Whoever said something is too good to be true, has not experienced an Aish connections trip. Whether it’s the people you meet, the places you see, or just the lectures you listen to, there is definitely something for everybody. Every day is filled with a new adventure of inspiration. Whether you are trying to get in touch with your Judaism, or just have fun, Aish is the place to be.

Friday:

Friday morning was quiet in anticipation for Shabbat to come. The bus ride to the (Western Wall) Kotel before sundown was a suspenseful one. The pre-shabbat concert by Yom Tov Glaser created a very powerful atmosphere. As we walked down the cobbled stone steps toward the Kotel, the intensity became monumental. The sun set and hundreds of our brothers and sisters began to pray, sing, and dance. The electric environment is likely to affect the most hard spirited of people. After the prayer ceremony, everyone left in high spirits, knowing that for that hour or couple of hours they connected with the Infinite in the holiest place in Israel.

Saturday (Shabbat):

Ever wonder what a typical Jewish family in Israel was like? On Saturday everybody from the trip was split into groups and sent off to eat lunch with a family already picked out for them. What was interesting to discover is how people live their lives in Israel on a day to day basis. The family I went to lived a very practical life. One might assume that they live in a constant state of fear, but you would be wrong. They are utterly happy and proud to live in the state of Israel. In fact one of the biggest complaints I got from our hosts during the meal was that they wish Israelis would be less apathetic to the state of Israel.
The day continued with the group gathering together and enjoying another concert followed by Havdalah- A spiritual conclusion to Shabbos. A Diverse group of people from many different programs danced side by side in the celebration of saying farewell to the Shabbos. Saturday night everyone from Aish Connections went out together to town.
Club Constantine was exactly the spot we needed after a highly successful religious experience. Israeli Trans and Techno kept it pumping all night as the Aish group danced until we were physically exhausted. Aish New York took over the club that night as we danced on the stage, on the corridors, and of course the dance floor. A “sick night” by any standards as we drank, partied, laughed, and grew closer and closer. It was a night that will definitely not be forgotten any time soon and could only happen with Aish Connections- New York.

-Rafael Borukhov

Israel!!!!!!! Jan 1st 2009

We are here and we are rocking!!!
What’s a better way to start off the New Year than to be in Yerushalayim with a bunch of friends? Better than that we are here with Aish Connections!!!! We arrived real early in the morning, some of us still a little tipsy from the flight. Getting our bags went surprisingly well. (Well, at least for most of us….Rafi?) 10 minutes later the girls were again sitting on the bus while the guys were doing what they do best: loading the bus with the luggage! Arriving at the hotel, we dragged our sleep-deprived bodies to our rooms and crashed. It was about time as well. We slept till around noon, got up and went to the old city to one of the Aish HaTorah classrooms right around the corner from the Western Wall. For one or two first timers to Israel this was an extremely intense moment. Especially when the few of us decided to pay a visit to the Western Wall. We could actually feel the spiritual power all around us. It was an amazing experience for all.

On a lighter note, we ate a delicious lunch and watched a short presentation on Aish. We then had this really cool leadership challenge, we were each given a card with a picture on it. The object of the game was to organize all the pictures in such a way that a story would unfold right in front of us. However, we weren’t allowed to show each other the pictures, but instead, describe with words what was observed. Although we didn’t succeed completely with this game, we still had a great time working together. The laughs and what we learned about one another’s capabilities was priceless. This was by far a success. After our very entertaining picture fiesta, we had two very interesting lectures. The first was about relationships. The rabbi gave us a whole new prospective on how to look at dating, relationships, and marriage. With out making anyone feel left out, the rabbi gave us all the different aspects on relationships regardless of the situation or question. The second was on an in depth description and analysis of the Ten Commandments. What made this lecture even more amazing was the fact that it was that the guest speaker was one of the first five students that began learning with Aish when Aish HaTorah was first founded several years ago. It allowed us to see the actual meanings and differences of each commandment. All in all, our day was filled with intense, entertaining, and informative fun thanks to Aish HaTorah and all the people that were involved.

salamon

Every trip has a few days in it, which really define the trip by a large. Today was one of them. We started off the morning really early, grabbed our frozen breakfast and ran on to our favorite ride, “the bus”. We get on, being greeted by our “warm” Czech bus driver and our wonderful guide Eva. Most of us tired from the night before tried to catch up on some sleep, it didn’t happen we where there before we knew it. That’s when we started to feel the power of the place we were in.

Terezin – a forced work camp about an hours drive outside of Prague served as the final stop before deportation to many of the infamous concentration camps. We were also told world that the Jews where being treated wonderfully. When the Red Cross delegation came to inspect the conditions of the camp little did they know that they were walking into a play. Everything around them was a huge lie, the smiles on the prisoner’s faces, the mock soccer games and jolly Nazis.TheNazis pulled off another scam in front of the entire world. All of this done to show the world that they were treating the Jews very humanely we walked to the shooting range where our brothers and sisters where murdered daily, buried in open graves one atop another. We were definitely feeling the power of the place. We each had our own thoughts going through our minds but one thought flowed through us all, - WHY?

Why did this happen to us? How could it be? This wasn’t the first time this thought had gone through our minds. We all heard about the holocaust while growing up beautiful “safe” America. But that’s all it was, a passing thought. We didn’t feel it we didn’t see the proof. We haven’t walked the same path as our holy brothers and sisters have. Today was different we where there we saw the proof. Today was a day that touched us all.

