Sights, Smells and Tastes of Jerusalem on Shabbat -July 20, 2013

Saturday morning, there were two options for progrmmaing: A feminist orthodox synagogue  or a sightseeing tour of Jerusalem with Lior, our tour guide. I chose to do the tour since I've never been to Israel before. Seeing all of these famous buildings that I've seen in countless textbooks in person is so surreal.  Lior pointed out all of the holy places for different religions, it truly is the holiest place on this planet. We had a map that Lior drew on to show us border changes and stuff. He pointed out how close we were to the Rafiah Crossing (where Israel, Egypt, and Gaza meet). He said the only real danger in that spot is being peed on by someone in Gaza, some comic relief. We then walked back to Kiryat Moriah to do a workshop on Language. It was so cool to see how many different words can stem from the same root, definitely something interesting, especially since I want to learn the language. After our free time we walked about an hour to see the alleys of the city. I thought it was so cool how many different layers there were to the city. Just when you thought you were at ground level, there were staircases to go deeper. There is life everywhere. We got to the top layer, and where we were was where all 4 quarters of the city meet. Oh, and us Israel first-timers (Lauren, Josh, Annabelle and I. The others didn't want to hold hands) walked together into the city for the first time. 

It was really special to share that experience with them! We then made our way to the Western Wall, yet another breath-taking experience in one day. The most holy place in the world for Jews. All the Jews in the world were praying towards where I was. Before that, we had havdalah led by yours truly and Eden. We each had our own candles to keep and use to remember all of the amazing times we had. 

Then we walked to the Wall itself. I wrote a note to stick in the wall, I got so close to the wall. It was truly amazing. It was probably the defining moment in my Jewish life. We ran into the Pittsburgh Dillers there to find out we were sharing a bus ride to Ben Yehuda street. Did some bargaining, my grandma would be proud. It was by my favorite day even though it was one of the first. I love this country.

PS- love you mom! Miss you and see you soon. Tell Sara I say have a great time at camp. 

PSS- MISS EVERYONE ELSE!!! 

Blooming in the Desert - July 19, 2013

I was leader of the day today which for me was awesome because today was one of the best days I have ever had in Israel. We started our day in Mashabei Sade, the Kibbutz Guest House where we slept. The pleasant sound of the roosters habitual wake-up call made it absolutely necessary for coffee and Tylenol . Meanwhile, as I made my way during the early hours of dawn, we enjoyed an absolutely incredible breakfast. 

 

After our feast of friends, we boarded the bus and hit the road. Our first stop of the day was at The Salad Trail. This remarkable place is Israel's largest flower producer and an excellent place to go if you are hungry. We made our way around by our tour guide, Marian, who made aliyah in 1980 and helped build this place with virtually nothing but acres of raw empty land. Along the trail of greenhouses, we picked cucumbers, tomatoes and many other spices and what not. This place was a favorite destination for all, no doubt about it. 

 Afterwards, we made our way to Jerusalem. Along the highway through the valley, we traveled with history. Gazing at the path to Jerusalem, was in its own right, a moment to treasure, especially for those who were entering Jerusalem for the first time. Once we overcame the pre-Shabbat traffic in Jerusalem, we made our way to Machane Yehuda. We paired with a fellow Diller and then made our way into Shuk Machane Yehuda, the market.

The different shops presented a wonderful taste of the diversity of Jerusalem, people of different religions, ethnicities and races. During the time at the market, Eli and I made an activity at the market. We put together a scavenger hunt, the main goal expressed the idea that we all should look closely and enjoy the market on a more meaningful level. As Shabbat became closer, we made our way to the promenade overlooking Jerusalem. Everyone was blindfolded on the way, and as a leader of the day along with Eli, we helped everyone off the bus, where everyone removed their blindfolds to see this outstanding view. Along with the blessing of grape juice, Lior, our tour guide, gave us some information on the general context of the city.

