Monday, December 28, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Shabbat B'Yachad
Shalem spent last Shabbat in the Golan Heights in a Yishuv called Yonatan.
After a very early start from Bat Yam the group arrived in the Golan and started their weekend together.
Shalem visited Gamla - the remains of the Jewish capital city of the Golan from 87 BC to 68 AD when it was conquered by the Romans.
The area is also partially a home to vultures and other amazing birds which the group were able to see during the visit.
After the visit to Gamla the group returned to Yonatan, where they had an exciting and inspring Shabbat at this beautiful Yishuv in the Golan
After a very early start from Bat Yam the group arrived in the Golan and started their weekend together.
Shalem visited Gamla - the remains of the Jewish capital city of the Golan from 87 BC to 68 AD when it was conquered by the Romans.
The area is also partially a home to vultures and other amazing birds which the group were able to see during the visit.
After the visit to Gamla the group returned to Yonatan, where they had an exciting and inspring Shabbat at this beautiful Yishuv in the Golan
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
A Stroll On Sheinkin
There is something unique about Tel Aviv that separates it from the other culture centers of the world. The most obvious answer is that it's the eclectic mix of Judaism and secularism that gives Tel Aviv its own particular flavor. However, as I discovered today, that is not entirely true. In fact one could view Tel Aviv as a metaphor for today's Jewish world. In one block I saw: a man wearing a streimel crossing a street, a woman eating from a non-kosher restaurant with a mezuzah on the door, a man with tattoos covering his entire body, and a woman in a sheitel and hair covering running a small trendy fashion shop. Going through my head as I witnessed all this was, "Wow, only in Israel." We are on a pluralistic program, but as religious Jews we must find ways to both socialize and separate ourselves from the rest of the group. On Sheinkin Street I saw a variety of different types of Jews mingling with one another. We have a diverse religion and we must accept and embrace it.
- Jason Edelman (from 11/2)
- Jason Edelman (from 11/2)
Monday, October 12, 2009
Sukkot adventures and a D'var Torah
Before Sukkot, the Shalem group visited Shuk Arba'at Haminim to pick out their Lulav and Etrogs for the Chag. During Chol Hamo'ed, they visited the kotel to see the largest Birkat Kohanim of the year. Seeing the thousands of Kohanim gathered together at the Kotel can only be described as "amazing".
A Dvar Torah by Masha Gollub, Shalem
Sukkot is an awesome holiday-definitely one of my top three. Like most however, it is accompanied with slightly strange mitzvot. But the same can be said for every Jewish holiday custom; yes they seem bizarre but that's a good thing. That means were thinking. We're questioning what it is we're doing. For me, you see, Judaism is something I do not wish to practice out of route. I do not wish to blindly oblige and accept. If something seems archaic, it is upon us to discover a meaningful motivation behind why we are still doing it. The simple fact that it is "tradition," should not advance its continued practice. Focus on the main aspect of Sukkot, the building of the Sukkah. On the scale of strangeness I'm positive it's pretty high up there. Building and living in random huts is a little absurd. So why do we do it? I want answers I can fully believe in and connect to.
The main and most acclaimed answer found was as follows: Sukkot is essentially a holiday of trust. This trust is not limited to solely harvesting reasons, (i.e. trusting in Him to supply us with a decent supply of crops,) but to ourselves as well. As we leave our comfortable homes and enter into the great and wild outdoors, we are consequently more vulnerable, yet, we are trusting that G-d will protect us. The building of the Sukkah puts this trust on public display. This answer would have been harmless if it had not been followed up with a sentence that I was strongly bothered by. The other half stated, that by trusting in G-d, we are in actuality doing ourselves a favor, for it ultimately assists us in leading happier lives. With this trust we will accept all that happens to be for a reason, and are thus ensured of undisturbed bliss throughout all misfortune. It is for this reason that Sukkot's second name is called "Zman Simchataynu" for accompanying this trust is an enriched, happier life. I don't like it. The message I'm picking up on is one that can now allow us to look at the world through a rose-colored lens. It seems as if I'm being advised to remain at all times, deliriously happy with anything that might occur. The idea makes us seem like puppets; puppets with a plastered smile on our face, eternally content with anything thrown our way. The answer does not satisfy me. The second half corrupts the first, making it unacceptable--Why should I build a sukkah if this answer, the supposedly best one out there, offers such awful life guidance? Thanks but no.
