Volunteering and the Shuck

Friday February 14, 2014

EIE volunteering

EIE volunteering

The Shuck

Fresh fruit

Spices and fruit

Aroma

Today EIE volunteered at a factory. This factory is unique because a majority of their employs have mental disabilities. Unfortunately because we went on a Friday non of the employees were working. EIE helped by finishing their quota for the week.  Basically we were like little elf’s, hopefully we will make them happy when they come to work on Sunday and a majority of their work is finished! At the factory we put together plastic boxes and screwed nails into them to hold them together, I have no idea what these boxes are for but we got a lot done!

After the factory we went to the shuck, which is a giant farmers market. Of all the things I have done so far in Israel nothing has felt like Israel until I visited the shuck. Having the freedom to walk around and experience the local culture was such an eye opening experience. The interactions between the people was so different then at home. Everyone was pushing and shoving, taking food from the stands as a “taste test” but really just not paying for it.  At home we have farmers markets but this one you could see through the variety of colours and smells just how fresh and home grown the product is.  At the shuck I don’t think I stopped eating, I stated off the day with a huge falafel and laffa and continued on to have quite a few fresh out of the oven rugelach and ended the day with an Ice Aroma(I know that one is not “home grown” but I can never say no to Aroma) It was just an amazing experience to visit the shuck and I am excited to try more foods and get advancers the next time we go!

Babylonian Bash and Ben Yehuda Street

Thursday February 13, 2014

left to right ( Carmel, Avi, Emma, Naomi, Me, Amit) 

Ben Yehuda street

Today for Jewish history class we did class a little differently then usually. We all participated in the sorrow of the distraction of the first temple by throwing a Babylonian bash. My class all dressed in stripes and sang songs to grieve. I really enjoyed class today because it was a creative way to teach the distraction of the first temple.  As a visual learner physically “mourning” the loss of the temple and the lesson we learned that day will forever be stuck in my head. When studying for the test it will be easier for me to remember what happened when the temple was destroyed because the Babylonian bash will spark my memory.

Today is Thursday that means its night out! Today we went to Ben Yehuda street! Ben Yehuda is a street with lots of small boutiques and food stores. I also got to have my fist falafel since being here (it took almost three weeks) and OMG was it worth the wait, just the freshness of the food was to die for! I officially feel like I am in Israel because I have experience the world known Israeli falafel. On Ben Yehuda street I also did my first shopping, I got a blue humsa necklace.  

Jew's and Parenting

In Jewish history class this week I read an article called, Parents need not apply (but they can certainly help). This article discussed the issue of how far parents should go to help their kids in school. The author talked a lot about parents editing their kid’s work and if the parents change the work if it’s still the kids work. Personally, I see no problem with parents editing their kid’s work. Having a parent edit their kids work allows the kids to see the mistakes they are making in their work and be able to avoid that mistake in the future. I believe parents are an excellent resource to use and kids should take full advantage of them. It is important that students learn to be an advocate for them selves and if by getting a parent to edit their work will allow them to do better in school they should take advantage of that. I often get my work edited by my parents but I see it as them picking up on mistakes that I did not catch. Also having a parent edit their child’s work could help broaden the student’s train of thought so that they can create better work. It is also a good sign when a kid asks their parent for help because it shows they know and acknowledge when they need help.  The article never did give an answer it just left the question open for readers to think about.

City Of David

Sunday February 9, 2014

We have officially been here fore two weeks! It’s crazy how just after two weeks I already feel such a strong connection to the friends I have made! At the beginning, it was hard getting into the routine and getting over the jet lag but it’s starting to feel like home and these crazy 70 kids I meet two weeks ago are my family and will be for the next four months! Today we went on a all day Tiyul to the city of David. It was so cool to walk though the streets and really feel the history in the neighborhood. We also got to walk though an under ground tunnel that was the length of five foot ball fields. I think the best part of EIE  is instead of learning about Israel though a text book we get to go to the physical cite and learn the history while physically being there. This definitely comes in handy when studying for my Jewish history test on Wednesday, normally fore me it is hard to study for a test when surrounded by friends but here it is really cool because all 70 of us came together and helped each other study which is an opportunity that you cant get at school at home.  

volunteering at the farm and Inbal's house!

Friday February 7, 2014

Every Friday, EIE participates in different volunteer programs throughout Israel. This week we went to an organic farm where we helped move and remove rocks in a garden. This farm was very motivating because they mostly employee teenagers who haven’t completed high school. The farm then offers jobs and an education in agriculture to the teenagers. After the trip to the farm, Naomi Ramo-Gisser and I got into a taxi to go to Inbal’s house (Inbal is our friend from camp).  Our taxi driver’s name was Yossi and he was hilarious! As soon as we got on the high way he rolled down the windows and blasted Mama Mia the whole way to Netanya, which is an hour and fifteen-minute drive from Tzuba. We finally got to Inbal’s house and I was so excited that I jumped out of the cab and gave her the biggest hug! I have known Inbal since my second summer at camp, which was eight years ago, and I finally got to meet her best friend Kamie who I have heard so many stories about!  Then we all sat down for a beautiful Shabbat dinner myself, Naomi, Inbal, Kamie, Gidon (Inbal’s older brother), Edan (Inbal’s younger brother), Mimi (Inbal’s mom) and Itzik (Inbal’s dad). Naomi and I were so tired we crashed at 12:30. On Saturday we had a nice long sleep in until 11:00 and when we finally got up we went to the BEACH!!!! Although it was not warm enough to go into the water it was warm enough to be there! At 6:00 the taxi came to bring us back to Tzuba. Unfortunately, the ride was not as fun there was no Mama Mia and it was a different taxi driver that was rude and his car reeked of smoke.  We finally got back and did Havdallah with the group lead by Hannah Frayman that made me think of NFTY-NEL! It was just an amazing weekend being able to get out of the bubble of the kibbutz was really nice!