We got our bags from the bus and stayed at a rather excellent hostel with many Jewish kids from around the world. We unpacked our suitcases, took much needed  showers, and off we went to Kabbat Shabbat at a Reform Synagogue, Kol Haneshama. For me personally, this religious experience was a rather interesting one. The exuberant singing and the atmosphere in general gave me a really awesome insight into the mindset of Reform Judaism. It was really interesting when some Nuns came in started praying and then got up and left. Well, it was a incredible day and a great start to Shabbat!. I hope everyone in the states are enjoying themselves because I know we are! 

- Michael Nimaroff

 

Leader of 3000 Years and Today! - July 18, 2013

Today was our first official day in Israel!  Despite our terrible lack of sleep on the plane, the day could not have started off any better.  We were not expecting to see our Israeli Dillers for at least another week and catching up with them briefly did really put us all in a bright mood and only added to our excitement to see the rest of the country.  After a breakfast of surprisingly delicious sandwiches,  we head out to Neot Kedumim, the Biblical Landscape Reserve.  As one of the leaders of the day, Hannah and I were the only ones aware of our special activity beforehand.  Our surprise activity took place on a beautiful landscape, kept the same way as it was 3,000 years ago from the time of the Bible. 

Our activity was a hands on leadership exercise of sheep/goat herding!!! It was a lot of fun watching the group guess the activity and the look on their face when they finally learned what we were doing was priceless. The activity challenged us to think outside of the box, because we had to move the goats the same way the ancient leaders of the past did as shepherds.  It was a really interesting experience and it was hilarious to watch the different methods that we all tried to accomplish our goals.

After our sheep herding extravaganza, we head out on a long ride to Kibbutz Sde Boker and Ben Gurion's grave.  On our way we stopped for some aroma coffee (Israel's equivalence to Dunkin Donuts).  As someone that really does not care for coffee at all, I can honestly say that I really did enjoy a nice iced coffee from Aroma...delish!!!  When we finally got to Sde Boker, we watched a film about David Ben Gurion and the difficulties that a leader faces. We also visited his grave and had an absolutely gorgeous view of the mountains and hills of the desert in the Negev.  It was truly an incredible sight and I know that I won't soon forget it.

We ended the day with a visit to Ayalim - a special community for young adults who are passionate about rebuilding the Negev (southern region of Israel) and other peripheral communities throughout the country. It was amazing to see people only a few years older then us making such a difference throughout the entire country and was really inspiring to meet such passionate young people.

All of our activities today linked together with the theme of leadership, adapting skills and values used from historical leaders, and the importance of motivating yourself and others and believing in your goals.  Altogether, today was the perfect start to an amazing journey.  As much as we all want to stay up and chat about our excitement, I'm sure you'd all rather us fall asleep now. We love and miss you and we're having the time of our lives!!

PS- There are probably many grammar or spelling mistakes...sorry but this keyboard is ridiculously hard to type on!

PSS- I love you mom you're the best xoxoxooxxooxo oh and please wish Ari the best of luck on his surgery and that if he stays kind I'll consider getting him pop rocks chocolate....

-Juliet Felsen

Flying Above the Storm! - July 17, 2013

The first day of our trip was our flight. When we all got to the Federation we were so excited and couldn't stop saying "Guys we are going to Israel!". When we got to the airport getting through security was easy and as quickly as we  had arrived we were counting the minutes until we boarded the plane. We had some time to get to know the Baltimore Diller group who were on our flight too. They were very nice but we were so anxious to get on the plane.  While getting on the plane one of our Dillers  commented that the flight would be in English and Hebrew not English and Spanish which was so cool to think that probably everyone on our flight would be Jewish and know some Hebrew. Although the flight was long we had things to do, and as leader of the day I made packets for us to do on the plane with crosswords and sudoku and other mind puzzles. We also had movies and talked A LOT!  As the fifth or sixth hour approached most people were sleeping, I was not (sadly) but I had the privilege to watch a lightening storm happen while we passed over it. Watching the clouds light up with each bolt was magical. Not only was I flying in the air in a huge beautiful plane but I was flying to Israel the holy land with some of the people I love most! As the final hours of our flight arrived we snacked on candy, ate airplane breakfast, and the excitement began to truly kick in. On the descent people kept saying "guys this is Israel" over and over again and the feeling throughout was amazing. Everyone is so excited for the trip and our surprise as we finished going through customs was to see not only our fabulous JCs Rachel and Meital, but also some of our Dillers from Rishon!!! The surprise sent us in a frenzy and gave the trip an amazing beginning in the land of our ancestors!

