The last 10 days were the best days of the semester so far.

It started at around 3 in the morning when we all set out to climb Masada. When I woke up I was ecstatic and more than ready to hike. In the beginning, all of Masik (my bus group which I am completely obsessed with) was singing and we were having a really fun time. The rest of the hike up was quiet, but beautiful. We got to the top just before sunrise and took a lot of pictures. Then we had services while the sun rose in front of us. The rest of was spent with my Jewish History teacher, David, who taught us all about Masada while we were there. Oh by the way David was getting married so we threw him a surprise bachelor party and he loved it!

After Masada we went to the Dead Sea. It was really pretty, and the water was warm! It was also really cool to float in the water and rub mud all over myself. It was mostly just a tiny vacation before GADNA!

We get to the base in the late afternoon. A mikfakedet (commander) came on the bus and started to talk in Hebrew. We didn’t really know what was going on, so we just went outside and then all of these really scary Israelis starting yelling at us in Hebrew and we couldn’t understand. Then we got split into groups, and got our uniforms (which I failed to steal), blankets and sleeping bags. At night was our opening ceremony. We had to stand in acshev (attention) for about 2 hours straight. It’s when you stand with your feet in a V and your hands making a diamond in the middle of your back. It is incredibly painful. If we twitched, sneezed, or (God forbid) scratched our nose, we were immediately sent to do 15 pushups. People of different rankings kept coming out and talking to us. Actually it was more like yelling. Afterwards, we went and did some exercises with our groups and went to bed early, because we were told the next day was going to be long and strenuous. I went to sleep wearing around 5 layers- the dessert at night is freezing, especially when you are in a tent.

The army is strongly based on respect. It was hard for my friends and I to understand why the commanders would be so mean and why there was such an obvious hierarchy. We learned that there needs to be respect between everyone in order to be successful. From an outsider’s perspective, the commanders seem like horrible, mean people. They are yelling at you for what seems like no reason and picking out every possible flaw. But when you see them sing the Hatikvah (Israel’s national anthem), you realize that all of their intensity comes from their love of Israel.

 

The next day was spent in the field. We did a lot of exercise and learned a lot about how soldiers operate in the field. Our commander taught us how to crawl, run, walk and camouflage ourselves. The other days at gadna were less physical, but we learned a lot about different positions and rankings in the army. On the second to last day, I shot an M16! We all got 11 bullets to shoot, and it was a lot less intense that I thought it would be. I am really happy that I can say I shot an M16.

On the last day, our commanders started actually smiling and being human. It was awesome! My commander was really pretty, and my whole group was pissed that she would never smile. But when she finally talked to us and showed her human side she was so sweet and funny! It was really interesting to seeing the change in all of us. Most people were complaining the entire week, but when we were leaving, we all started to miss it!

Despite all of the horrible things I am writing about, I actually enjoyed Gadna. Some kids did not, and it is because they had a bad attitude. Green Cove has taught me one of the most important and useful things-always try your best to stay positive. If you complain than everything will get worse. I also enjoyed Gadna because of the people. Before we got there, all of EIE was kind of in cliques based on bus groups. It’s hard not to be, because we are always with our bus groups and it’s hard to really meet other people. In gadna, our groups were mixed and a lot of my friends and I became really close with people from other groups. Now there is a better atmosphere here at Tzuba.

After Gadna, we went to Eilat and snorkeled in the Red Sea. We spent a lot of time shopping on the boardwalk, and it was another nice vacation after Gadna. We then went to stay in Bedouin tents, which were really nice. We had tea and meditated and all the girls slept in one tent so it was like one big sleepover! The next morning we were supposed to ride camels, but we couldn’t because of the rain. The ONE CHANCE I have to ride a camel, it rains in the freaking dessert! I could not be positive about that situation.

After all of this, we came back home to our beloved Tzuba, and we will start school tomorrow and be back to normal.

P.s.  I love my bus group, Masik

ZEBABA

Wow it has been a while since I’ve written on here. I am SO busy with school and new friends and everything!

