Day 5 - Friday, March 9th.

When pulling up to Jerusalem, after a two-hour bus ride, we were overwhelmed with joy. Immediately when we arrived, we went to the Western Wall. Individually, we approached the wall and had personal reflecting time. Touching the wall where thousands of others have done the same enhances the meaning and history behind it. After the Kotel, we went into the Old City of Jerusalem. We've traveled to Jerusalem multiple times, however, this time has been very unique and memorable because of Purim. The ambience of the city was in simcha-mode. Although Purim was Thursday, the celebration continues. People were dressed up in honor of the holiday. Upon entering the city, a group of Israeli men took our hands and started singing and dancing in the spirit of Purim. Mishloach Manot were passed throughout the city and people were wishing all of us a Chag Sameach. We enjoyed free time to eat, shop and explore the Old City. This was a great end to an accomplishing week, along with welcoming the Shabbat. 

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach!
Jillian Sallan and Lizzy Belsky

The gang with Ofer

Zach Firestone

Day 4 - Thursday, March 8th.

Today we went to the Elderly day center and we celebrated Purim with Holocaust survivors. We danced and sang with them and after that we watched a magic show. Zach Firestone participated in it and it was fun to see someone from our trip take part in such an entertaining show. After that we went to speak with a student from the university across the street and learned about their student radio. In the afternoon we played with the children who live in kibbutz Ginegar. They taught us a song in Hebrew and it turned out we knew the same song in English. They also took us to the petting zoo and we played with all the animals. They really enjoyed our American cholocate we brought them! The weather was perfect and it was a great day! 

-Lisa Shapiro

"Sav Yom" Elderly day center

With the kids at Kibuttz Ganigars petting zoo

Day 3 - Wednesday, March 7th.

Foodbank in  Nazareth Illit

The "Jump" mountain, near Nazareth.

4 tons of  Turnip's were hand picked by the group, it will feed about 500 families!!!!!!

Jordan Rosenbaum, Ben Goutkovitch, Aaron Klisman and Zach Firestone celebrating Purim at one of Israel's biggest clubs.

Day 2 - Tuesday, March 6th.

All 15 of us woke up bright and early to play with some kids. We got in our costumes for purim and painted our faces so that we could fit in with all the children who would be starting to celebrate purim in israel. Our first stop was HeEmeq Medical center where we played with the children who were staying in the hospital. Its crazy how a children's ward of a hospital can be turned into such a happy place in just a few hours. There was music playing and all of the kids were dressed up for the holiday. We blew bubbles, did puzzles, and even decorated "chia pets" with seeds that grew out of a pair of tights. Although there was a language barrier between us and most of the kids, we had a great time. They loved our company and i could definitely say that we loved theirs. 

After playing with the kids for a while, we finally got our shopping fix- kind of. We went to lunch all together at a great burger place, got our favorite coffee from aroma, and then walked around an outdoor shopping mall.

Our second stop for our volunteering was the Emunah Afula Children's center. This was an incredible place with an incredible story. There are around 100 kids living in this house. It is for children who come from broken homes and places of where the parents could not care for them. We made hamuntashens with the kids and watched their Purim play. During this time, I ran into an interesting event. While sneaking out to go to the bathroom, i found myself in contact with a woman, not too much older than me with rotted teeth and tons of makeup. I turned to her on the way out of the bathroom to say hi and she stopped me in my tracks. She said to me "where are you from? my daughter is here and please take care of her. I miss her so much. thank you for taking care of my daughter" she then proceeded to give me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Although I had not met her daughter, it really felt like I was making a difference for that one day I was there.

We then proceeded back to the Kibbutz for dinner and a program that our Israeli correspondents have planned for us. This program taught us a lot about the differences in political and religious views between the American and Israeli students here. It was very interesting and I definitely could say that i've learned an incredible amount from them.

And now on to day 3 =]


By Dani Gittleman

Dani Gittleman and Elizabeth Belsky at HaEmeq Medical center 

Zach Firestone at HaEmeq Medical center

HaEmeq Medical center

Dani Gittleman leading an Ask Big Question conversation - "What is Your Identity?" with students from Yizrael Valley College Hillel.

Julie Lowenthal, Jillian Sallan, Sydney Wolf, Hannah Weiss,  Zach Firestone, Dani Gittleman and  Aaron Klisman making   hamuntashens with the kids at Emunah Afula Children's center.    

Day one - Monday, March 5th.

Today we went to the Pioneer Settlement Museum at Kibbutz Yifat and took a singing, guided tour about the first Zionsts that came to Israel. The tour guide made it very fun and interesting to learn about this part history.  We met the Eyael Bezer, the head of the Jezreal Valley Council, and Ziva, the director of the Central Galilee Partnership. Our next stop was Ort Rogozin High School where we interacted with Israeli high school students. We compared and contrasted American and Israeli everyday life.

As our day continued, we visited Zippori National Park where we saw the remains of mosaic pieces, and castle from the Roman times. We then visited an Organic Olive Press where we were got to taste olive oil, and learn how it is made. Lastly, we met with Arab and Jewish teenagers that were part of the Net@ program, an extra-curricular program for Jewish and Muslim teens. We discussed how they can co-exist in Israel. 

By Lindsay Gordon&Sydney Wolf

Pioneer Settlement Museum at Kibbutz Yifat with Sonja

With Eyael Bezer, the head of the Jezreal Valley Council

Ort Rogozin High School in Nazareth Ailit.

Lunching with some Humus

From left to right: Carrie Subelsky, Stefani Monteleone, Lisa shapiro, Jordan Rosenbaum and Zach Firestone 

With Arab and Jewish teenagers that are part of the Net@ program 

ASB Israel - the Airports

Ben Goutkovitch and Lizzy Belsky

From left to right: Sydney Wolf, Zach Firestone, Ben Goutkovitch and  Jordan Rosenbaum

From left to right: Aaron Klisman, Lindsay Gordon and Jillian Sallan

From left to right: Dani Gittleman, Natalie Gross and Hannah Weiss

From left to right: Carrie Subelsky and Stefani Monteleone