P.S hi mom, dad, and Rachel! The flight was good I slept enough for now and am having a blast already! The candy was a hit and I'm doing well. Love you guys! Talk to you when I get wifi again 143 <3

By Rebecca Bonder

Our Final Shabbaton Before ISRAEL!

FRIDAY: 3:30 p.m and the Dillers meet at Whippany for the first ever Shabbaton in NYC! All dressed in whites we hop on the bus and get on our way. Excitement was clearly evident as our trip to Israel is quickly approaching and we just love each other THAT much. Once we got to the hotel, we learned we could either take the creepy elevator or 7 flights of stairs up. Each of us had decent sized rooms unless your name was Max Kasler or Seth Appel because we lived in what seemed to once been a closet, and not the walk in kind. No matter what the case, we all were together and that's really what mattered. We had some time to settle in before we met in the lobby to walk to Romemu. Romemu is a renewal synagogue that rents out the space of a church. An interesting thought, which lead to quite the interesting service. We got there and soon learned that this congregation was very laid back, but a lot of fun. There was dancing throughout the service and they truly made us feel welcome. It was especially fun for me because it gave me that camp/NFTY feeling that I've been longing for a while. For everyone, it was truly a unique experience that I feel most people enjoyed for more than one reason. Following the service, we walked to Talia's steakhouse for a late dinner. The food was actually pretty good. What was better was when the rabbi from Romemu met us for a discussion. We got the chance to ask questions and learned that things may just be metaphorical allegories (thanks coop for that one). When we got back to the hotel, it was late. We had a very cool Ma'agal provided by the Dillers who will make up the counselors of the seminar while we are running our camp for the Ethiopian Jews during the ISS. It was so interesting. We wrote 10 things, (good and bad,) about ourselves and 10 things about another person which we were given. We then spoke aloud what we thought about ourselves and got to hear how we are seen by others. We then had some down time and were off to sleep for the big day coming up.

MetroWest, ready for Shabbat in NYC!

After an enlightening night at Romemu, the Dillers woke up and ate a quick, (and obviously healthy) breakfast of donuts. We then departed from our hotel and headed to a place where most of Diller 6 had never gone before: The Jewish Center, an Orthodox synagogue. The night before, we were told the basic principles of attending an Orthodox service. Men and women were separated and there would be absolutely no music. Many of us were skeptical of the separation of sexes and I believe that practically all of us were a little nervous, but we were ready to explore a different side of Judaism. Once at the temple, boys and girls separated and found their seats. The service began, and  to most of Diller 6’s surprise, the service was very similar to a service we’re used to at home, whether that be Reform, Conservative, or of course, Orthodox. Many of the same prayers were recited and men and women interacted from respective seats. The temple-goers sitting near us were also very kind. They showed us what page of the prayer book we were on when we seemed lost and even asked us about our program. The temple even wrote about Diller 6 in their newsletter and warmly welcomed us with a shout out during the closing announcements of the service. After the service, Diller 6 climbed the most evil flight of stairs and discussed the service. Many of us agreed that Romemu, a shul that used song and dance to connect with God, was not as comfortable as the Jewish Center.

Guest Blogger: Our JC, Rachel!

After having the teens discuss the similarities and differences between Romemu, a Renewal service utilizing music and dance, and an Orthodox service at the Jewish Center, a service that stuck to the traditional ways, we, as a group, by doing so, were able to foreshadow our upcoming trip to Israel. With both services, the teens were able to experience two very different sides of Judaism, and by having these experiences and discussing them, the teens are able to learn about their own likes and dislikes for themselves as Jews, diving head first into their Jewish identities.

