Diller 5 Does Chanukah!

Last Wednesday, Diller 5 had yet another excuse to leave the house, (aka the mounds of homework sitting on my desk that I probably should’ve attended to earlier...) and hang out with each other. How much better could a Wednesday night get?

But then again, us Dillers always have something up our sleeves, don’t we?

The evening began with Yossi Katz, a teacher from the Alexander Muss High School in Israel, and in addition, truly a brilliant speaker. Yossi spoke about heroines; specifically, Jewish heroines. He discussed the idea that there weren’t enough women recognized for the work they’d done for Judaism and with that, he began his story. Yossi spoke about Hannah Senesh, a girl who grew up during the Holocaust. Hannah transformed from a care-free fourteen year old girl living in Budapest, Hungary, to a nineteen year old Zionist who felt it was her duty to make Aliyah (move to Israel). Coming from a city, you’d expect Hannah to maybe move to Tel Aviv, yet instead she learns to be a farmer and decides to work in a Kibbutz. While in Israel she writes countless poems and prayers in her diary about what she was going through. In turn, those poems prayers are known and taught throughout Israel and North America.
Here is one of her most famous poems, entitled Eli, Eli:

Oh Lord, My G-d,
I pray that these things never end,
The sand and the sea,
The rush of the waters,
The crash of the heavens,
The prayer of the heart.

Hannah was a true Jewish heroine and exemplifies the leadership that Diller is all about. While on the Kibbutz, Hannah wanted to defend Israel and become a paratrooper. And despite the fact that she was met with uneasiness from those around her, Hannah persisted, and through this persistence, Hannah would land a spot among thirty two other paratroopers. (One hundred applied, and only thirty two were selected. Of the thirty two, only three women, including Hannah, were chosen.)

Hannah and her team parachuted into Europe and would save over a thousand pilots. One night, Hannah wrote one last poem that she would give to a fellow paratrooper. He read the poem called Blessed is the Match. He begged Hannah to be more hopeful and with that, he tossed the note into the bushes. But something, who knows what, made him go back to the bushes later that night. He found the poem, flattened it out, and put it in his pocket. That paratrooper would go on to survive the war, bring the poem back to Israel, and allow the poem to become a prayer instilled into Israeli school children’s minds to this day.
The following is the poem Hannah wrote that night:

Blessed is the Match
Blessed is the match, consumed in kindling flame.
Blessed is the flame that burns in the heart's secret places.
Blessed is the heart that knows, for honors sake, to stop its beating.
Blessed is the match, consumed in kindling flame.

In Judaism, most consider the flame to be blessed, the candles to be blessed, or things like the challah to be blessed, but Hannah, considered the match to be blessed. In giving off the light we use in so many ways, it gave its own life, by be being consumed in the flame. She compared this to her own life, and came to the conclusion that to save others, she must be consumed in the flame, just as the match, by giving up her own life.

If you’d like to learn more about Hannah’s life, the documentary film Blessed Is the Match: The Life and Death of Hannah Senesh, can be found and watched for free at: http://www.hulu.com/watch/191667/blessed-is-the-match-the-life-and-death-of-hannah-senesh
As for the rest of the evening, it was filled with fun and games, along with pressing questions such as how we deal with stress, how we celebrate the holiday, and by far the most pressing question, how do you spell [C](h)an[n]*ukk?a(h)?

We met with Diller alumni from Diller 2, 3, and 4, and it was truly an amazing evening. We even got a special video from Dillers from from Rishon Le'Zion from all 5 cohorts (see video below)! The main activity of the night was splitting the entire group into two circles; one circle on one side of the room, and the other on the opposite side. While one group passed around questions to be answered by group members, the other passed around a present, whilst singing their favorite holiday tunes, to be slowly unwrapped to reveal questions and chocolate gelt (coins).

At the end of the night, when only one more layer of wrapping paper was left on the present, the two groups came together, were asked once more to sing a holiday tune, and whomever the present landed on, was asked to finally open the present. Our own Diller 5 fellow Nitay was the lucky Diller to open the present, which revealed personalized Diller Dreidels for each of us!

It was an amazing night to which we will all look back on fondly. With that being said, a big thank you goes out to the Hanukkah Committee for putting together a wonderful night filled with joy, and the true spirit of Hanukkah.

Lastly, I’d like to thank all the Dillers who came. Without all of you, it wouldn’t have been as amazing, as fun, as... well, I’m running out of adjectives to describe how great the night was, but you all are so awesome and I’m so happy that this program and all of you are a part of my life! Oh... and HAPPY BIRTHDAY NOAH!!

The Chanukah Video all the way from Rishon!

Super Sunday - Super Diller

Have you ever wondered how you could take one thing and apply it to another? Like adding new rules to a game? Or making something work for a group of people who really need it? Well, us Dillers used our creative minds this past Sunday, and did just that. During the course of our Diller year, we will be creating our very own Tikun Olam (community service) projects, and after speaking with Diller 4, we gained some insight as to what we could possibly do to benefit our community. But, we were going to need help getting started, and our workshop last Sunday proved to be extremely beneficial.
First, we started out with two dice. One die had various games, such as Jungle Speed, Red Light Green Light, Charades and so forth, while the other had things like “Add Candy”, “Add a Ball”, and “Add a Hula-hoop”. Both dice were rolled, and with the results, we’d come up with a way to combine the two things to make a better game. For example, we tried using a Hula-hoop to play charades, and candy during the game “red light, green light”. We were even allowed to change the rules of the game completely!
After this warm up, Leah changed our dice. In front of us were two completely different cubes. On one cube were things like “Children”, “Special Needs” and “The Environment”. On the other die, we now had things like “Giving Time”, “Creating Awareness”, and “Building Bridges. As the dice were thrown, ideas were shared about how to incorporate the two words that were rolled – “Awareness” with “Special Needs”, “Give Time” with “Children”, and “Donation Drive” with “Elderly”. And as more and more ideas were shared, we truly started to understand the meaning of these Tikun Olam projects. After leaving the workshop, we found ourselves excited to begin a project that would suit our own ideas and interests, and in addition, most importantly, make a difference.
We all then marched down the hallway showing off our new Diller t-shirts (#swag), on our way to what turned out to be a gathering of many teens in addition to us, all waiting to hear Yossi Katz, an educator from Alexander Muss High School in Israel. Yossi told us a funny and touching story about how a man is rewarded by G-d granting for his good deeds. The main character learns an important lesson about not being quick to judge others.
After being pumped up by Yossi Katz, it was time for us start the talk for Super Sunday, in hopes of raising money for MetroWest’s annual United Jewish Appeal (UJA) campaign by soliciting donations from members of the MetroWest Jewish community. Many of us had never volunteered at Super Sunday before and did not know exactly what to expect. We arrived at the room and were struck by the frenetic activity and loud buzz of people talking on a huge array of phones. I have to admit that I, and I think many of us, were a bit nervous at first. We didn’t want to flub our lines, say something embarrassing, or not know how to answer a question. After making our first few calls, we all relaxed and had fun together while we pursued our common goal. The money that we were trying to raise was in an effort to help the UJA assist people who are in need, such as those experiencing economic or personal struggles, those with special needs, and the elderly, both here and in Israel. Some of the people we called make pledges yearly, some donate inconsistently, and for some of the people we called, our goal was to convince them to make their very first donation. Whenever our phone calls resulted in pledges we would proudly wave our mini Israeli flags in the air in order to be credited with a raffle ticket. At the end of Super Sunday, some great prizes were raffled off to the volunteers, such as a watch, a signed New York Giants poster, and the grand prize of a new Dell laptop.
After hours of dialing and feeling the excitement of successfully recording some pledges, Super Sunday was coming to a close. To the delight of everybody, the raffle was about to take place. Participants dug through their pockets to collect all of the tickets they earned, hoping they would have the winning ticket and be able to claim one of the coveted prizes. As it turned out, Noga, the young emissary, drew a winning ticket that belonged to a Diller fellow: Congratulations to Rachel Scheckmen- she won a brand new watch!This happy result marked the close to another great afternoon of bonding with our Diller family! We came away from Super Sunday feeling proud and elated that we had participated in raising funds to help our Jewish community both locally, and globally.

