Hey all reading this out on the interweb. So I have received a few questions in regards to the blog. First to address “certain parties” complaining about blog titles, future titles will be less kitschy and alliterative. On a more important note, readers have asked about why this blog is being written on a delay. Well, you will understand by the end of this entry. I will recap our time in Israel so far and illustrate how insanely busy we have been. Not all of us get to go on field trips and have fun everyday, huh Zack. There is serious work to be done and we have been tasked to tackle the serious challenges facing the Jewish people. Leadership has its price and perks. I will tend to focus on the overall awesomeness of this trip but it is important to note that our schedule is quite grueling (read: overwhelmingly full of positive experiences).
To give you an overview of an average day, you can follow this outline. Guys wake up at their accommodations, which are literally at Zion Gate of the old city and then proceed to take morning classes. First we have a 1-on-1 session with a chevrusa (learning partner) followed by two group lectures by 2 of 3 Rabbi’s Berger, Cowland, or Resnik. Girls have a similar schedule at Jewel in Ramat Eshkol. The group then convenes in the old city for the afternoon classes on leadership and responsibility. We then either have a free evening or dinner at a restaurant to relax after a stressful day.
When we first arrived in Israel, we were brought to a beautiful resort hotel outside of Jerusalem. This is where we would remain for a much needed lazy shabbos. We ate 3 incredible meals and got to spend some time socializing with the outgoing Hasbara fellowship group. The wine flowed freely Friday night leading to an incredible evening of singing, dancing, and a whole lotta group bonding. We had the chance to go swimming on Friday before shabbos and even more time to veg. outside on Saturday. On Saturday afternoon we had a group “debriefing” from Poland with everyone going around and sharing their thoughts. By the end of Shabbos, Poland felt like a lifetime ago and we were ready to take on the challenges facing us in the coming weeks.
Sunday was an important day in that in addition to our learning schedule, we were introduced to the main reason we were brought to Israel. We have been deemed capable Jewish leaders on campus and because of our previous accomplishments with minimal assistance; they want to see what we can accomplish with a great deal of support. We were asked to design ideas and projects to bring back to campus. We have to prepare to present our ideas to a donor. If our ideas are considered practical and exciting, we will be given a budget and become responsible for carrying them out. This will be the focus of the next two weeks and we will spend a great deal of time perfecting this.
Our learning has been focused on what it means to be responsible as well as what it means to be a leader. These classes have covered subjects such as how to hold events, use media, attract supporters, and take charge of an issue. We had a seminar on answering the difficult questions about Israel and how to fight back against anti Israel activists without losing. We even had a mock debate in order to try out our skills in approaching and challenging an anti Israel activist we might encounter on campus.
Much of our time is spent meeting with impressive organizations who are taking proactive measures to ensure Israel’s safety and protect its reputation in the media. We met with Michael Dickson of Stand With Us who discussed with us how they are educating students and protesting against anti Israel sentiment such as with the Durban 2 conference in Geneva. We visited Media Central, a non-profit that provides resources
(phones, food, computers, access to research) to journalists who come to Israel and assist them in setting the record straight when it comes to Israel in the press. They also arrange for journalists to meet with Israeli officials and experts so they can get the story straight. A highlight of the trip by far was meeting with the founder Shurat HaDin, a legal organization that goes after the bank accounts of terrorist organizations and has been successful in freezing and seizing hundreds of millions of dollars that would have been funneled to pay for terrorist activities.
We went to visit a number of places as well. On one day we took a trip visiting Holon, Sderot, and Tel Aviv. In Holon we visted a non governmental organization called Save a Childs Heart. They bring poor children, who are from Africa and the Middle East and suffering from rare heart diseases to Israel from treatment. The group got to play with recovering children and fun was had by all. Everyone was so moved by the work done by this organization that the group collected a donation and we bought ourselves a place on the wall of hearts. Our next stop of the day was Sderot, an Israeli town on the edge of the Gaza strip. Sderot has been facing constant attacks by Kassam rockets from Gaza over the past 8 years. They are always in danger and only have 15 seconds to get to a bomb shelter when a rocket is detected in range. The damage has ruined homes, shops, schools and has destroyed any sense of security these people have. Bomb shelters have been made out of bus stops, restaurants, schools, and even playgrounds. We got a tour of the city and met with members of Sderot Media Center who work to raise awareness about the city.
Our last stop was Tel Aviv and the Aish branch there. We sat down with the people who are running Aish Tel Aviv and learned about starting a movement. They are attempting to begin a movement towards a religious Tel Aviv. We then had a free night in Tel Aviv. I went off with the guys to do some shopping and get ready to out to dinner. I discovered that Chris Cornell (Soundgarden, Audioslave, Temple of the Dog) was playing Tel Aviv THAT NIGHT! Sadly I found out too late and missed the show but it was alright as we had a great night anyway. The NY crew (and June) went out to celebrate Karen’s 21st birthday. We then reunited with our Canadian brethren to relax at a nargila bar on the beach before returning to Jerusalem in the wee hours of the morning.
It was time for Shabbos and I had not made any plans. See this weekend was a free Shabbat which meant we could go anywhere. After flirting with the idea of going to Tzfat during the week, I decided to join two Canadians, Jay and Wesley, and go to Haifa. We had no place to stay, no place to eat, no idea what to expect. On Friday morning we arrived in Haifa and went straight to the beach from which point everything seemed to work out. We got free place to stay and eat at a Chabad that was literally less than a 10 minute walk to the beach. We got to keep Shabbos in the sun for two days and even got to share the experience of all going to the mikvah for the first time (no, not at the same time).
We reunited as a group on Sunday excited to hear each other’s Shabbat adventures and get back to some stability. Sunday night we went bowling as a group after which point began one of the best nights of the trip. It began with combination of Canadians and cheap supermarket wine. We all got bottles and the L’Chaims ensued on the back of the bus. We were dropped off near the Sultan’s Pool and walked to town singing and dancing the whole way even stopping to perform for an audience of ourselves at a stage on Jaffa. The party continued to crack square where the singing continued with so much enthusiasm that we were yelled at. Which is crazy because anyone whose ever been to crack square knows how loud it is. The fun continued through all hours of the night and by the end of which I received the title of Honorary Canadian.
Monday and Wednesday were regular learning days. Tuesday was the one day dedicated solely to fun. We began with ATVing in the desert. It was incredible looking at our surroundings but you cannot help but feel teased since they do not let you push these vehicles to full speed. We then visit a kibbutz in the Negev desert that has been among the fast growing in Israel. Finally, we got to spend time at the Dead Sea, the lowest place in the world. Unfortunately the Dead Sea is an unforgiving mistress who will attack you and beat you mentally and physically if you have any cuts on your body. Congratulations Dead Sea, you win again.