But, like I said, with all these services, the teens couldn’t help but think of the Judaism they’ll experience in Israel, and what better way to get excited for Israel then pick leaders of the day?! Coral, our Rishona, led the group in an auction, where she offered up prizes such as a trip to Israel, or a bungee jump! The teens had to wage their money and buy each prize, yet little did they know that each prize would correspond to a day in Israel, and that day would become the day they are leader of the day! The leader of the day becomes something of a staff member during our time in Israel. This means they’re responsible for count off, reminding everyone what time to be ready, and having the opportunity to run an activity for fifteen minutes, or give a treat from them, to the group.

However, it isn’t truly ever Shabbat without a Shabbat menucha, right? And where else would be more perfect than Central Park?! (You know, other than Israel, of course!) After changing from temple wear to play wear, Meital, Coral and I, took the teens into Central Park where we sat on picnic blankets and played cards for a while. When Leah, Shaina, and Coby arrived to the park, it was finally time to get down to business with putting down some plans for each teen’s leader of the day opportunity. Meital and I met with each teen to help guide them through making an impact on their day, and from the ideas I heard, I can assure you that MetroWest’s Dillers are not only bright, creative, and passionate, but will bring inspiration to the rest of the group through their meaningful words to the group on each of their days.

From here, we went back to the Jewish Center where we washed up and had dinner. For dessert, we had a little surprise. Instead of just giving ice cream, we decided to make it into something of a competition. Of the three tables, each had to best create Israel through accuracy, cleanliness, and creativity... with their ice cream. In the end, each creation very much so varied from the next, but the winner ended up describing Gaza as the, “sprinkles of conflict,” which was both accurate, and creative, (and hilarious).

Afterwards, we had one of the most meaningful ma’agals we’ve had, in fact our last ma’agal before our time in Israel. We had this ma’agal on the roof of The Jewish Center, which by 10 would normally be much darker, but we were lit up by the Super Moon that occurred Saturday night. As the aura of our surrounding location brought us together as MetroWest, we said goodbye to the Sabbath through our ritual of Havdallah, our last before Israel. And as we began our ma’agal, the teens were able to realize the significance of each member of the group. Each teen closed their eyes, while one different Diller was picked every so often to stand and pick other teens based off certain criteria given by Leah. For example, “pick three people who inspire you,” or, “pick three people who have taught you something.” By doing this, each teen could understand what they bring to the group, and what they can improve on.

The winners! Eric, Eden, Rebecca, Seth, Corey, and Annabelle!

On Sunday, we headed back to MetroWest. We spoke about Tikun Olam and introduced the teens to many different opportunities that the teens can choose to work with for their Tikun Olam Projects. One was Eugenie, a woman who works with refugees of the Rwandan genocide, another was NETAL, which aims to help children of Israel cope with PTSD, then Challah for Hunger, which raises awareness for social justice causes, and Open Dor, run by our very own, Shaina, which aims to connect generations to generations, (dor in Hebrew, meaning generation). Each project had a very special meaning and different aim for each teen to work with, and I think each of the teens are generally pretty excited to begin something all their own!

And this is where the parents come in! ISS prep! Here, we were, as you all very well know, able to answer those burning questions these Diller parents have had for months regarding everything from security, to hotels, to what to wear! We had a fashion show of what to wear... and not to wear, run by alumni of the program, and the teens had the chance to ask those alumni all their burning questions, too.

The amazing Diller fashion show! Starring alumni Jason, Sarah, and Julian, and JCs Rachel and Meital!

Overall, this weekend was a success! As a Diller group we were able to experience something completely brand new, come together as a group, and further prepare for Israel. With the Israel Summer Seminar coming so soon, I know that I, and my fellow staff members feel honored and lucky to have the chance to have such an amazing group as Diller 6. See you in Israel!

Israeli Day Parade!

Great Families, Great Communities, Great Moments, Greater MetroWest!

In my opinion, this was the best event we’ve had as Diller. This was the first time that we really got to go all out, and I mean ALL OUT. We got dressed up in our shirts, capes, bandanas, hats, and face paint, and then we walked down the streets of NYC shouting and cheering and chanting and singing. 
This was such a memorable experience for me, because I just remember having so much fun at every moment. I think that as a cohort, we are able to bring such amazing energy and such life to everything we do; it doesn’t matter if we are stuck waiting for an hour, because we can make fun out of anything. 