We’re Diller and We Know It! - Workshop #2!

We haven’t seen each other in two weeks, (feels like forever), and I know that each and every one of us secretly wondered if our first meeting after the Shabbaton might be awkward. Well, rest assured, it wasn’t. If anything, we picked up where we left off; joking, laughing, and all together having a great time. First, the Swag Committee split us into groups to see who could design the best t-shirt to represent our Diller swag. Each group designed different shirts, but somehow they were all similar. Each shirt included everyone in Diller 5, swag, and the idea that we represent New Jersey, and Israel. We all had an amazing time creating the shirts that we will wear to represent our group on Super Sunday!

In addition to this, last Sunday was the Global Day of Jewish Learning which is a day that is practiced by Jews all of the world and is dedicated to celebrating Jewish foundational texts and philosophy. As part of the day, Leah, our coordinator, presented us with a discussion about our names; where they came from, who we were named after and the meaning behind it. We discussed how even our family names can tell us a lot about where we come from and our Jewish heritage. Leah also prepared a page for each of us with our Hebrew names and their meanings to see if they had any relation to us and as a way to look deeper into our Jewish identities. What was shocking to me was that during the Shabbaton, I learned I was a visionary, so I was shocked to see that my Hebrew name actually refers to someone with the personality trait of a visionary! It was really cool to feel a that spark; that moment of connection to me as a person and me as a Jew. The two are innately connected.

During lunch, we were visited by Diller 4. It was cool to watch as they entered the room. They were hugging and laughing as if they’d been best friends for forever and it was just yesterday that they were all together, like us. There was one thought that ran through my head, and I know it ran through everyone else’s too: that’s going to be us before we know it. Loud, excited, and enthusiastic, they joined us and offered there wise words of Diller wisdom in order to help us with our year ahead. They worked tirelessly to help develop, direct, and produce anamazing video that was created and sent to our sister and brother Dillers in Rishon Le'Zion as a way to introduce ourselves to them. For the basis of the video, we used a contemporary song by LMFAO, except we changed the lyrics to, “We’re Diller and We Know It”. Overall, it was a really fun time, and we were happy we got to spend time with the Dillers before us.
We ended our time together with something taught to us by Diller 4 - The Achim Dance. Achim means 'brothers' and it was the perfect way to end the visit from Diller 4, our brothers. This time I left with an aching feeling in my chest. I couldn’t believe our time together was already over. The four hours passed so quickly that it was hard to believe it was over. I missed everyone as soon as I pulled away from Metrowest and I can’t wait until we all get to see each other again. Excuse me, social committee? Let’s get on that. Love you guys!

- RB and Daniela :)

Our First Shabbaton: Swag

[Prologue]

Dear Parents,
No need to worry about asking your teens what’s happening in Diller. Daniela, Coby, and I, (RB) are the Blog Committee and we are here for you. This blog is dedicated to discussing our activities and expressing our opinions on the latest news and events in Diller. Enjoy, discuss, and feel free to message us if you’d like to know more. :)
Sincerely,
Daniela, Coby, and RB

Our First Shabbaton: Swag

We’re Jews. We’re teenagers. We’re stuck together for a weekend. And none of us could’ve imagined the relationships we’d form in just forty eight hours.
After an awkward hug goodbye to my mom, her parting words of “don’t do anything stupid”, still ringing in my ears, I enter a bus full of kids, most of whom I’ve only known for about five hours. I’m greeted by friendly faces and shouts of “Hey! I’m so excited for this weekend!” quickly followed by whispered questions of, “I’m sorry. I’m so bad with names. What’s your name again?” Shortly after our mini reunion, the bus pulled away from Metrowest, officially beginning our first Shabbaton. We talked amongst ourselves, and I soon realized that this wasn’t an average group of kids, and I wasn’t going to have an average kind of weekend.

Upon arrival to Wickipeck, the bunk we’d be staying in for the weekend, we all helped unload the massive amounts of suitcases that took up more than half our bus, (someone tell me how I’m going to bring just one suitcase to Israel?!). We chose our beds and settled in our stuff, but there wasn’t much time for talking as we all needed to get ready for Shabbat dinner and prayer!
Dressed and ready, we made ourselves comfortable in the common room, (which, by Saturday night, we’d be begging to return to), and, after walking to where we’d hold almost all of our activities for the weekend, we were finally given our first opportunity to truly bond with each other.

Leah, prepared with prayers galore, (we’d soon learn that, despite massive snow storms that knock out power, Leah would be planned and prepared for just about anything), gave each of us a chance to choose our favorite prayers to sing to. After some shuffling through prayer books, someone picked a song that most of the group knew. And, after singing, we sat down the Shabbat table and went around by index cards, discussing how we observe and how we do certain customs, if we did them at all.

At first when asked, my group fell silent in answering questions about religion and customs. Personally, I felt completely unsure of what to say. I definitely consider myself observant, I mean my family and I observe each holiday and practice ‘normal’ customs of these holidays, but compared to the kid next to me, who attends Shabbat every Friday with his family, I must seem completely ‘un-Jewish’. But, despite all these thoughts flying through my head, I said something anyway. And as soon as I said something, it was understood, and then it was someone else’s turn. Simple. What had I been afraid of? Judgement? If there was one thing I was going to learn that night, it would be that in Diller, there’s no such thing as judgment.

