Close your eyes.
An air conditioning unit kicks in. Laughter at a myriad of jokes; the chattering of a committee working hard. Amanda calls for the group's finite amount of attention. A hard fought silence comes over the group as we shift in our chairs; questions asked and answered, sighs of joy and disappointment from every direction.
Take a deep breath.
Chinese food. Women's conditioner. Cologne. Freshly cleaned carpet. Munchkins of many flavours. A frappa-mocha-coffee-something from Starbucks.
Flex your fingers.
The soft stitching of the chairs, the cold of the metal.
Open your eyes.
We sit, as usual, in a circle led by our coordinator. While Leah keeps us safe in the future and secures our wonderful trip, Amanda leads us in a discussion about not just the condition in Israel but how to combat the many forms of verbal hatred and misinformation that exists in our world. As we watch an educational video on the main points of being proactive in a discussion about Israel, I notice how easily and quickly Amanda has been accepted into our family. I see the many different emotions on everyone's face, from exhaustion to elation.
As our amazing trip nears, I wanted to take a moment and reflect on the small things that go into our meetings. With each of our senses we notice so many different things; it is these small unnoticed moments that have personally helped me get through the varying degree of emotions that have followed the situation in Israel. Today we learned about pro-activity, teamwork, and how to be flexible in the face of adversity. I cannot wait for our trip next week, and I know the coming days will be preparation for one of the most unique experiences of our lives.
-Ross Levin/DJ “Levined” Bread
Shabbat Shalom! Here’s the vlog for the day!
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