Annabelle rocking her IDP outfit!

But I think the most special part about this experience is that we got to march down the streets of NYC, accompanied by thousands of Jews, in the name of Israel. This is SO important because it shows that we aren’t just a group of 20 American teens who care about Israel, but that we’re part of a movement of thousands that cares about Israel and its statehood.

Eric, Corey, Julian, Seth, Juliet, and Sarah enjoying the parade!

The only part that rivaled that revelation, was the fact that there were twice as many people watching the parade as there were marching in it. To see thousands of faces cheering us on and waving to us was so moving, because I know that just by seeing my face I made an impact. 

Juliet, Max, Hannah, Lindsey, Rebecca, and Annabelle before the parade!

This just shows that no matter how many people may be against the great state of Israel, the spirit and dedication of the Jewish people will always prevail. 
It was hard to see protesters degrading something that fills every Jew with warmth and love, but their screams were drowned out by our love. 
When people think about Israel, they imagine a war torn country thousands of miles away; I hope now that after seeing us, when they think of it, they can see my face and realize that it’s more than just a country, it’s our homeland. 

Dillers during the parade!

The parade was such an amazing experience for everyone, including myself. The spirit radiated throughout the streets of NYC. We were all decked out in our blue and white with the yellow parade shirts. The wait for the parade was not the most favorite because of how hot it was outside, but once we got moving, it was a BLAST!

Israel, Israel, Israel!

We began our meeting with a program about standing up for Israel. Everyone has experienced a form of anti-Semitism at some point in their life, whether it was at our school or college campuses, or simply walking down the street. We learned from many anti-defamation activists about protecting and standing up for the country of our people. We had several lectures, watched a video, and learned the quick ways to stop anti-defamation in its tracks. In my opinion, this was the most important meeting we’ve had in Diller, because no matter how much work we do to better ourselves and our leadership abilities, what really counts is that we create a good name for Jews and especially for Israel. To be honest, although I am very proud to be Jewish and very proud to call Israel my home, when it is being verbally attacked, I don’t always have the best responses. Once, while visiting my sister at college, the pro-Palestine (really anti-Israel) group was protesting and shouting things at people walking by. My sister and several of her friends stopped to talk to some of the kids, and I had to sit in the back because I really didn’t know what to say. That is why I’m so thankful for this program. I doubt that I will ever have to sit in the back of a conversation about Israel feeling useless and helpless, but more importantly angry, because I couldn’t defend Israel when I wanted to. Additionally, I think that this program was meaningful to all of the fellows because we all have strong ties with 20+ Israelis and we will want to defend them if the time ever comes.

Thanks Dillers!! - Rachel

Following the stand up to Israel program, we had a workshop. We had an activity where we prepared a debate on what should be the national anthem for Israel is if we were in 1948. One group had Hatikvah, one had Yerushalayim Shel Zahav. and the other had Tehilim, psalm 136. It was very interesting to see how each of these could serve as the national anthem. Meital put on a nice “judges robe” and we began to have a mock debate. Each group fought valiantly to see their song as the new national anthem. Within the limited time we were given, each group picked out the facts that would make their argument most compelling. Groups debating on topics such as whether the anthem should be based on religion, the future, the past, or sheer hope. But in the end, Hatikvah won because it was made for Jews, by Jews. It embodied the hope and spirit that lies within Israel. It was really amazing to see how difficult it must have been to decide on a single song that will represent the land, the people and the culture of a nation. Following that, we met for lunch where Lindsey once again amazed us with her delicious chocolate chip cookies, and yes they were most definitely perfect. The birthday committee and the rest of Diller 6 also surprised Rayfo for her 18th birthday with an awesome picture frame that we hope she will treasure forever and take with her to college next year. The last thing we did was split into our groups to prepare for the ISS. We spent time going over details with all of the groups to make sure we were all on the same page and talking about our Skype chats with our Israeli counterparts. Israel, here we come in T-minus 56 days!