And, as soon as I’d thought that I had figured out this no judgment thing, I was able to confirm my belief. Leah and Max gave each of us something that I personally find amazing. Wait, I’m kidding. Diller 4 gave us something truly amazing that, I’m sure throughout this experience, we will all keep close to us. On their way back from Israel, Diller 4 wrote us letters, specifically, letters of advice. My letter gave me three pieces of advice:

1. Speak your mind: He talks about being shy at first, but in Diller, he learned that no one judges you.
2. You will become one big family: At first, he said he felt that they were “cliquey”, but by the end they were in fact, just one big family.
3. Enjoy your time during the North American Seminar: He says to take complete advantage of the time I spend with my Israeli while they are living with me here.

Oh, and he told me to tell Coby Levine “Hi” from him, which, don’t worry my Diller 4 friend, I most definitely did.

Friday night, we became this “Diller family” that my Diller 4 friend had described in his letter. Of course, we most certainly will grow even more as the year goes on, but that night I, along with all my fellow Diller 5ers, got a taste of something much bigger than ourselves, and something I had not expected to feel. I felt okay. I felt like nothing was wrong in the world. And I felt like I was surrounded by amazing people who I could trust, and grow extremely close to.

Saturday morning, we woke up and managed to get up, get dressed, and meet in the famous common room. We began our day with “Meditation with Max”, led by one of our great Junior Counselor’s, Max. After this, we went outside and did outdoor team bonding... in the flurries. Despite the freezing temperatures and the loss of feeling in my hands, we all looked back and thought, “Wow. I can’t believe we did that.”, because without each other, we wouldn’t of been able to complete anything.

Sadly, during free time the power went out, as in most of New Jersey, and stayed out for the duration of our time on the Shabbaton. And there was also a good foot of snow on the ground. We sadly had to move bunks to one that was powered by the generator. So we schlepped the things we needed for the night across camp into our new bunk. The cabin was warm, but it didn’t feel like ours. We spent one night in Wickipeck and felt totally fully tide to it, so leaving was sad.
We then all decided to have the bonfire that was planned for the night despite the snow and cold. We told some bonfire stories, sang some bonfire songs and roasted some marshmallows. We all then returned to the warmth and sat by a fireplace. We sang, we danced, we played, and overall, we had a great last night.

And then we had to leave. And our first Shabbaton was over. And all of us couldn’t stop telling each other we were going to miss each other. We even joked to have a Diller reunion in the next two hours, but as our parents pulled up to get us I was wishing that it wasn’t a joke and that we actually were going to see each other two hours later, and not two weeks later.

It was forty eight hours that truly made me fall in love with this program, and everyone in it. I absolutely can’t wait for every event coming up if it means I get to be with these people and do great things, like what we did last weekend. On behalf of all Diller 5, I’d really like to say thank you to Leah and Max for dealing with our craziness the entire weekend, I’d like to say thank you to all the kids in Diller 4 for their wonderful words of wisdom, and I’d like to say thank you to Aliza and Noga, who, although unable to attend, left each of us with gifts on our beds on the first night to help us feel more comfortable, (we missed you two!).

I’d also love to take this time I have to thank the rest of Diller 5. Without you guys, this trip wouldn’t have been the same. You all keep me laughing and it’s a sure thing that when we’re together we’re going to have a fantastic time. In the spirit of taking a journey together, I leave you all with a poem about journey, and I can’t wait until we see each other again.

Journey to Be
I think I’ll journey out some day to wondrous lands afar,
Or even chart a journey to a distant blazing star.
But rest assured that when my journey begs to take its cue,
Always know that when I go, this journey takes you too.

We’ll start our journey out from here by horse and cart of old,
The seaside docks - and journey pauses - where we shall behold
A noble schooner for the journey primed to launch as planned:
To sail with dolphins cross the seas then journey back on land.

And so our journey goes by foot to conquer mountains tall:
A chapter hence the journey reached, with scenes that should enthral.
But when we tire, let's rest our journey, stretched in fields of flowers,
And bathe atop the mountain from the journey – autumn showers!

Refreshed, our journey takes a turn - we'll venture back for home,
But first we'll let the journey take a tangent just to roam.
And in the winding route, this journey's bound to bide content,
But most of all take heed - let's make our journey life's event.

Love you all,
RB

The Final Post

Where to begin? This trip has truly been amazing for each and every one of us. After traveling around Israel and spending time at our hosts’ homes, we have learned a trememndous amount about our history and Israeli culture today. We concluded the trip with surfing and kayaking in the Tel Aviv waters. It was a great day to simply relax and spend a little more time with each other. I wouldn’t say that I am a professional surfer but it was definitely a fun experience.

We then had our last circle together and we spoke about what we have learned over the course of Diller. We each explained how we would take what we learned back home. Many spoke about the independence they gained in Israel by being in a place without our parents there to guide us. Molly told us that she learned that leaders don’t have to be those who do things that make a huge impact. But leaders can be people who do small things to help make a difference, even if it is just a small one.

I learned that each of us connect to Judaism in our own way. Some connect to it religiously while others see Judaism as more of a culture. No matter how we connect to it, the fact is that we all do connect to Judaism in some way and we came together to learn and share our opinions. Everyone has definitely opened up to the group and found his or her voice. We all contribute to discussions which makes them so meaningful.

We have all had an incredible time this summer and it cant simply be described in a few words. It was packed with new lessons, experiences, friendships, and great memories that we will cherish. I don’t think any of us will ever forget this meaningful and terrific experience we had and I hope we will apply what we have learned to our daily lives so we can further become greater leaders in our communities.

Thanks everyone for making it the best summer of my life! You all brought so much to the group and I loved spending time with all of you. Keep in touch and share our amazing stories with others!

Love,
Yael

p.s. thanks to all the parents for sending us on the greatest trip!

The closing speech - Ari and Mor

Mor: Hello Ari Bernstein my first american friend!

Ari: Shalom mor filo my first israeli Haverah!

Mor:How are you ari?

Ari:Sababa egozim .How are you Mor Filo?

Mor: I’m great! It’s so amazing to be here after such an amazing year!

Ari: I could not agree more, this year has been beyond incredible! The Americans started out their year with high expectations to become the next generation of great Jewish leaders. We met countless times before meeting the Israelis ,and strengthened our bonds as Americans through weekend long shabbatons and intense conversations regarding Jewish identities. As a Jewish teen in Montclair, nj ,a town with a small Jewish population, I've Always struggled with my Jewish identity. The American cohort within itself has given me such pride to be Jewish in America, and has given me the privilege of being surrounded by such incredible teens who never fail to inspire me to go above and beyond.