Tonight we had a group discussion about the holocaust and together tried to take the most out of this meaning experience. One by one we got up and told the group what was on our mind. The rabbis threw in a few questions and together we felt we were staring to realize how far we have come along and that if one person could destroy 6 million precious lives. How much more could can each and every one of us do. We also realized that we cant sit back and let history control our destiny we must act and spread the message to everyone that we can. We are a light unto nations. Every single one of us.

Finishing up the speech, rabbi Dave then announced that we got to hustle to the bus to make it back to the hotel. On the bus we decided that we where going to go to this really cool club. Five floors of dancing and music. We were even honored by the presence of Rabbi Dave!!!!! (Way to go!!!!!) Drinks flowed as we danced, laughed, and shared some heart to heart conversation. One thing was for sure Praha (Prague) knew that we were there and we weren’t shy. Getting back to the hotel was a trip in itself. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) I don’t remember most of it. That’s probably why this bog is going up a little late Lol. But as they say “don’t throw stones if you live in a glass house” anyways where arewe getting with this…ok, we think its time to go find some internet so we can get the “message” out to you guys back home. We hope that tomorrow we will have a shout out page where we can send some love back to you guys in the states and abroad.

We will be going to Israel G-d willing tonight and we are really excited. Our flight is 11:55 pm Prague time. Till next time!!!! לשנה הבא בירושלים(“NEXT YEAR IN JERUSALEM!!!)

OREO AND MILK

CZECH 22:46 (10:46 PM) DAY 1

I can’t believe that I’m writing to you right now. I can barely keep my eyes open (Red Bull is not a commodity in Czech. So with that said here goes………
We all met at the airport right on time (well, some of us…. where was Aryeh anyway?) got our kickin’ luggage tags, our fancy itinerary and of course the never-leave-home-without-it emergency contact cards. Awesome!!!!!!
Security was a trip in its own. No one told me “Buchara” was a no fly country. Strange enough “Alla” our favorite Semite was left alone.

The trip had finally begun. With 8 hours of hardly sleeping, we most definitely made the “VIBE” on the plane… soda spilling, (sleeping)pill popping rabbis, and somehow we managed, as only an Aish group can, to drown out the sounds of a pair of 3 million-horse power Rolls Royce engines! Things where looking good, then it happened we entered into what Magellan would call a cyclone -the plane was being put to the test thank G-D we had the rabbis to pray for us because the last people we were trusting were our “Borat accented pilots”. WOW. Things settled down as we came in for an uneventful landing at “PARAH”(???) airport. That was until the door opened and we felt the frigid air. New York was starting to feel warm in comparision. But no, we did not turn around. We built up some major courage and departed the freshly scented European plane. Then we gathered our suitcases (did I mention how awesome those “Aish luggage tags” were?) and onto the buses we went. After arriving at our awesome 5 star hotel with record timing we managed to bring in all our bags. Did I say “we”?!??? Ooooops, I meant the guys. The really “strong” “manly-type” guys who would do just about anything to show how manly they really are. Ok, ok, ok I think I’m getting a little carried away but thank you “guys” (nooooooooot!!!!!!!!) so where were we?! ah!! ok! Back to the bus (again just the guys, oh yea I forgot to mention that us girls where getting our nails done, on the bus! Down to the Old City or was that old-new city? Or city new old new old city? I don’t know but our very “young” tour guide who not only mastered the English language but also successfully captivated every single one of our energetic refreshed minds! (I joke again!!) The atmosphere on the bus was so positive and vibrant despite the lack of sleep and jet lag.

We headed to our second home away from home, the CHABAD center of Prague. Awaiting us there was a delicious hot breakfast. Some of the boys went upstairs to pray while exciting conversation broke out among the students. What happened over the next few hours wasn’t so clear but it all turned out for the best. A few hours in the cold never killed anybody (or did it?). We were most def being put to the test. Once again we arose as victors minus the numb hands and feet. But as they say in Prague if you’re not cold then you’re not really in Prague. We where most def in Prague. And what a beautiful city it is. Somehow every one of us found something appealing to the eye. What a great city! We eventually made it back to the hotel where our beds where waiting for us. Sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep. We were awoken too soon for awesome supper (brought to us by our awesome friends at CHABAD). After the feast R’ Dave came up with this “brilliant” idea to make us think…the game of 2 Truths & 1 Lie where a student has to get up in front of everyone else and say three statements: 2 true and 1 lie. The object of the audience is to decipher the statements and vote on the “false” one. Rabbi Dave!!!!! kol hakovod (props, respect!!)  We had a great time. Thank you. Each went his own way some to town, some to sleep and one “special crew member” went to write this all down.

P.S. Thank you everyone for all the pix!! The more the better.

MILUJI TE!!!!!

OREO AND MILK

Hey Everyone!!!

My name is Oriann A.K.A. OREO

So i don’t know about all of you but I’m so excited to leave!!! I can’t wait to be on the flight to PRAGUE already! I think this trip is going to be the best trip that AISH CONNECTIONS ever had and if not the best then it should be in the top 3

My job on this trip is to keep everyone posted on what the group is experiencing on the trip…I’ll be uploading pictures and posting blogs almost everyday so get ready!!

I hope you started packing because I know I have. See you on Sunday!!!

GO PRAGUE/ISRAEL 08′!!

-Oreo