Moran Samuel, the 2012 Paralympics rowing winner, Moran Samuel, was receiving her gold medal, and waiting for her national anthem to be played, (Israel's national anthem - Hatikva,) as is customary tradition for gold medalists. Upon hearing the wrong song played, she blatantly told them this was not her national anthem and, feeling the need to properly represent her country, took the microphone and sang Hatikva herself. Clearly, it was important to her to sing the Hatikva because as much as the medal was for her, it was also for her country. 

We can only hope that we, too, have the same passion and nationality for both America, and Israel, as Moran demonstrates in this video.

Giving it Back Through J-Serve and Paying it Forward With ISS Preparations!

On the day of J-Serve we gathered at the Federation for a meeting, as well as to help out in our community. Through J-Serve, there were many different directions we could potentially go in: helping displaced Sudanese persons, playing sports with special needs adults, doing karaoke and games with people in retirement homes, learning about the movement Tzevah Kachol, and many more activities than those. 

I was in the Darfur activity. I spent an hour teaching a man how to use a computer and the Internet to perform basic functions that I usually pass off as second nature. It was really special to see the man I was working with actually learning from what I taught him. Personally, I thought this was so amazing because I know what I did will truly make his life better. 

Dillers have lunch by the bonfire, partaking in Lag B'Omer!

We dove into the details to make sure no stone was left unturned. Each group took the notes they made with their Israeli counterparts during the NAS, and brought them to life through discussion. As the groups discussed, new ideas flourished and were worked into the original plans each group had. 

Overall, J-Serve was a great success, both the community and us as the participants truly benefited.

J-Serve was awesome, but with the Israeli Summer Seminar quickly approaching, Diller 6 needed to get down to business. We broke into our respective groups along with one staff member and put our minds to the test. 

Diller 6 is working extremely hard to make sure the camp and seminar will change the lives of the participants forever, as well as continuing to become more cohesive as a cohort.

Diller Participates in Remembrance and Independence

On Yom HaZikaron, Israel's Day of Remembrance, Diller attended a beautiful ceremony to commemorate those who have fought and died for Israel. We watched the story of Yoni Netanyahu, a soldier who died in the efforts to rescue others. 

It was a somber night, however it was followed by a happier night with Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israel's Independence Day; that evening, Diller partied! The winner of Israeli  Idol, (just like American Idol, but in Israel,) Noa, performed, and we danced to some great music and we celebrated by putting Israel's flags on our cheeks! Not to mention the fact that Lindsey brought the MOST delicious baked goods in the world. Overall, the days were meaningful to us because we just met, and made connections with the Israelis from Rishon LeZion who will be joining the army in just two short years.

Annabelle, Josh, Eden, and Michael P. enjoy Noa's music!

Dillers enjoy Noa's final song!

Our Junior Staff, Rachel and Coral!

“Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else": NAS Shabbaton - March 22-24, 2013

Our Shabbaton started on Friday, and we all met at the Federation at 3PM. We loaded all of our things onto the bus, and quickly left, mentally preparing ourselves for the most amazing weekend of the NAS, and most likely our lives. The bus ride was filled with songs, laughter, and excitement, as we got closer and closer to Fairview Lake. We had an activity by the Israeli Leader of the Day, Sefi, where we learned about current events in Israel, which was very informative, and set a good tone for the entire weekend. Once we arrived, we all unpacked and got prepared for Shabbat. Before we ate dinner,
we had a Kabbalat Shabbat service, that was prepared by the Shabbaton Committee. The service was filled with both Hebrew prayers and English texts, adding a spiritual element to our weekend. It was a great service and although there were a few tune disputes, we all sang together and had lots of fun. Then we sat together and enjoyed dinner, where the entire room was filled with laughter as the Americans and Israelis talked about their experiences throughout the week, and their lives at home. Afterwords, we split up and we had our first Ma'agal Laila - or night circle - of the trip. There, we reflected on the teachings from Pirkei Avot "If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am not for others, what am I? And if not now, when?" After some conversation, we learned about selflessness and independence. We also learned about respect, and the actions that must be taken to give and to earn it. Then, we had our second section of the Ma'agal - the heartfelt confessions. Here, we connected one interpretation of the previous text to our own lives. The concept we reflected on was about being our true-selves, and that we have to truly express the entirety of our personality so people really can learn who we are. From that, each fellow was asked to say something about themselves that showed who