Mor: Us Israelis started the year with a shabbaton in Jerusalem, clueless about what this program would eventually mean to us. We started with a discussion comparing our Jewish vs Israeli identities. This shabbaton was the beginning of our journey to find out who we are as individuals; a journey that technically ends today, but for us will never end. We did many tikkun olam projects around Rishon like a seder for Tu b'shvat for people with disabilities, selling pins for Yom ha'atzma'ut for the Elem organization for kids in danger, and collecting 250 groceries to donate to needy families for shavuot in our June seminar with dillers from all around the country.

Ari: The metro-lezion group met in NJ for the first time in April. With the aid of facebook, we were already able to identify each other during our initial meeting. We spent the 10 days taking care of our individual Israelis and even took them to school with us one day to show them how education works in America.
Mor: When we, Israelis arrived to New Jersey, we felt like home. They received us so well in the community and in our host families. We felt that pride of being Jewish, Israeli feelings that gets so strong when you're away from home. We prepared an Israeli day at a Hebrew school where we showed the children what is in Israel for us. We did kabalat shabat at a nursing home which soon became a Yiddish party! And of course, we participated in J serve - a huge community volunteer event!
Of course he was also a lot of fun! We visited New York, we did ice skating, watched a game of NBA, and more great things !!!

Ari: After the mifgash, it became real to us that we would soon be with our new friends in our homeland, Israel. The first week of our trip was just with the American cohort, and started off in the North with some great scenery and meaningful history lessons. Each night we'd have a "ma'agal lilah" to reflect on the day's events, which allowed us to take in all of our experiences and appreciate everything to the fullest. The following week was the Diller Congress, a four day long event with all the American and Israeli cohorts together. This congress provided us not only with great performances such as Avram Infeld and "The Shuk" band, but with heated debates regarding Jewish identity and what truly defines one's connection to Judaism.

The last week of our trip here in Israel was our Kaitana for children in the Ramat Eliyahu community. As an American who does not speak much Hebrew, it was extremely challenging to lead activities and control a group of young children who did not always behave themselves. After the first day, however, I was able to use my leadership skills that I learned from Diller to communicate with and lead my group of 8 year olds through various games and sports. It was such a nice feeling seeing the entire camp erupt in song when singing our "Shir haKaitana". By the end of the 5 days, I felt so accomplished to have successfully brightened some of these kids' summers. Our group bonded over the difficult task, and it was a truly amazing sight to see all of us working together doing community service while utilizing our leadership skills from Diller.


Mor: Meeting the Americans again in Israel was great! We could show them our lives, our family, our friends, our Israel. Our volunteer together at the keitana in Ramat Eliyahu was enriching and amazing. It concluded our amazing year and everything we have been through. Each of us brought his powerful features and together we made an amazing survival keitana! There's nothing like the satisfaction you get when you act and do for your community and for the people around you!


Ari: Now we are here, a few hours from the Americans' flight home. We may never all be together in one place again, but our journey is not even close to being over. Yes, we may be leaving each other, but our shared mission remains, and that is to be great Jewish leaders in our respective communities, and to simply do good in the world. We will always be together in spirit, and are always here for each other when we may need a valuable leadership resource, or even just as good friends. I'm positive that we will all see each other again, especially now that all of us Americans feel such a strong connection to Israel, and feel the passion that will bring us back here many times in the future. We must not be upset that the Israel Summer Seminar has come to an end, but must appreciate the once in a lifetime experience that we were so fortunate to share together, and the existence of programs like Diller that bring Americans and Israelis together who share a common Jewish bond. I am so thankful that all of you here tonight are a part of my life, and have absolutely no regrets about anything these past 3 weeks. Thank you.

It's almost over...

Hi everybody!

After three days of no blog posts, I will be writing about all three of these days to fill the gap.

We left off on Friday, the 29th of July. The Dillers wrapped up the Kaitana on such a great note, with the entire camp up on their feet, belting the lyrics to our "Shir hakaitana" (Camp Song). After 5 days of dealing with some pretty amazing, and sometimes crazy kids, all of us were looking forward to our free Shabbat with our host families. However, before going off with our host families, we had a nice kabbalat Shabbat on the beach in Yafo/Jaffa. This was centered around a meaningful discussion about our journey on Diller, where it has brought us, and where it will bring us in the future.

I am staying with Sagi Damari, and his family decided to take me north to the Kinneret or Sea of Galilee for Shabbat. It took only 1 hour to drive to the Kinneret, and we unpacked the car which had been filled with a boat load of raw food ready to be cooked for a special shabbat BBQ. We cooked chicken, beef, kabbabs, and many other things I cannot pronounce, and grilled them in the most amazing spices I have ever tasted in my life. As we ate dinner that Friday evening, we had front row seats to the most amazing sunset over the mountains surrounding the Kinneret.

The next morning we woke up and headed down to the shore of the Kinneret and swam for about two hours on what may have been the hottest day of my life. Then it was time to get back in the car and head back down to Rishon. It was such a nice way to spend my free day in Israel, and I really got to experience family time, Israeli style. Sagi's family is so warm and welcoming, despite the fact that not one of them can speak english very well, excluding Sagi.

That night in Rishon, Saturday night, all of the Dillers reunited to see "Mayumana's Momentum" show, which is similar to "STOMP" but significantly "cooler" and more entertaining. It was really an incredible experience, and our junior counselor Darren even said to me "I think I just discovered my future job".

Today, Sunday, we all woke up and had a breakfast picnic in Park Hazikaron in Rishon. We ate Gachnoon, Shakshuka, Burekas (sorry for my spelling), and Chocolate milk! It was the most Israeli meal that anyone has ever had, I'm positive.

After breakfast, we headed to the beach in Bat Yam, and were greeted by windsurfs, surfboards, and kayaks. This was a surprise from the "Last day committee", a group of five Israelis who planned our entire last day here in Israel! We all had a great time in the sun, and truly soaked in our last day together as Diller Metro-Lezion before heading to the airport tomorrow.

Later tonight we have our closing ceremony, which will be followed by a party at Ofir's house.

It's so sad that tomorrow around this time I will be approaching JFK airport, but it calms me knowing that I have a family both in New Jersey and in Israel, all the way across the Atlantic Ocean. I am so thankful for everything this program has provided me with, and have absolutely no regrets about anything these past three weeks in Israel. Diller has been the most incredible experience in my entire life, and I am confident that we will all remain a part of each others' lives forever.

See you all soon! :) :(

-Ari Bernstein

At the Kaitana

Day 17: Mazgan

It's hard to believe that today was our fourth day of camp. Working at the kaitana has been an unbelievable experience. Besides getting to know my campers, I have particuarly enjoyed exanding my limited Hebrew vocabulary. Today's word of the day is mazgan (air conditioning), which I appreciate more every day we spend in Israel.