So this is going to be the last blog entry of the trip. And officially, this is our last night in Jerusalem. I have to say that I have mixed feelings about going home. On one hand, it will be great to see family and friends, but on the other hand, how can i leave such an incredible country?

I have surprisingly little to say, and I think that’s because there is so much to say. We spent our last Shabbos in the Old City of Jerusalem, and it was magnificent. We prayed Friday night at the Kotel, singing and dancing with thousands of other Jews getting ready to greet Shabbat. After maariv, we joined a huge group of Israeli soldiers jumping and singing Am Yisroel Chai and others songs of freedom and solidarity.

On Saturday we went to host houses around Jerusalem for lunch. After a nice Shabbos nap, we rejoined as a group to enjoy the third meal, followed by a killer concert and havdallah services.

All in all, a spectacular finish to a great trip. Thanks for tuning in!

It’s been a great couple of days since Shabbat. On Sunday we went to see Rabbi Eli Yashuv at a bris. He’s 100 years old and considered to be the greatest rabbi currently living. Though appearing frail, he strongly wished our group good luck in our learning and finding the appropriate course through life.
After a day in the Old City, we headed to an archeological sight to help sift through earth pulled out from beneath the temple mount. After the dig we had a free night in Jerusalem, but most chose to take it easy given that the next two days were jam packed.
We started off Monday driving dune buggees through the dessert. After that, we ate a quick lunch, then jetted off to a gorgeous hike in Ein Ghedi which climaxed at a breathtakingly beautiful spring. On Tuesday (today), we went on another hike, this time finishing it off by repelling down a 50 foot rock wall. A few people got flipped upside down, there were some bruises and bumps, but by and large everyone came out OK (pictures to come). After the hike we went to the Dead Sea! It was my second time there, but I still rank it as one of the coolest things to do in this world.
Tonight a group of us are going to the Western Wall to see it lit up at night. A warm shower and a great dinner with the group lies before me. I’ll check back soon!