School days are pretty much unbearable. Well, they aren’t as horrible as PVPHS, but they are pretty terrible. This is the typical school schedule. Wake up at 7:30, go to breakfast, Hebrew class for 2 hours, Jewish History for 3 hours, lunch, and then general studies until 7 pm. It is a long day. I love my morning classes, but by the afternoon I am so tired I can’t even pay attention. It’s okay though, because a lot of the time we aren’t even in school-we are out on tiyulim!

Last week we went to Tel Gezer, which was the place of where many biblical civilizations developed. It was so fun and interesting, especially because we had just read the chapter in The Source that almost directly correlates to the ways and stories of the ancient people.

After that we had a full week of a regular class schedule, which is the only time we have class for entire week for the rest of the semester.

On Thursday night we went to a mall. I was very good-all I bought was folders and I didn’t let any creepy middle eastern men brain wash me into buying their overpriced, unnecessary items. That night was so cool because I saw a few friends from home! Then are on TRY (a similar program to mine) and it was so good to see them.

Then it was SHABBAT!!!! Shabbat is like a breath of fresh air. I absolutely love it here in Israel. on Friday morning for a Tzedakkah project we went to preschools and planted flowers with them in honor of Tu Bishvat. They were the CUTEST KIDS I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. If you don’t believe me, look at my pictures on facebook and you will. I want to go back there soooo bad, I fell in love with the kids!

When we got back, we learned something terrible. Our friend Ben’s father had suddenly passed away that morning, and he had to go back home. Our entire kehillah dedicated our Shabbat to him and his family. We think about him and pray for him all the time, and we try to keep in contact with him.  I cannot even imagine what he is going through right now. The amazing thing is, he wants to come back to the program. We home he does, but when the time is right. Ben, if you are reading this right now, we love you and you and your family are in all of our hearts and minds!

The rest of my Shabbat was uneventful. I had a lot of fun with new friends and caught up on sleep!

Tonight we had our TU BISHVAT SEDER!!! Tu Bishvat is a great holiday. It celebrates the trees and plants of the Land of Israel. but even better, they had TONS of dried fuit and nuts-basically the best foods in the world.

Yesterday, we had our first Tikun Olam (social action) project, which was working at a soup kitchen called Ichlu Reim. They are a very helpful, brave program that helps thousands of people in need. People come to them for problems in every area of life. If they are lonely, hungry, poor or just unhappy, they can go to Ichlu Reim for support. They give them a sense of family, especially on Shabbat and other holidays where they have no where else to go. Packaging and cutting foods there yesterday was so fun. I love doing to tikun olam with my friends.

In the afternoon, SHABBAT came and we went to the KOTEL!!!!! It was such a crazy experience. I have literally been dreaming of going there ever since I can remember. I was filled with so many emotions, I felt so much history and culture and pride. As I got closer, I got even more freaked out.

Then we came back home for services, which were nice. Since it was Shabbat, we had a late curfew and wakeup so I got a lot of sleep (something I will not get a lot of).

This morning, we had more services. They are way shorter than conservative services, which is good because I skipped breakfast and was starving. It was actually one of the funniest services I have ever been to. The rabbi brought something up that resulted in a half hour argument. It was so funny and it really makes me look forward to the rest of the semester!

                                                                                                                        1/27/09

I cannot believe I am in ISRAEL!

 The plane rides were miserable. I did not sleep at all. Molly, Chloe and I had so many mixed feelings about coming here. We kept asking each other what we were thinking when we signed up. So many little things kept happening to us that just made us want to leave. I lost my iPod, Molly sat on coffee and Chloe didn’t have a seat next to any eie-ers on the plane. When we got to Newark, we had to go into a group room where everyone from the trip met up. It was kind of intimidating. So many people knew each other from camp, but I am so thankful I had Molly and Chloe with me. I feel so bad for the people that came here without knowing anyone.

Today is our first full day on kibbutz Tzuba! My room/roommates are amazing and so nice and I am meeting a lot of really cool people.  