After the camp, the Dillers had a discussion to wrap up what we learned at the congress this past week. Of the five legs of Avraham Infeld's table that we studied at the congress (covenant, family, Israel, language, and memory), we discussed our strongest leg, and another leg we would add if we could. Family received the most votes for strongest leg, and our sixth legs ranged from culture, to pride, to tzedakah, to tikun olam.

After dinner we set out to the IDF'S Home Front Command base. We heard from the commander about the rescue squad. Israel's aid to other countries is incredible and admirable. Since its inception, the rescue squad has traveled to Turkey, Kenya, and Haiti, among other countries. Israel's aid is invaluable, and the work of the rescue squad is exceptional. All the Dillers are proud to stand behind such a generous and strong nation.

Time to get some rest and gear up for our last day of camp!

xox
Aliza..
If you would like to know more about the IDF'S rescue aid , check this youtube.

Day 15: "Speak the Language of the Hebrew Man"

most other days in Israel, was a long, but exciting and meaningful day. It began in the camp, and was a little bit easier than yesterday, and a bit more organized. That is, until the different groups had pool time and went a little bit crazy. But after a little while of the Americans trying to communicate with them and the Israelis yelling as loud as possible, everyone could have good, safe fun in the water. Afterwards, the kids had time to play sports, and by the end of the day everyone was singing and dancing along to the camp song. From the camp we boarded a bus and headed to Tel Aviv, Israel's New York. There, we had time to walk around, experience the city, and of course, buy things! Nachlat Binyamin street was crowded by vendors, and it was so interesting to see all of the different things they were selling: soap, art, sheep, belts, cold drinks, grains of rice with your name on them, bling, etc. I personally had a lot of fun watching an older man over his blowtorch, shaping glass into any animal you can think of (including the mythical ones too). Close by was the Shuk HaCarmel, the Carmel Market, which Ofir, my stylish Israeli brother, refuses to enter because he claims, "It is dirty!!!".
At night we went to an amazing place in Yafo called "Na Laga'at" (Please touch). Na' Laga'at is a cultural center that has a theatre, cafe and restaurant where all the employess are deaf, blind or mute.There, we were served by waiters and waitresses who were deaf and taught us sign language, which is apparently different in Israel than in America. After a delicious meal we headed to the other side of the building, where we were in for a treat. Immediatley upon entering the theatre, we saw a group of people, who we later found out were deaf, blind, or both, kneading dough. Throughout the show that they put on for us we learned about each of them, and they showed us that there is much more to them than their disabilities, the basic bread of their lives. By the end, the bread that they were making was ready and we were all invited to join them on stage and share it with them. Everyone was simply speechless. I thought that it was amazing to see them communicate with eachother. They would make signs on each others' palms with their fingers, pass signals down the line they were in, and even reach out to touch each others' faces.What we saw from the day as a whole was that words are not necessary to communicate. In the camp, we might not be able to tell the kids, but they know by our tone of voice and body language that they're misbehaving, although they might not really care either way. Even though most of the performers we saw could not speak or see us, they were still able to send us a profound message. Even in the shuk, I didn't need to tell the man that I wanted orange juice, because pointing to it was all that was necessary (but I did anyway just to practice some of my new Hebrew words!). As we go into our last week in Israel this is something that we should keep in mind. And speaking of the last week in Israel... Mommy and Daddy, I might not come home when I'm supposed to!

-Jason

Day 14: Potatoes and kids

Hello friends,
Today has been a crazzzyyyy day. If you are not aware (this should be all of you) today is the first day of the camp. Moran, Jake, Darren, Leah, and I all went to volunteer at the Hazon Yeshaya soup kitchen. At the soup kitchen, we learned about the different populations in Rishon, packed food and peeled potatoes. It was exciting and fun to be a part of something bigger.
Everyone else at the camp has been running around all day doing what they can to communicate with the campers. For the Americans, they have been attempting to talk the kids, who only speak Hebrew. I observed one of the Diller Americans, Jake, try to talk to the kids and they were telling him funny words and since Jake don’t know Hebrew he kept on saying “ken” and agreeing to whatever the little kids said. As for tonight, we explored Rishon Lezion and went on a scavenger hunt through out the city, an activity prepared by the Israeli Junior Counselors Amit and Amir.
Last night was the first night we stayed as guests at the Israeli’s houses. I know that everyone enjoyed their first night and that we are all looking forward to spend the rest of the week with our host and their families. For all of you worried parents, all of the kids are breathing.
Love you always,
Ethan <3
If any of you would like more information on the amazing soup kitchen we volunteered in or would like to donate please go to http://www.hazonyeshaya.org/

Day 11: Why I am thankful

Waking up this morning felt like a pretty typical congress day. Get up shivering because our A.C. is amazing, throw on whatever is on top of your suitcase and listen to lectures about being leaders. After my daily 3 hour nap (highly useful as Erica noted), I was awoken by Zoe who informed me it was time to get ready for Shabbat and, as usual, I was running late. I jumped in the shower, threw on my white dress and ran down the stairs, because before Shabbat began we took pictures of all the Diller Fellows. I felt a little bit stressed, emotion that I don't enjoy during the week, let alone on Shabbat, but then we participated in a Shabbat parade, filled with singing and instruments (played by many of the Rishon-Lezion Dillers), and came to a field where we all sat in order to do Kabbalat Shabbat. The coordinator for Tel Aviv got up, and taught as a song where someone in the audience got up and gave thanks for something in their life, after which the rest of the audience sang "And for this, I am thankful." It was truly a great way to get me out of my whiny mood and into my calm Shabbat mood. One-by-one kids got up and began giving thanks. With my fear of public speaking I was not planning on standing up. However, I would like to share with all of you from the comfort of my bed what I am thankful for. I am so thankful for Diller. It has truly changed my life in ways never imaginable. It has taught me to stand up for my opinions and beliefs, and that there is no one right way to practice Judaism. I have learned to accept the way I connect to Judaism, a lesson that I believe only Diller could teach me. I am also so grateful for the family I have gained. Daphna, Leah, Jess and Darren are not only amazing people to have as role models but also are easy to talk to and know how to have a good time. The Israelis are like our wild and crazy counterparts, with whom there is never a dull moment. And of course, thankful to my fellow MetroWest Dillers who have truly become my brothers and sisters. We cry, whine and laugh together. We have learned how to work as group, be each others' support team and, more than anything, be each others' friend and for that I am forever grateful. Last but not least, I think I speak for the entire group when I thank all our parents for the amazing love and support and for sending us on this amazing journey. We love you and miss you all!
-Molly Dickman