It’s Tuesday and I am thrilled to be in the old city of Jerusalem. Five days have passed since Poland and I have used that time to process my experience and churn out some cohesive thoughts.
I will begin however on a lighter note with our tour of Krakow. We spent Wednesday exploring the Jewish quarter in the center of Krakow. Most of the original sites in the ghetto have been preserved such as the Ramah’s Shul and its adjacent cemetery that serves as the final resting place of many of Poland’s most prominent Rebbe’s. This shul was headed by the uber-impressive Reb Moshe Isilis, who obtained ordination at his Bar Mitzvah and by age 20 was the chief Rabbi of Krakow. We learned that at its height before the war, Krakow had 65,000 Jews and over 17 shuls in the span of what would be the equivalent of 4 or 5 blocks in Manhattan. We visited a beautiful synagogue known only as “the temple” that is actually the sister shul to the Spanish Synagogue in Prague. The Krakow ghetto has not only been well preserved but it has been turned into a tribute to Polish Jewery and a major tourist destination in Europe for people to learn about Jewish history and culture. The restaurants and hotels are Jewish themed with creative names such as “Jewish Restaurant Café” or our residence for the night, “Hotel David.” Ignorant travelers beware! These places are NOT kosher despite Hebrew lettering and weak attempts to pass themselves off as such. For those off the righteous path though, the restaurants provide tourists with the opportunity to try “authentic” Jewish food such as schnitzel or cholent.
Krakow was a great first chance for the group to socialize. Our evening began with a quaint dinner at Chabad and an incredible talk by a woman who was awarded the honor of Righteous Amongst the Nations for saving 6 Jews from capture by the Nazi’s. Paulina, who was just a young girl during the Holocaust, told us her incredible story, about how herself and her family hid and protected 6 Jews, including children, some of which are alive today. After dinner we went as a group to a polish pub and we finally found ourselves with some time to just sit back, relax, and rest up for a big day tomorrow. After about an hour with the whole group we decided to go out on the town and explore Krakow’s nightlife. Under the assumption that I would never be in Krakow again, I decided to make the most of it so I got a group of guys together and off we went. Krakow has a beautiful square in the middle of the city with town hall in the center and all the nightlife on the outskirts. Over the course of the next few hours, Jay, Ryan, Wesley, and I went to a variety of places including a jazz fusion club and a rock bar with a polish band playing classic rock/pop and featuring a lead singer with a ridiculous accent. We walked back to our hotel through downtown Krakow amidst ancient churches and castles before calling it a night.
On Thursday morning we get up and make the one hour drive to Auschwitz. The town itself was the sight of over 50 work camps that housed Jews, Poles, and Gypsies. With the exception of two camps, these facilities were used to house people that would be forcd into slave labor during the day. Companies, some of which are around today (such as Phillips), would pay for this cheap labor. Our focus was on one camp, although we visited two. The less important camp is Auschwitz 1, home of one of five gas chambers. This camp saw few Jews and is actually not much bigger than a couple football fields. It contains brick buildings and grassy areas that make it look almost like a college campus. This disturbing “innocent” look is further comprised by the fact that the facility has been turned into a museum. The original structures have been maintained but the inside is not much different then any other holocaust museum with its display of artifacts such as shoes, clothing, luggage, and even human hair. While this museum is a relevant tribute to the horrors and evils that were committed by humanity, this is not our story. As our guide Tzvi put it “Birkenau is our story”
We approached the camp along the train tracks and stopped along the way to visit cattle cars that brought our people to the camp. Hundreds of people would be packed into these cars for days among excrement, filth, and disease. Needless to say many did not survive the journey. Those that did would be taken from the station to the camp; we followed in their footsteps and entered Birkenau. The camp has been preserved almost completely to the way it was left after the war. Even the rubble of the barracks and gas chambers has remained as it was.
Being at the camp does not put you in the mind frame of having been imprisoned there. What it does do is put into perspective for you a picture of what it was like to be captive there and make you think about how you would feel if it were you. We have all heard the stories but this experience makes them real, tangible, facts that you cannot hide from. When you see the living conditions, the gas chambers, the crematoriums and you realize how helpless these people were then empathy can set in. What really perturbed me was how well organized the Nazi’s were in taking advantage of our people in every which way. Not only did they murder over 1.1 million Jews at Birkenau, but they found every way to exploit us for profit. All material items people came to the camp with was confiscated. Those who could work would be sold as cheap labor. The Nazi’s would create products out of human beings such as hair and soap to be sold retail. Even in our death they could profit. Under German law, people who had life insurance policies that died as prisoners of the state would forfeit the life insurance policy to the state. This means the Nazi’s LITERALLY PROFITED FINANCIALLY FROM MURDERING JEWS!
We spent five hours in Birkenau. Over those five hours we were taken on an emotional journey the likes of which you could only understand by being there. We heard all the stories, all the tragedy breaking our heart again and again. Tzvi advised us all to take a stone from Auschwitz. He told us that when we were upset, when we thought we had it bad, to take it out. The stone serves as a reminder of the suffering that our people endured and reassures us about how good we really have it. I look at my stone now and appreciate all the luxuries I am privileged to enjoy when 70 years ago my life would be in danger solely because of the circumstances of my birth. We did an amazing thing! We walked into Auschwitz and walked out 5 hours later! On top of all that we left Auschwitz with knowledge that we would be in Israel in just a matter of hours and that is exactly what we did. We made it back to Warsaw in record time of less than four hours. We had a roadside dinner thanks to Chabad after which we were off to the Airport. In just a few short hours, at 3 am we did the impossible. We accomplished the dreams of our ancestors and lived for their sacrifice. We had made it to the Holy Land.

