tiberias and the Golan Heights in the distance.
Tomorrow the MBIers will be hiking up Mt Arbel, going to a Chalutz(Pioneer) Musuem, and have a special guest speaker of Muki Tzur!(Historian and Former Mazkir of the Kibbutz Movement) See you here tomorrow!
Sunday, August 3, 2008
End of free weekend and Week 3 here we come!
The MBIers who stayed behind for free weekend found themselves enjoying a welcome sleep-in and some traditional shabbat activities. After having the option to sleep in until lunch, the MBIers had a lovely afternoon at Nes Harim. There Shabbat Chugim(Special-Interest activity) with a variety of topics led by the madrichim. An enjoyable musicale was had followed by dinner and capped off with the best parts of Saturday night. Having a special havdallah under the Israeli sky and then having a medura(campfire) with singing and laughs, was a great way to end the free weekend.
Today the MBIers set off from Nes Harim to go north and head to shores of the Kinneret, specifically at Chof(beach) Dugit. There the MBiers got a lot of time to swim in Israel's biggest freshwater sea(lake). It was a chance to relax, swim, have fun and reconnect with the MBIers they had been apart with for the free weekend. Lunch was a great meal from a nearby place where they munch on delicious plates of kebabs, humus, and other Israeli salads. It was a welcome and delicious meal after their time swimming and in the sun.
In the afternoon the MBIers took part in a fun water hike called the Majrase. The Majrase feeds into the Kinneret(Sea of Galilee) and great hike to do in the Israeli summer as the whole hike is in water. While never very deep, its fun to cool down and see a different eco-system on the water hike.
After the hike the MBIers headed to the place they will be staying for the next few days, Ohalo. Ohalo is a beautiful Kibbutz hotel situated right on the Kinneret(Sea of Galilee). The MBIers can walk out of their rooms and see the Kinneret as well as a stunning view of the Golan Heights. Once situated and having had dinner the MBIers had a peula(activity) to begin preparing for the upcoming Machaneh Tnua Achot(Sister Movement Camp). It capped off anothe great MBI day.
Tomorrow the MBIers will be spending more time in the Kinneret area going to Tiberias, Dgania and Hatzer Kinneret. I will also be out of the office on Monday and Tuesday. If you need to reach me call the Habonim Dror Cellphone.
Today the MBIers set off from Nes Harim to go north and head to shores of the Kinneret, specifically at Chof(beach) Dugit. There the MBiers got a lot of time to swim in Israel's biggest freshwater sea(lake). It was a chance to relax, swim, have fun and reconnect with the MBIers they had been apart with for the free weekend. Lunch was a great meal from a nearby place where they munch on delicious plates of kebabs, humus, and other Israeli salads. It was a welcome and delicious meal after their time swimming and in the sun.
In the afternoon the MBIers took part in a fun water hike called the Majrase. The Majrase feeds into the Kinneret(Sea of Galilee) and great hike to do in the Israeli summer as the whole hike is in water. While never very deep, its fun to cool down and see a different eco-system on the water hike.
After the hike the MBIers headed to the place they will be staying for the next few days, Ohalo. Ohalo is a beautiful Kibbutz hotel situated right on the Kinneret(Sea of Galilee). The MBIers can walk out of their rooms and see the Kinneret as well as a stunning view of the Golan Heights. Once situated and having had dinner the MBIers had a peula(activity) to begin preparing for the upcoming Machaneh Tnua Achot(Sister Movement Camp). It capped off anothe great MBI day.
Tomorrow the MBIers will be spending more time in the Kinneret area going to Tiberias, Dgania and Hatzer Kinneret. I will also be out of the office on Monday and Tuesday. If you need to reach me call the Habonim Dror Cellphone.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Happy August and Free Weekend!
Today the MBIers woke up early and set off from Sde Boker for their free weekend. The buses set off and arrived successfully at Jerusalem, Tel-Aviv, Haifa and Nes Harim for those staying behind. While many of the MBIers were off with their family friends, a hearty group of MBIers stayed at Nes Harim where they had a fun and relaxing day.
To the excitement of the MBIers, they got most of the afternoon off to rest, sleep, and spend time with the group that stayed back. It was apparently a rejuvenating exprience as well as a chance for many of the MBIers to spend more time with participants they hadn't gotten more of a chance to bond with previously. Having had some relaxing time with some better known friends, the MBIers then commenced to take part in the familiar and appreciated Shabbat activities.
They had Mishpachot("family time") which was a nice chance to sit in smaller groups and reflect and sum up the wonderful and busy week they had. Afterwards Leon told an animated and enthralling "Rosh" story to a captive audience of MBIers. Kabbalat shabbat followed as well as a nice shabbat dinner in the Chadar Ochel(Dining Hall) in Nes Harim. After dinner the MBIers took part in some Rikud(Israeli Dancing) and or played soccer. To cap off the evening the MBIers had the option watch some movies as projector and screen was setup. Many of the MBIers brought sleeping bags and pillows and set up to take in any part of the movie lineup which included Evan Almighty, Dan in Real Life, and In the Valley of Elah.
The MBIers cheered to find out that they could actually sleep-in until lunch should they choose to tomorrow, and then take part in the rest of the planned Shabbat activities. So far free weekend seems to be a welcome break to rest, relax and re-energize to get set for the the great things the MBIers still have in store for them. See you all on Sunday! Shabbat Shalom!
To the excitement of the MBIers, they got most of the afternoon off to rest, sleep, and spend time with the group that stayed back. It was apparently a rejuvenating exprience as well as a chance for many of the MBIers to spend more time with participants they hadn't gotten more of a chance to bond with previously. Having had some relaxing time with some better known friends, the MBIers then commenced to take part in the familiar and appreciated Shabbat activities.
They had Mishpachot("family time") which was a nice chance to sit in smaller groups and reflect and sum up the wonderful and busy week they had. Afterwards Leon told an animated and enthralling "Rosh" story to a captive audience of MBIers. Kabbalat shabbat followed as well as a nice shabbat dinner in the Chadar Ochel(Dining Hall) in Nes Harim. After dinner the MBIers took part in some Rikud(Israeli Dancing) and or played soccer. To cap off the evening the MBIers had the option watch some movies as projector and screen was setup. Many of the MBIers brought sleeping bags and pillows and set up to take in any part of the movie lineup which included Evan Almighty, Dan in Real Life, and In the Valley of Elah.
The MBIers cheered to find out that they could actually sleep-in until lunch should they choose to tomorrow, and then take part in the rest of the planned Shabbat activities. So far free weekend seems to be a welcome break to rest, relax and re-energize to get set for the the great things the MBIers still have in store for them. See you all on Sunday! Shabbat Shalom!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