We had our first t’filah (prayer). It was so beautiful! It was the first time we were all together, it felt so nice. Prayer really does connect people. Singing together gave me an incredible sense of kehillah (community).      

For the rest of the day we mostly did orientations and went over rules. I met my teachers, they all seem really nice and easy and the class sizes are amazingly small.

We have the most awesome madrichim. They are willing to help us with anything and they are really easy to talk to.

I know this took forever but I have been so tried because I am sick right now.

                                                                                                                        1/28/09

Today was the best day yet! After breakfast we met with our Jewish History classes. My teacher, David, is AMAZING! He so nice, and I can tell he is going to be a great teacher. Also, I am really happy with my classmates. Jewish History will definitely be my favorite class. Even though it is three hours long, I do not see how it could get boring with the classmates and teacher that I have. We will learn about biblical times, modern times, and everything in between. I am most excited for our tiyulim (trips). In what other program can you visit the places that you have been studying about? I think it is fantastic.

We actually had our first tiyul today in the afternoon. Not only was it fun, but it was really cool to actually be there. We went into caves used by Jews 2,000 years ago to escape from the Romans. As I climbed through the narrow tunnels and sat in the short, cramped rooms I imagined what it really would have been like. They had to conserve all of there food and water, take care of children and make sure their enemies had no clue they were down there. It was scary to think about what would happen when Romans would come through the tunnels. We went to tombs, houses and wells, and it was so cool to know that people 2,000 years ago were in the same spots we were.

So about life on the kibbutz. The food is going to take some getting used to. Maybe its because I am sick right now but I’m sure I’ll either get used to it or buy my own food from the marcoleet. I love the rooms and I love my roommates. The only problem is I don’t have a lot of free space.

Tomorrow we have our first full day of classes!

 

                                                                                                                        1/29/09

Today we experienced what will be our normal school days here on kibbutz Tzuba.

After breakfast I went to my Hebrew class. I am in the group a little bit better than beginner. I have already learned SO MUCH! Just in that one and a half hours I learned a lot. I am confident I will achieve all of my Hebrew goals.

Jewish history also went really well. I cannot get over what an amazing teacher David is. Instead of talking about geography in class, we went on a mini-hike throughout our beautiful kibbutz!

My Algebra, world history and Spanish teachers are all really nice and helpful! English did not meet today and chemistry Is well… I want to switch into a different class.

So basically we have school from 8 am until 6 pm. It is long, but fun!

After dinner we had Danny Seigel come and talk to us about tikun olam. If you don’t know who he is, look him up. He is so inspirational.

Tomorrow is SHABBAT!!!!!!!!!!! I am so exited. I love Shabbat.

Oh so this is a compilation of the past three days here. It is so hard to find time or internet!

Before I leave!

I am leaving for Israel in two days, and it still has not hit me. So many emotions are running through my mind and my heart right now. I will miss my family terribly. My mom does pretty much everything for me and I don’t know how I am going to live without her. Sarah and my dad are so funny and it is going to be weird to be without them for this long. I am exited to make a new home and new friends, yet sad to leave home and my old friends. My friends are so special to me, and i do not know how i am going to deal without seeing them everyday. At the same time, I feel relieved. I can leave behind the tremendous stress that comes along with going to Peninsula High. I can also make a fresh start with a totally new group of people. Overall, I do not know what to expect, but I know when I am there I will be happy.

I have a few goals for the semester:

1. Step out of my comfort zone.
2. Be able to carry on conversations in Hebrew and understand what’s going on in services.
3. Make really great, lifelong friendships.
   
4. Become more educated about Judaism and Zionism.
   
5. Decide how I feel about various Jewish ideas.
   
6. Get the most out of everything.
   
7. Learn everything I can.
   

 

Another goal I have is keeping in touch with everyone! My email address is 93ruth@cox.net and I will be on facebook a lot!

 

So that’s about it for now! I will try to write as often as possible and make my next post soon!

Love, Ruthie