6/17
Yesterday we had a particularly interesting class about the Jewish view of anger, arrogance, and humility. We spent a particularly impactful afternoon visiting kids saved by the Save a Child’s Heart Foundation—a foundation dedicated to providing free cardiac surgery to kids aged 0 to 18 years from countries around the world. So far the foundation has saved over 2,100 kids from 35 countries. Again, there was no language barrier; rather we communicated in the language of coloring books and balloons.
Today was a fun day as well—excellent classes in the morning, one of which was an open forum to ask literally any question we had in Judaism. In the afternoon, we went go-karting in Holon.
We have a free Shabbos this weekend. Many of us are visiting family, a big group will be in Tel-Aviv; I personally will be joining a friend on the trip. Speak to you soon!

6/15
While in Tzvat on Monday, I took my first dip in a mikvah (ritual bath) at the Arizal Mikvah (along with most of the other guys on the trip). That’s like saying ‘I drove a car for the first time on Monday and it was a Ferarri.’ The Arizal Mikvah is named after Rabbi Isaac Luria, a brilliant Kabbalist who lived in the 16th century. The water in the mikva is freezing cold natural spring water, flowing down the mountainside as it has for the past hundreds of years into the stone basin. Immersing myself in the same Mikvah as some of the greatest rabbis who ever lived was one of the most profound experiences of my life.
After our dip, the guys rejoined with the girls to continue to tour around Tzvat. We met with an artist in his shop, learning about his craft and why the poster he painted with hundreds of different colored lines represents some of the deepest meanings of Rosh Hashanna. We ate a quick lunch and then boarded the bus to go kayaking on the Jordan river. Needless to say, there was a tremendous amount of splashing and boat tipping; but perhaps the coolest part of the day was the bus ride back from the end of our river section to the base camp—we shared the bus with local Israeli students and soon found ourselves engaged in a contest to see which group could sing the loudest. There was no language barrier, just a bus of Jewish souls connecting through cheers.
On Tuesday we started our learning schedule for the rest of the trip: one on one learning in the morning, followed by group lectures before lunch. This gives us the ability to discuss and debate vital Jewish issues in an individual setting, and also hear from world-renown lectures as a group. Amongst them are Rabbi Gerald Schrodinger who, in his spare time, is a physicist at MIT (I suppose everyone needs a day job). In all of our learning, we aim to get to the root of the notion that the meaning of life and Judaism is getting as much pleasure as possible—this is a complete paradigm shift from the typical idea that religion is all about sacrifice and pain.
Tuesday afternoon we went to Holon to explore the blind museum. Guided by a guide who himself was blind, we wound our way through a series of completely pitch black rooms in order to get just a glimpse of what it was like to actually be blind. We were taken through rooms designed to be parks, boats, restaurants, etc, each putting us oddly in touch with a sense we take for granted. It is surely an experience I’ll take with me.
At night we hit the town, and I got one of the best hamburgers of my life on Bed Yehuda Street. Delicious doesn’t even begin to describe what was going on. Heaven is close, but not quite.

June 14th

First off, I should mention that it gives me great pains to write this entry without the aid of my pictures. However I’m not on my computer, thus the the written word alone will have to suffice until tomorrow night (when I make a blessed reunion with my MacBook).