And so the search for meaningful answers continued. Soon however, I was rewarded with the discovery of not one but three. To me, the building of the sukkah is significant because not only does it express two of the most important qualities of man- compassion and appreciation, but it also accomplishes a third feat. Firstly however, compassion is revealed, for we are illustrating to all that the struggles our ancestors underwent are not ignored. Hard times, although preferable, should not be forgotten. Rather, we need to identify and empathize
with the situation our nation experienced, and do so by positioning ourselves under similar conditions. Thus, both through living in and building the sukkah, we are respecting and commemorating their time in the desert. Secondly, there is the appreciation factor. With this mitzvah we acknowledge G-d and His protection of us throughout the 40 years in the desert. That's no simple task--gratitude in connection to such a significant gift is overwhelming, but a few days of slight discomfort is enough to initiate the feeling. In short, both empathy and appreciation are two of the world's most beautiful qualities and the fact that we have a whole holiday encouraging us to practice them is no light insinuation; these attributes are heavy stuff, and we should attempt to fully feel them.
with the situation our nation experienced, and do so by positioning ourselves under similar conditions. Thus, both through living in and building the sukkah, we are respecting and commemorating their time in the desert. Secondly, there is the appreciation factor. With this mitzvah we acknowledge G-d and His protection of us throughout the 40 years in the desert. That's no simple task--gratitude in connection to such a significant gift is overwhelming, but a few days of slight discomfort is enough to initiate the feeling. In short, both empathy and appreciation are two of the world's most beautiful qualities and the fact that we have a whole holiday encouraging us to practice them is no light insinuation; these attributes are heavy stuff, and we should attempt to fully feel them.
And now for the third. It seems as if this holiday is attempting to shake us up. It seems G-d does not want us assume that with the conclusion of Yom Kippur comes the introduction of relaxation. Rather, He rudely requests us out of our homes, and commands the creation of new ones! His motives in doing so are surprisingly not sadistic, but rather, because through this, we are forced to think about everything: about religion, about G-d, about why we do the stuff we do-and this was His exact plan. The physical labor of building the Sukkah, and the resulting discomfort is meant to consciously pull G-d into our thoughts, for it is these thoughts that will help us commence the year on an authentic connection. A connection results only through questions and challenges-not through robotic behavior in which we are forever programmed into happy mode. By finding for ourselves reasons that we value, we are building a connection not only to the mitzvah itself but with G-d as well. Hopefully, with this Dvar Torah, we have accomplished just that.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
A look at this week's schedule in Bat Yam
Monday
Yom Kippur
Tuesday-SIYYUR DAY (Field Trips!)
Option One: Outdoor Cooking With The Tzofim (they will teach you how they do it)
Option Two: The Old City of Jaffa (Yaffo)
Option Three: Migdal Shalom And The Beginning of the First Hebrew City in Israel
TRIVIA of the Week
Wednesday
Thursday
Clean Your Apartment!
* Did you know that on Yom Kippur nothing is open-and NOT by law
* Sukkot in Israel is 7 days, not 8
Wednesday
8:30-12:30-Volunteering
1:30-3:15pm-Class
3:30-5:15-Elective Class
7:30pm-Shuk Arbah Haminim-The Four Species of Sukkot
Thursday
8:30-12:30-Volunteering
3:00pm-Dessert and Learn "Sukkot and the First Fruits-Four Quartered Pizza"
Clean Your Apartment!
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sukkot Sameach!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Shalem 2009-10 is off to a great start!!