Day 10: How To Survive Diller Congress

1. Stay away from the following foods at mealtimes in order to maintain a happy stomach:
-the oddly watery and crunchy scrambled eggs
-the undercooked spaghetti and meat sauce
-the spicy pickles
-the sweet ketchup
-the orange "juice"
2. When the Israelis from your partnership arrive with water bottles-turned-noise makers filled with peas and rice, make sure to shake them up as loudly as possible in order to show the other cities how MetroWest dominates.
3. When you split up into your color groups, which are now integrated with Israelis and other North American communities, be yourself and let your personality shine. It also helps to have a block of ice to break.
4. When your color group is presented with a giant floor map of the world, bear in mind that Israel is not, in fact, bigger than Africa, and Mexico does still exist.
5. Test out your Hebrew skills at all times possible: when ordering an iced coffee, saying hello to teens taking a stroll, and chanting along with friends.
6. During your lengthy afternoon break, make sure to take a nap so you will have enough energy to keep up with the Israelis and all the activities that will ensue.
7. At Maagal Lila (Night circle), be sure to clearly explain your day in the form of a sandwich: you start by sharing a good part of your day which resembles a slice of bread, followed by the not so good part of your day as the kosher meat of the sandwich, and then topped with another good aspect as your top slice of bread.
8. When Baltimore arrives at the dance party at night called Teen Zulla chanting in togas, do not be alarmed, they are just expressing their intimidation from the mighty Metro-Lezion.
9. Try to get a few hours of sleep so you'll be ready to do it all again tomorrow morning!
-Erica Brecker
P.S. We're all having a blast and we miss and love you all !

Day 9 :Rak Po (Only Here)

The first day of the North American Kennes opened with an activity in our mixed groups about the different organizations in our community. One discussion we had began with Steve, the coordinator of my color group, telling us that a meteor from space hit Earth and that only 10,000 people survived, 200 of which were Jewish. He then proceeded to tell us that we had to choose 10 Jewish organizations or institutions to establish in order to create a Jewish community. Some of our choices were JCC, Jewish Federation, Jewish History Museum, Jewish Funeral Home, synagogue, and Jewish Youth Movement. In our discussion we spoke about how a part of Judaism is keeping our history and memories alive. We do this by educating the generations to come. We also discussed how a part of being Jewish is being a community. Although we don’t all practice the same form of Judaism and apart of different youth movements and groups we are all working towards the same goal, of becoming a unified Jewish community.

We were also lucky enough to have an amazing guest speaker, Avraham Infeld, the former president of Hillel.He spoke about Judaism and leadership through his humor and sarcasm. We learned that in order for one to be a leader, he or she must be passionate, and cannot lead alone. He also taught us that in order for people to follow you, you need to reach into their hearts, get them in the gut, and move the feet for them.

Our treat of the day was a show by Robbie Gringrass, an English Israeli entertainment speaker. He shared with us some of his personal stories and experiences living in Israel. He also integrated some of his favorite Israeli songs in between. “Rak Po”, by HaDag Nachash is a song about all of the ironic qualities of Israel. When an Israeli hears about a terrorist attack in Israel, they race back home. Also, in Israel, soldiers with big guns are comforting, whereas in American and other parts of the world, they are avoided. The show ended with Robbie telling us that Judaism is a song that everyone dances to, but that each person dances differently.

We ended the day with our nightly Ma’agal Laila, where Israeli soldiers spoke to us about what it’s like to be in the IDF. They explained how at age 21 they were placed in charge of their own platoon and given the great responsibilities they hold..

Being with all of the different Diller groups of North America has truely brought us closer. I can’t wait for all of the Israelis to come tomorrow so that our Diller community will be completed and the fun can really start!
(shout out to mommy and abba-- love you!)

-Carmelle

Day 8: What a long day!

After a beautiful night in the Bedouin tent we were woken up at 4 in the morning to Jason Roth and Sagi Damari, our leaders of the day, playing loud music. In a zombie like fashion, we all went through the motions of getting ready so early in the morning while enjoying the Bedouin’s trademark tea to help wake us up. Although exhausted, at Masada all of us Dillers really pulled through and made it to the top without too many complaints! For people who were experiencing Masada for the first time, like myself, the view was spectacular and watching the sun rise surrounded by friends was indescribable. After shouting out to the world and singing many songs through echo of the barren mountains of Masada, we departed Masada via tram, which was a fun way to make fun of all the other groups hiking down the snake path.

Beautiful Ein Gedi was next on our list and we were more than happy to swim in the cool water. The beautiful refreshing water transformed into an invigorating seaweed fight and Aliza even touched a frog!

With a two hour bus ride ahead, we took the opportunity to sleep, only being waken up to eat lunch and temporarily say goodbye to our Israelis. Desperately needing showers, we all ate lunch quickly enough so that we could get to Givat Haviva early and have time to shower before meeting the 120 other Dillers at the Kennes. A bit overwhelmed by the amount of new people and how tired we were, we stuck together and supported one another. But our day wasn’t over yet! We were then divided into color groups, being mixed with kids from all the other North American Diller groups, and proceeded to ice breakers where we realized the other North Americans aren’t so bad!

When our night circle came around we were all a little too tired to hold any conversations without cracking up but, as usual, we pulled through like champs and finally got to go to sleep! JUST KIDDING! Teen Zulah was up next which was for all the teens to hang out and, not wanting to be anti-social and desperately wanting our laundry done, we all reported to the grass field where we socialized and ate for as long as we could keep our eyes open. Then finally we all reported to our beds and sang the tune of zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Looking forward to another great day of Diller,
Meital

Day 7 - desert!

A week has passed, and we had a very relaxing day today which was really needed. First of all, it was our awesome medic Rafiki’s birthday who just turned 23. Mazal Tov Rafiki, we love you! Anyway, we woke up to a bunch of cats and some ibexes roaming around, ate breakfast, and then did a workshop about the upcoming summer camp that we are planning. After a few hours passed, we left for a very nice hotel on the Dead Sea. When we arrived, we ate a much needed meal. Then, we got changed and hopped into the Dead Sea, which was truly amazing. At first when we got in it stung a lot, but we got used to it. The salt makes your skin feel oily and soft. Some of us even took mud baths. What is even more amazing is how you float on top of the water with out even trying and if you try to touch the bottom of the sea, you rise right back up. Don’t forget that the dead sea is the lowest place on earth, and it was extremely hot- about 115 degrees farenheight, making the water in the sea really warm as well. After swimming and relaxing, we were off to the Bedouin tent in the Negev for the night. When we arrived, we settled into the village and then rode camels and donkeys. It was a very interesting and exciting experience, and definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity. Next, we leanred about the Bedoiun culture and drank amazing tea and horrible black coffee. We also danced while our host played a Bedouin instrument. The dinner we ate was a classic Bedoiun meal and spent the rest of the night under the beautiful Negev stars talking about how far we have come as a group and our hopes and dreams for the future. I feel greatly honored to be a part of such a great Diller group, and all of the kids are truly inspiring. I know that we will all be close for a very long time, and will all succeed in our own way!

