Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Diller 8 Shabbaton 1: The Best is Yet to Come


 
 
To be honest, I was a little weary in the days leading up to the shabbaton. Will we get along? Will the other teens like me? Will I have time to do homework? Basically, the average questions that constantly run through a high-schooler’s mind. Although we had orientation and two workshops, we didn’t really have an opportunity to really get to know one another on a deeper level, aside from the typical ice-breakers that I never seem to have anything interesting to say about myself. Everything changed the minute I arrived. We all welcomed each other with an enthusiastic hello, and introduced ourselves to the new fellow Arielle. That hello quickly transformed into a tight hug by the end of the first night. Once we got to the camp, we set up in our incredibly warm rooms and gathered in the common room which I LOVED. We welcomed Shabbat with a re-invented service that really blended all of our beliefs together . For me, I really learned to trust my fellow Dillers in our blind-folded trust walk (nerve-wracking, I know). It showed us that not only do we have to trust the person in front of us (or our leader) but we also have to lead the people behind us and be trustworthy and responsible. I really felt that we were “all in this together” (*insert High school musical dance here*). We closed the night sitting in the living room playing cards like a true family. The next day we started with saying a prayer thanking God for allowing us to wake up and for being alive, a concept that many of us didn’t really think about when we wake up for school . On a side note, I actually really enjoyed the weather because I think that it brought us closer together, literally and figuratively. The theme of being grateful, with Thanksgiving this week, really resonated throughout the weekend, and after learning about the anti-Semitism around the world, I became appreciative of our group and the Jewish community as well as being safe in New Jersey. We spent the days become more trusting, grateful, and more and more like a family.  Saturday night ended after really opening up to each other, with a dance party, while Amanda and the JCs hid in the other room. Although I started weary, I can now say that I know that I have made many new best friends and we have created a family. Isn’t amazing how Jews can do that so quickly?! Sunday we met with Diller 7 and recorded a video to send to Rishon LeZion. AND LET ME TELL YOU, I am BEYOND excited to meet them. I can easily say that since the minute I got home on Sunday we have already gotten in touch with the Israelis and we have not stopped talking to them on Whatsapp and Instagram. Instagram can really be a great thing. I am truly grateful for my fellow Dillers (aka my brothers and sisters) and those in Rishon. Not to mention Amanda, Sam, Annabelle, and Izhak!  I am so excited that we started off this year so awesome and there is so much more to come! Diller 8 is great!
 
-Lillie Heyman

Monday, November 10, 2014

The Journey to Diller 8


The Journey to Diller 8
 
My Diller experience so far - which I feel speaks for all of Cohort 8 - has been one of excitement and anticipation.

 
Having only two workshops and one social event, I can tell that with each group gathering our Cohort is becoming closer together and more tightly knit.  Our event at the bowling alley, organized by the social committee, solely proved that we are willing to come together and act as one mishpacha to become leaders for social change in our communities.  The Diller workshops have allowed us to further progress in the right direction by helping us build trust between each other, establish friendships, and to learn about necessary leadership qualities.

 
But while this is very exciting, I have yet to see the true potential of Diller.  Although I have learned a handful in our three group gatherings, there have still been only three gatherings!  Thus, our Cohort is still breaking out of its cocoon, its full force and beauty waiting to be recognized and admired.  I am sure that with time, our true potential will shine.  But until then, I have to sit here in my big brown chair, writing blog post number two, patiently anticipating the Shabbaton.

-Ethan Ramer