Today was the first full day of Kennes, a time where all the North American Dillers come together. We began the day with a nice late wakeup at 8:30, and then moved on to our first activity, discussing North American Jewry, with our separate tribal groups. These tribal groups are just like mini Diller groups for the duration of Congress. We then had a speaker named Avram Infeld, and he talked about the five legs of Judaism. Avraham Infeld believes that the five legs, family, memory, Hebrew, covenant, and Israel, are the unifying elements in Judaism. He kept telling us to think of Judaism as more of a family and a culture than as a religion. For example, one doesn't have to be observant and pray often, but he can feel connected with the culture and thus feel connected with Judaism. He encouraged us to find at least three legs that we can identify with and call our own. This way, no matter who we meet, we will always have at least on leg in common.
After this inspiring speech, we had lunch and a couple hours of free time, in which people either took naps, went to the pool, or hung out with their new friends from all of the other North American cohorts. After free time we had another meeting with our tribes, and the theme of this one was "Looking Kadima," or looking forward as a Jewish people and looking at the legacy we as North American Jews want to leave. Then we had dinner, and after that we had a cultural evening with Robbie Gringrass, who told us stories about his Israeli experience and sang some Israeli love songs, while trying to spread the message that even though Israel is not a perfect place, the people who live there and people around the world still have enormous pride for the country and for the Jewish religion as a whole. After this we talked about his song "Rak Po" or "Only Here" and how we all feel a sense of belonging with one special place in the world, whether it be Israel or our home towns. We finished our day of seminars with our Ma'agal Lilahs, or night circles, in which we, as a MetroWest cohort, recapped all of our daily activities. We ended our incredibly busy and exhausting day with a White Tent, or a place for all of the Dillers to meet each other and socialize! Tonight's White Tent was incredibly special, because we surprised Juliet for her 17th birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JULIET! WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH! So, we ended today looking forward to tomorrow, which begins our five day Diller Congress with all the Israelis!
- Hannah Kanter
P.S.- Mom, Dad, Em and Rach- I love you and miss all of you and YES I AM REMEMBERING TO WEAR SUNSCREEN :) ,
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