It has been a great experience so far as my time in Israel, and I am looking forward to the next two weeks.

Jake

P.S: Mom and Dad, I miss and love you! Say hi to the pups for me.

Messada

Day 6- photos

First meeting with the Israelis...

Tasting Pita in the old city

Day 6- Tour of the old city and reuniting with the Israeli Dillers

Today we traveled to the Old City in the heart of Jerusalem. In the morning we visited the walls of the old city, which Baruch, our tour guide, told us were built by the Romans. We entered through the Jaffa gate and Baruch shared more about the history of the Old City. We discussed the history behind some of the most famous temples in the world and the different religious groups that surrounded them. In the Jewish Quarter we had time to shop, and I bought my sister a bazooka bubble gum t-shirt in hebrew.......so cool!! It’s fun being a ‘tourist’. After we stopped for lunch in a corner of the Old City, we were SUPRISED once more by the amazing Israeli Dillers. There were hugs and excitement as we were reunited. Adam, who’s birthday was today, was given a very tasty cake by Dor. (The cake was super good!)

After we reunited, we walked down to the water tunnels in the City of David. As we descended into the tunnels, it gradually got colder and wetter. The water would rise and fall, as would the height of the walls (which is very inconvenient considering I’m 6’ 1”). In the tunnel, which was a half a mile long, we all turned off our lights and a had a dance party in the space we had.........it was super fun. After the water tunnel we made our way to the Kotel and the Kotel tunnels. Later, when we had our dinner and headed off to Ein Gedi, we knew we were in for a treat. After we got our roomates and settled in we were treated to a bonfire and music by our talented Diller musicians. It was amazing seeing us all come together as one and have an amazing time.
-Isaac

Day 5: Chilling in Jerusalem

Today we celebrated Shabbat- Israeli style. This morning some of us went to synagogue and the rest went to the German Colony. The differences between Shabbat here and back in the Garden State are extremly apparent. All of the restaurants and shops were closed, and there were hardly any cars in the streets. We walked everywhere, starting last night from the walk home, when we returned from the kotel. We realized that in Israel it is much easier to observe the holiday. Even if you were not at services, you could feel the presence of Shabbat because we were in Jerusalem, the holiest city in the world. Sitting on the Hass Promenade and enjoying seudah shlishit, it was obvious that it was a special day. Fyi, seudat shlishit is the third meal on Shabbat. We got to try lychees and raw figs and Japanese “american peanuts” and a ton of other interesting snacks. It was a restful Shabbat afternoon; it was awesome to catch up on some lost sleep. After dinner and a spirited havdalah, we boarded the bus for Ben Yehuda! We were super touristy, but it was fun to shop around. The shwarma and waffles were soooo good, and everyone enjoyed souveiner shopping. Plus, I finally got a chance to buy saran wrap for my activity! We ran into some other North American Dillers who we will see again next week. Some of us got to see family and friends, which topped off a wonderful Shabbat. Then back to Kiriat Moriah for the last night here. We had the opportunity to speak to the 300 French teenagers staying here, as well as next year’s Israeli emissaries. It was awesome to talk to them about their lives and the differences of being Jewish all around the world. Afterwards, Darren led all of us in some rockin dance lessons, ranging from swing dancing to the dougie. Then off to bed. We need to get some sleep, because tomorrow the ballagan begins- the Israeli’s arrive!

Shavua tov--
sarah

Haas Promenade (Tayelet), Jerusalem

Tasting thr fruits of the Carob Tree

Day 4: Home is where your heart is

Shabbat Shalom, everyone! It is impossible to describe the abundance of emotions that the Dillers went through today, but for the sake of this blog, I will do my best...

Today, for me, has been the most memorable day of our trip in Israel. We started the day by driving to Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust Museum. We walked through the museum, which was not just crowded with people, but also crowded with the memories of those who perished. I held hands with many of the Dillers as we looked at pictures, objects, and video footage of the inhumane event that wiped out 6 million of our own people. I’m sure all of you have your own feelings and connections to the Holocaust, but for me, my Holocaust education has shaped my life in numerous ways. The one thing I’ll always know is that there is always more to learn. We can forgive, but we can never forget. Everyone in Diller came to realize that in order to be the leaders of the future, we need to understand and embrace our past.

What really struck me today was the value of Israel for the Jewish people. After we visited Yad Vashem, we walked through Mount Hertzl, the Israeli military cemetary. I know it seems rather depressing, first walking through a Holocaust Mueseum and then through a cemetary, but for me, it made me realize what we were fighting for: what Israel really means. Israel is our religion’s home and it is where we should be. I have always been proud to be an American and I always will be, but Israel is my home away from home... Israel is in my heart now as well. We welcomed Shabbat tonight looking at the Kotel (aka the Wailing Wall) and I could feel the tears coming down my face. I have never seen such a beautiful sight (besides you Mom!). Afterwards, we all had the chance to place notes in the Wall. I walked up to the wall, placed my note in, rested my head against the warm, welcoming Wall and whispered “Thank you.” This trip has been life changing and one I will never forget. Thank you is not enough.
- Arielle

PS: I had my first shawarma today, and it was amazing. Mom, you better look up the recipt.

Day 3: Driving is Fun

Today we drove from Kibbutz Sha’ar Hagolan down to Jerusalem, stopping at Hod HaSharon to visit Alexander Muss High School in Israel. To make it short and sweet, I will provide you with the five most important things I learned today:

1.Do NOT eat carobs from a tree if they have not yet ripened. They taste disgusting and will numb your tongue.
2.Jet lag may take a long, long time to wear off, especially if you must be at breakfast by 7:30.
3.Jerusalem, though hot in the daytime, is freezing and windy at night. Bring a jacket!
4.Being skilled with a camera will get you far with the Dillers, for they love to take pictures, both of themselves, and of Israel.
5.Jerusalem, most well known as the holiest home for the Jews, is also home of the most adorable kittens!

We ended today with a show about the history of Jerusalem projected in lights and sound on the walls of the Tower of David. Layla Tov. Hi Mom and Dad.

- Jess Steindler

Forget Jet Lag... Hey!! We're in ISRAEL!

At 9 last night we all hit the bed and were out cold in only a few minutes. I can definitely say that everyone woke up well rested for a big day. And to say we had an action-packed and full day might be an understatement.

We were all exposed to our first Israeli breakfast of the trip. To some it was probably strange seeing tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and a multitude of varied cheeses as choices, but with the availability of sunny-side up eggs and other delicacies, the breakfast was filling and delicious. We then headed on towards the holy city of Tzfat, which has “only” been settled for 900 years.