The group spent their first Siyyur volunteering at Pitchon Lev, an organization in Rishon LeZion that organizes food packages for the less fortunate. All of the Bat Yam classes and volunteering started this week and the group is enjoying Bat Yam's beautiful beach. Check out some of the pictures from the first few weeks.
Also, here's an article from Yoni Buckman written about the trip to Pitchon Lev:
This past Tuesday, all of us on SHALEM went to Rishon LeZion to volunteer at an organization called PITCHON LEV which makes and distributes food packages for the less fortunate in the city. Usually, Tuesdays are occupied by a Siyur (a group trip) aimed to enhance our knowledge of Israel and the Jewish people, and this week our Siyur was slightly different in that we were volunteering and helping others instead of focusing primarily on ourselves. Although the Siyur did not seem to be as beneficial to ourselves as it would be to others, each of us definitely gained many important insights into Israeli culture and those who work - literally - underground, supporting the country.
When we arrived in Rishon LeZion, we were dropped off at a very familiar looking shopping area, a setting that most of us are very familiar with. However, we did not go into any of the stores or famous restaurants, such as Toys R' Us, the Nike Store, or Burger King, rather we were taken into the sublevel parking lot and taken to a very dark and stuffy area against the concrete walls, covered in boxes of food and clothing. From there, we were introduced to the staff of PITCHON LEV who gave us our instructions on how to put together food packages to go to families for the High Holidays.
We were split into teams in front of two long tables and soon put to work sorting flour, chickpeas, rice, and soup mix into plastic bags. In order to both be efficient and have some fun, each team turned our community service into a competitive race, of which team could complete their task first. Through all the competition and a little fooling around, we soon forgot about the heat and the uncomfortable conditions in which we were working. By the end of the day, each person had largely contributed to the group's task in feeding the less fortunate and we were all in a far better mood than when we had arrived.
Although we had some fun and turned our work into a bit of a game, we did realize all the hard work and time that those who ran the program put into it. Unlike us, those people didn't always have a fun group of teenagers to do their jobs, and their tasks did not only last a few hours of a single day, but they devoted their days to helping others. Through our short time in Rishon LeZion, we learned so much about a side of Israel that we have not all yet seen. On this Siyur, we met a new demographic of Israeli society. We were not spending time with the typical Israeli taxi driver that we've become familiar with, or with soldiers who we see walking through the streets, or even those in suits working in office buildings. On this Siyur, we met a group of people who chose to work in the heat and the dark of an unattractive parking garage with the sole purpose of selflessly helping others.
But perhaps the most important part of this Siyur was not just the people we met or a side of Israel that we haven't seen before. The most influential part of this volunteering was what we felt after we had finished. When we walked into that parking garage, the first thing that went through my mind was how hot it was and how much I would like to get out of it and breathe fresh air. But through the time that I spent with everyone, I became more comfortable with my setting and had fun while working, and by the time I walked out, I felt accomplished and happy to have helped out. Although this Siyur was not as aesthetically pleasant or rigorous as a hike in the Carmel, I believe that I connected so much more to the true beauty of Israel: that every day, people devote their time to help the less fortunate, keeping Israel alive from those who cannot afford to feed themselves and their families to those who have the privilege of being a part of it through volunteering.
Also, here's an article from Yoni Buckman written about the trip to Pitchon Lev:
This past Tuesday, all of us on SHALEM went to Rishon LeZion to volunteer at an organization called PITCHON LEV which makes and distributes food packages for the less fortunate in the city. Usually, Tuesdays are occupied by a Siyur (a group trip) aimed to enhance our knowledge of Israel and the Jewish people, and this week our Siyur was slightly different in that we were volunteering and helping others instead of focusing primarily on ourselves. Although the Siyur did not seem to be as beneficial to ourselves as it would be to others, each of us definitely gained many important insights into Israeli culture and those who work - literally - underground, supporting the country.