We spent Shabbos on Ramah Beit Shemesh, a religious community about thirty minutes outside of Jerusalem. It was for many on the trip one of the most beautiful Shabbos experiences of their lives. Rabbi Seitz and his family hosted the group for dinner in his backyard. There we sat–eating, laughing, dancing, singing–all the while watching the sun set over a breathtaking view of the rolling Jerusalem countryside. The food was as endless as the Shabbos spirit that washed over the group, binding us together in the most pleasant of knots. We joined together singing niggunim (Jewish songs) until well past midnight, at which point we departed in groups of twos and threes to our host houses.

The next day after eating lunch with our host families, many in the group wandered over to the park in the middle of the community. The park itself is a sight to see–it sits framed on all four sides by white houses built into the surrounding hills. We sat in the grass, basking in the warm Israeli sun, talking and joking about the time spent together thus far, and wishing the best for the time to come.

At six o’clock we all went back to Rabbi Seitz’s house for third-meal. There was a certain lightness about the group; a gentle Shabbos soul lifting us to new heights. One by one we spoke, recounting our Shabbos experience thus far, describing what was new, what was familiar, what made us feel at home, and what made this Shabbos so indescribably special. The sun set once again, and we made Havdallah–Rabbi Seitz singing and his daughter accompanying him on the piano.

We left Ramah Beit Shemesh inspired, invigorated, and hopeful that we could experience a Shabbos like that again. But in the meantime, we re-focused our group’s energy on the week to come. The bus reved up, and it was off to the Golan Heights we went.

June 13th - cont’d

Our first day in Jerusalem has come to a close! In the afternoon we participated in various ropes course activities, each one of us falling helplessly over the other for most of the challenges. It was a sight for sore eyes, and it was a great way to start off an Israel adventure.

After the ropes course, we had dinner in the Old City of Jerusalem and talked about the exciting twenty days ahead. After dinner, some of us walked around town, while others (including myself), visited the Kotel (the Western Wall). It would be a lie to say that my eyes were dry the whole time; in fact it was one of the most powerful experiences of my life. I have been to Israel (and the wall) once before on Birthright, but this time around it was different. For one, my whole Israel experience is being spent along with an exceptional group of Jewish students with whom I’ve gotten closer and closer over last semester of college; and two–if this makes any sense–I’m more ready for Israel this time around. I’m excited about it.

After the wall, a few of us took a tour of the archeological site under the wall, learning about the history of the holiest place in the world. We wound our way through underground tunnels, finally arriving at the point which is the closest one can get to the Holy of Holies. The feeling, needless to say, was from another world.

After the Kotel, it was off to Ben Yehuda street! It was Thursday night, and the city was alive. From impromptu drum lines to bars overflowing with patrons into the street, Jerusalem was bustling! We hung out with friends and made new ones, enjoying our first of many warm Jerusalem nights.

Obviously Shabbos was amazing, from all the families to ALL of the food to all of the schmoozing. By the way Sarah the trip director is an amazing singer; I was quite surprised!!! My favorite of course was the food. There was an intense amount of food and it all tasted insanely delicious. We visited different families for lunch on Saturday and from what I heard all of the families were wonderful, the children were fun. It was interesting schmoozing with the families and finding out that we know the same people in different places, and have different things in common. It was definitely a great time.

One of the greatest treats during the weekend was the Rav Shmuel concert. The Enterprize girls waved their hands in the air, sang along, took pictures, waved phones and cameras in the air giving the lighter affect, and clapped loudly. He was great and definitely raised awareness among us and is doing it among the communities he performs for.

Sunday night we went to an amazing show; Fuerzabruta. It was very intense and just captivated all of us. We moved with the set, danced in the “rain” and just had a great time.

The weekend in general was a great time and really gave us the opportunity to get to know each other better. I personally had an amazing time. I feel that each and every girl on this trip will definitely succeed in life and I am glad that I am getting to know such great people.

We capped off our London trip with a few tours around the city, hitting all of the spots—Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, the Windsor Castle, and London Castle, and Hyde Park to name a few. We were privileged with front row viewing spots for Prince Phillip’s birthday cannon and horse march, and enjoyed our last lunch in London atop row-boats and paddle boats.
We’re just getting settled into our hotel, but Aish has us running around the city quite soon. After some ropes-course activities, we’ll be heading to the Old City of Jerusalem to walk around and get oriented at the Aish HaTorah Yeshiva. A fun day awaits! I’ll check back in soon.

-Zack