On the bus we did some activities created by Zoe, the leader of the day. We headed up the windy and steep allies of this sacred city, stopping in a beautiful synagogue in which we learned the history of this great city from our heralded tour guide Baruch. Some of us were lucky enough to purchase fresh-squeezed orange juice and everyone made sure to stay hydrated. We then headed into a few shops and were given the chance to purchase jewelry, candles and other cool products sold by numerous local merchants. I cracked up listening to Jess Stammelman argue with a merchant over the price of a necklace, which she claimed that she had bought for 40 sheckels cheaper in Tel Aviv.

The next part of the day was probably the most memorable and eye-opening for each and everyone of us. We were taken to the gallery of a Kabbalah artist named David Friedman. I had no idea what to expect, but judging from the beautiful art on the outside of his gallery I could tell that it would be interesting. We were not just interested, we were attached and mind blown. Friedman explained different paintings and made connections with Hebrew Letters, colors, science and life that demonstrated how everything is interconnected. After his presentation everyone clapped and was eager to purchase his aesthetically pleasing and thought-provoking art.

The next part of the day can be characterized by one simple word, water. We next went rafting on the Jordan River. Although we were only able to witness the presence of white water a few times, everyone had an amazing time splashing and (playfully) fighting off Israeli rafts. Some groups were mauled by energetic Israelis who were even able to pull Ben into the water, although we pulled many of them into the water too. By the end of the trip everyone was soaked and sporting big smiles. After a big lunch some were still hungry, so we stopped at a mall and indulged in delicious shwarma and falafel.

The next stop was the Kinneret, Israel’s largest reservoir that provides 35% of the country’s water and a beautiful freshwater lake for us to swim in. Everyone quickly jumped into the slightly wavy water, which was the perfect temperature. Before heading to a waterfront restaurant, the group participated in two laughter-packed games, Sheep and Compliments. Compliments was highlighted by the outstanding performances of many of our Dillers who made the entire group almost cry of laughter.

The following dinner was a delicious barbecue with great food and a lengthy dance party/dance-off. Carmelle was eager to dance with the local Israeli workers dancing outside the restaurant, and we all followed her into a great sporadic dance party. Darren, our junior counselor, had a face-off with two of the Israeli guys that prompted cheers and a great atmosphere. Eventually, we had to leave the restaurant after 10 songs and headed back on to the scenic route while watching the beautiful sunset over the city of Tiberius with the full moon behind us. We now have a short break before our night circle to end the day; and what a day it was.

-Adam Friedman

Day 1

Sunday night I couldn’t sleep. I kept telling myself it was in preparation for the flight, a quick 6000 mile, 10 and 1/2 hour trip to the promise land. Morning finally came and I hustled to meet the rest of the Dillers at the JCC in Whippany, where we began our trip to Newark Liberty Airport. After long interrogations at check in, Zak getting stopped by TSA security and of course, a snack break, we boarded the plane. Before I knew it the wheels were up and our trip had begun. No one, except maybe Jess who sprawled out across a row of 4 seats, could sleep very much.

We were up and about for hours, munching on junk food and blabbering to each other about all the adventures we would share. Even though we were reminded multiple times by the flight attendant that we were “on a plane and not a playground,” we just couldn’t contain our excitement. Carmelle was so amped that she started making friends with kids from a birthright trip. The flight was a little turbulent, but for the most part it was as short and painless as any 10 hour flight can be.

Two gourmet airplane meals later we touched down in Tel Aviv around 7am. It was already Tuesday July 12, day one of Diller 4’s grand adventure!

Excitedly we hopped off the plane, sped through immigration, grabbed our bags and rushed towards a roaring crowd of Israeli Dillers. After being welcomed home, Ari and Zoe, who had arrived in Israel early, were reunited with the cohort. Next, we met the wonderful crew in charge of our trip: the reigning tour-guide champion of the world, Baruch (or Barry or Bruce or anything with a B), Avi, the highly skilled bus driver with a brand new vehicle, and Rafael, the “Big Man/Medic.”

Our first stop was in Caesarea where we learned of the port city’s history and how it morphed from Herod’s tribute to the Roman Empire to a theological center for Christianity, to a nearly desolate Muslim city. We roamed the ruins while listening to Daphna and Baruch recalling stories of their ancestors traveling to Israel. Next, we entered the Roman Circus and held a classic horse race where Jason and I narrowly defeated Zoe and Zak.

After a group picture in the Roman Theatre it was time to head over to a nicely wooded picnic area for lunch. Soon after, we rode up to the Golan Heights and learned the history of the border conflicts with Syria from Baruch, then walked through a bomb shelter built into the mountain. The breathtaking view of the Golan on the ride down transitioned us smoothly for our arrival at the Kibbutz, El Mul Golan, or the “Gates to the Golan”, where we will be staying for the next two nights. Thanks to the tour we had, we now feel comfortable to explain the kibbutz’ roll as a component of Israeli society. We then grabbed dinner and held our first Ma’agal Laila in Israel underneath the stars.

I’m still not sure exactly where that Monday went, or how many hours in a row I have been awake, but I know our first day in Israel was a huge success and a perfect opening to the trip.

Ben

Photo-Blog!

Golan Hights, Caesarea,Lunch at the Carmel forest

Hi Everyone!
I figured this might be a nice way to set the mood :)

From:



To:

-- From One Great Land to Another Great Land --
Diller 2011

Blog Take ONE

Hi everyone!
Our names are Arielle Kaden and Jason Roth, and we are the Diller Blog Editors for this 2011 Israel Seminar. We are really excited to be in charge of this part of our trip and you will be hearing from one of our 19 fellows every day we're in Israel.

Now, let's get down to business...

We're writing to you from Murray Grove, a retreat center in Lanoka Harbor, NJ. We really enjoyed staying at this center. This area can be described in three words: trees, ticks, and our favorite, mosquitoes. As Aliza says, we really can't be "princesses", so we've tried to embrace the nature. Despite the bugs, we are in a beautiful sunny place and have loved being with each other.

Over the past 40 hours we've done a myriad of things: we've eaten a ton, gotten to know each other better over our group bonding, explored our American-Jewish identities, and swayed around the campfire! We baked potatoes and onions, observed Shabbat, and Jake, Sarah, and Ethan practiced being the leaders of the day. Jess Steindler lead us in song and Daphna lead a wonderful Friday evening service.

We learned more about our upcoming trip to Israel and are all counting the minutes untill we leave! Over all it has been a really fun retreat. It's hard to believe that this is our last one just as an American group. While we are sad we're leaving eachother, we can all say happily: Hapa'am haba biyerushaliyim (next time in Jerusalem)!

Arielle and Jason - OUT :)
Shalom and Yom Tov!