When we arrived in Rishon LeZion, we were dropped off at a very familiar looking shopping area, a setting that most of us are very familiar with. However, we did not go into any of the stores or famous restaurants, such as Toys R' Us, the Nike Store, or Burger King, rather we were taken into the sublevel parking lot and taken to a very dark and stuffy area against the concrete walls, covered in boxes of food and clothing. From there, we were introduced to the staff of PITCHON LEV who gave us our instructions on how to put together food packages to go to families for the High Holidays.
When we arrived in Rishon LeZion, we were dropped off at a very familiar looking shopping area, a setting that most of us are very familiar with. However, we did not go into any of the stores or famous restaurants, such as Toys R' Us, the Nike Store, or Burger King, rather we were taken into the sublevel parking lot and taken to a very dark and stuffy area against the concrete walls, covered in boxes of food and clothing. From there, we were introduced to the staff of PITCHON LEV who gave us our instructions on how to put together food packages to go to families for the High Holidays.
We were split into teams in front of two long tables and soon put to work sorting flour, chickpeas, rice, and soup mix into plastic bags. In order to both be efficient and have some fun, each team turned our community service into a competitive race, of which team could complete their task first. Through all the competition and a little fooling around, we soon forgot about the heat and the uncomfortable conditions in which we were working. By the end of the day, each person had largely contributed to the group's task in feeding the less fortunate and we were all in a far better mood than when we had arrived.
Although we had some fun and turned our work into a bit of a game, we did realize all the hard work and time that those who ran the program put into it. Unlike us, those people didn't always have a fun group of teenagers to do their jobs, and their tasks did not only last a few hours of a single day, but they devoted their days to helping others. Through our short time in Rishon LeZion, we learned so much about a side of Israel that we have not all yet seen. On this Siyur, we met a new demographic of Israeli society. We were not spending time with the typical Israeli taxi driver that we've become familiar with, or with soldiers who we see walking through the streets, or even those in suits working in office buildings. On this Siyur, we met a group of people who chose to work in the heat and the dark of an unattractive parking garage with the sole purpose of selflessly helping others.
But perhaps the most important part of this Siyur was not just the people we met or a side of Israel that we haven't seen before. The most influential part of this volunteering was what we felt after we had finished. When we walked into that parking garage, the first thing that went through my mind was how hot it was and how much I would like to get out of it and breathe fresh air. But through the time that I spent with everyone, I became more comfortable with my setting and had fun while working, and by the time I walked out, I felt accomplished and happy to have helped out. Although this Siyur was not as aesthetically pleasant or rigorous as a hike in the Carmel, I believe that I connected so much more to the true beauty of Israel: that every day, people devote their time to help the less fortunate, keeping Israel alive from those who cannot afford to feed themselves and their families to those who have the privilege of being a part of it through volunteering.
Although we had some fun and turned our work into a bit of a game, we did realize all the hard work and time that those who ran the program put into it. Unlike us, those people didn't always have a fun group of teenagers to do their jobs, and their tasks did not only last a few hours of a single day, but they devoted their days to helping others. Through our short time in Rishon LeZion, we learned so much about a side of Israel that we have not all yet seen. On this Siyur, we met a new demographic of Israeli society. We were not spending time with the typical Israeli taxi driver that we've become familiar with, or with soldiers who we see walking through the streets, or even those in suits working in office buildings. On this Siyur, we met a group of people who chose to work in the heat and the dark of an unattractive parking garage with the sole purpose of selflessly helping others.
But perhaps the most important part of this Siyur was not just the people we met or a side of Israel that we haven't seen before. The most influential part of this volunteering was what we felt after we had finished. When we walked into that parking garage, the first thing that went through my mind was how hot it was and how much I would like to get out of it and breathe fresh air. But through the time that I spent with everyone, I became more comfortable with my setting and had fun while working, and by the time I walked out, I felt accomplished and happy to have helped out. Although this Siyur was not as aesthetically pleasant or rigorous as a hike in the Carmel, I believe that I connected so much more to the true beauty of Israel: that every day, people devote their time to help the less fortunate, keeping Israel alive from those who cannot afford to feed themselves and their families to those who have the privilege of being a part of it through volunteering.
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