Our 8th Grade Israel Walkabout

Monday, February 13, 2012

Shabbos Experience This past Shabbat we had the opportunity to visit our friends and family around the country, for a host weekend. I spent my Shabbat with Ben Walker's family in West Jerusalem, along with Noah Holtzer. Their apartment was located in a Hasidic community, and although I have encountered other Hasidim in America, this was certainly an eye-opening experience. By living within the community, I was able to see first hand some of the religious practices, traditions and customs that are unique to the Hasidic community. After arriving and preparing for Shabbat, we walked to a Hasidic synagogue called the Belz which is one of the largest and most beautiful synagogues in the world. The synagogue was completely full with several thousand people in attendance for Shabbat services. Nearly all of the men in the community were there, dressed in the classic Hassidic uniform. It was overwhelming to see so many people wearing beccashaws (long black coat) and striemels, davening in the same way. After Kabbalat Shabbat it is customary for Hasidim to greet the rabbi, and wish him a Shabbat Shalom. After services ended, Ben's uncle suggested we participate in the tradition, and speak with the Rabbi. To my surprise, instead of being able to walk up to the rabbi (as I usually do in my shul) a massive line formed of thousands of the Hasidim, all waiting to see the "Belz Rebbe". Although Noah, Ben and I felt somewhat like outsiders in this close knit community, it was truly an amazing experience and one that most people will never get the opportunity to have. I know all of us felt lucky to have a unique Shabbat experience in Israel. - Michael G

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A word from our Madrichim

Shalom

In the book of Bereshit god commands Abraham "Kum hithalech ba'aratz - rise up and walk through out the land..." The simple understanding of this verse is that only if we walk the land, can we truly call it our own. While much can be said about this I would like to bring to light a more complex understanding that along with the above lies at the base of my educational vision of the last two weeks.
The word "hithalech" - walk, in this particular form appears very few times in the Torah. It is first used to describe god walking through the garden of Eden. We later see it when the Torah describes Noah "and Noah walked in the ways of god" and in gods command to Abraham " walk before me and be just ". It appears that "hithalech" means much more than just walking, it's a spiritual, ethical walk.
The words "Kum Ve'hithalech" teach us that we must not only walk the land physically but morally for us to be able to call it our own.

We tried to do just this, as we explored the country in the last two weeks. Israel was our classroom, our synagogue, our walkabout. We visited sites not so much for their alleged “importance”, but rather for what they could teach us and for the values we might take from them, and finally how they might better us as individuals in the context of our Kehila.

I really enjoyed this trip. The students were very much engaged and were a lot of fun to guide. Israel trips (especially the short ones) tend to be very intense and while I see my role as “kicking up the dust” the true educational work is really done by the teachers. In this regards I must say that you are very lucky to have such a devoted and professional staff. I leave this trip inspired both by the students and by the school staff and to see both on the their future trips to Israel.

B'Yedidut

Carmiel (Tour-Educator)

Poetry

Every miracle needs a reality,

Every coincidence has a reason,

All of life has its ways,

To make it through hard days,

Good is married to bad,

Bad is married to evil,

Every name can change its understanding ,

Help is a name that is always there,

Throughout the rain and down the dark halls,

For it to come it needs a reason,the holocaust came and went

With evil whipping throughout,

By help was there without being seen

And came to stay until the day,

It came to an end

The push-

Life is there in mirrors,

It reflects everybody's ways,

The people stare at themselves,

Looking at their bare heads,

They are not themselves

But a monster to others,

They know as much as their souls are gone,

They will always be there to stay,

That help is on the way,

They see god or Gentiles reflected in the mirror,

Trying to push us out,

Out of the gray hase

Lulu w