they really were. This was the most significant part of the weekend to me, because for the first time I got to know what all of my friends were thinking, and it undoubtedly made us all closer. Then, we rejoined our Israelis and we stayed up till 1AM playing card games and talking, and having an amazing time. 

- Josh Cohen

On Saturday we woke up at 8:45 to start our packed day. After breakfast, we headed to the CIT center for shabbat morning services, where Rachel and Meital led us in an interesting service that was more of a discussion about what the prayers were. Then Charlie came and took us on a hike. We walked a grand total of 3 miles! Our walk included hiking on part of the Appalachian trail. It was pretty cool to know that if we continued on the path for a while it would have gone straight to Georgia. The walk was beautiful, filled with streams and overlooks of the woods. The highlight was probably when we were at the top. We were sitting on one giant rock looking out over the lake and woods that stretched as far as we could see. Our walk down was easier than the way up, and there was food at the end. We sat down and had lunch. Following lunch we had our free time. Some went to the giant swing, others took the time to get some rest. After free time, we had a bead activity. We were posed with very controversial questions and given five different answers to them. We selected a color bead based off of that. At the end we were told that each color bead represented a different sect of Judaism. It was really interesting to see how you can identify as one sect of Judaism, but share similar beliefs with another. After that we did a short farewell activity and then dinner. Following dinner, we had a musical Havdallah, led by the Shabbaton Committee and yours truly, Max Kasler with guitar. Then we had a camp fire and made smores. We found out there was no curfew since we were waking up at 4:30 in the morning, so the rest of the night was spent eating, talking, playing games and just being Diller. 

- Max Kasler

After what would be our last official North American Seminar activity together, the Dillers scurried back to Wickapeck for the night. With the "no curfew" law in order, we decided to spend our last hours together, awake in the common room. The contents of the night were blurred with a mix of cheeseballs and exhaustion, but notable events included playing glow frisbee outside in the dark, eating Lindsey's delicious cake-pops, intense games of Jungle Speed, and periodically passing out with our fellow Dillers as pillows. It is these fun filled moments that make a simple Diller hangout special and memorable. But then, at the leisurely time of 4 AM, we were awoken from our quasi-slumbers to clean the bunk. Cleaning so early in the morning felt like we were little Annie and the orphans, it's a hardknock life for us! After the bunk was scrubbed top to bottom (not with toothbrushes thank g-d), we piled onto the bus. It is not an exaggeration to say that every person on that bus was fast asleep in five minutes, except for the bus driver, I should hope. After what felt like a short bus ride, we arrived at the GMW Federation, only to find the building locked. After a good ten minutes of huddling together outside for supposed warmth, we ran back to the bus for shelter. As we waited on the bus, we realized this was really it. After what was too short of a time, we began the Jewish tradition of saying goodbye to each other ten times. After what would be our final goodbye, our Israeli counterparts were swallowed back onto the bus, waving goodbye with somber faces. As the bus crowned the horizon of our view, we felt a piece of us was gone, not to be seen again for a long four months. We then walked back to a thankfully unlocked room in the Federation, where we were provided a delicious breakfast by Leah. The downtime was much needed, as it gave us time to just breathe, even if only for a few minutes. We then dove into our final Ma'agal of the NAS, in which each person picked a card with a word on it that described how they felt . To describe how one feels about something like the NAS in one word, requires a huge amount of articulation and thought. This activity really allowed each Diller to evaluate themselves, and the experience they had with the seminar. After our heartfelt Maagal, it was finally time to retire back to our homes. At first there was a sense of emptiness, a sadness that our journey together was over, when in reality, it had really only just begun.
- Rebecca Copper