Israel 1

Hey. So I finally have some free time! Here’s a rundown of what’s been going on….

I flew to NYC first and hung out with a couple of friends for a few days. Nothing too crazy really. But it was my first time in the Big Apple with a camera. So that was cool. I made sure to get a New York bagel, a New York pizza, and eat a New York deli sandwich while I was there. I think those were the majors. I did forget the New York steak and the New York cheesecake though. Ah, I’ll be back there in May for those I guess. I did go to the American Museum of Natural History, which was cool. And later that night I made it to a show. The band was Galactic and they were groovin! I saw them for the first time at Austin City Limits earlier this year, so it was a treat to see em again. My one complaint was that NYC was FREEZING cold. Actually, no one seemed to complain other than this SF native, so I guess it was just me shakin in my little space boots.

Then came Sunday. I woke up feeling a little stiff. Probably because I hadn’t rode my bike for the fourth consecutive day (a new record since I’ve been biking, I think). I decided that I would hit up some yoga on the upper west side before headin to JFK to take a 12-hour flight. When I arrived to JFK, I was cursing myself because I had spent so much money over the weekend. But I had fun, and hey, that’s NY. Jarad, my only previous contact, seemed nice, as did his counterpart Heidi. Heidi looked familiar, but then again, I was just trippin. The Super Bowl had just kicked off, so I had the chance to watch most of it after my flight check-in and before my security check. I had a couple beers with Shannon from Buffalo who was also on my group and I ate some Buffalo wings. She wouldn’t have any of em though because they weren’t the real deal apparently.

We took off on time and although my ticket was for a middle seat next to Gail, Joe decided to switch with me so he could sit next to her. I didn’t mind. I’ll always take the aisle seat. Across the aisle from me was an orthodox guy and it made me happy to see he took advantage of the free alcohol by consuming a Carlsberg. I drank apple juice. Joe and Gail had bloody marys. They looked disgusting. The flight attendants were really nice because they had to put up with so much crap it seemed like. I guess they are used to it, but jeez. I am definitely a fan of El Al.

Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Int’l Airport, we all made it through customs alright. After a debriefing from some guy (I forgot his name and I never really saw him for the rest of the trip, other than a half-hour at Rabin Square) we were introduced to Yaniv, our God for the next 10 days. We had a quick chat then proceeded to the bus where we rode for an hour or so to the north near Cesearea. We stayed at a kibbutz and were fed dinner and breakfast. The kibbutz was located right on the Mediterranean Sea and it sure was windy! That night I slept in the same room as Alan from Jersey and Joe (from the plane) from Manhattan.

The next day we visited the ancient city of Acre. So much info flew over my head, but I remember it being really old and was pretty surprised that most of it had been discovered in 1992! We also visited a business park and learned about an impressive business model that uses cultural integration in a hostile region as it’s foundation for financial success.

Then we visited a Drews house where a nice man served us great tea, Turkish coffee, and pastries while we learned about their culture and beliefs. The Drews exist in Israel, Lebanon, and Syria, but are only officially recognized in Israel. After an evening at another kibbutz, we met up with our three female soldiers that would be taggin along. Tal, Ayala, and Keren. (I’m actually typing this from Tal’s house. She’s not here right now, but was kind of enough to let me crash here at her parents since I was passing through Be’er Shevat.) Our first stop with them was an Ashkenazi synagogue followed by a candle-making shop. That afternoon we met up with the 5 male soldiers that would join us (Tal, Shai, Mark, Eitan, and Ori). They were really cool too. (I just met up with Eitan last night to shoot some pool, etc.) Our first stop with them was an outdoor Greek theater followed by a manmade port built by King Hebron himself! That night, in a hotel, we watched a nut with masks make a fool of himself. He was actually really talented. Joe, Alix, and Jennifer did a great job for volunteering.

Next day, Tel Aviv and Independence Hall. Definitely an educational experience! I learned that Golda Meir is also a Myerson among other things. We visited Rabin Square (where Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated) and ate lunch at cafés in Tel Aviv. I actually skipped lunch because I wasn’t too hungry and dinner is buffet style. We also visited the ancient port town of Jaffa. It’s technically a part of Tel Aviv, but you can definitely tell the difference between the two. Tel Aviv is a modern metropolis, while Jaffa is old! I went shopping at an open market one afternoon also and bought my first Magan David (Star of David). It is silver and I am wearing it right now! Keren and I picked it out together. Our group also did a downhill hike and learned about the historic steppes that the locals use for farming on the hillsides to this day. Mark left this day because the Army called him back. A shame since we were in the middle of a conversation that we have yet to finish.

Our next place to sleep was a hotel called Neve Elan just outside of Jerusalem. We stayed there for 3 nights, including Shabbat. I was in a room with Ben who is also from San Francisco (the TL). We had a lot of guests come through though since I had a laptop and the hotel had wifi. Two other birthright groups were also staying with us and it is where we had our “Shabbat Experience.” Four orthodox families came from Jerusalem to provide us a taste of what an orthodox Shabbat is like. There I met Shimmy and Gabe (both young Americans who made Aliyah to Israel) and Rabbi Donnie who now lectures at the Yashiva in the Old City. Rabbi Donnie is also from NYC and was a lawyer in his previous life. All really cool guys who didn’t pressure anyone to do anything.

Our last night at the hotel we went out to Leila Club. It was cool, but not too many locals were there. Probably because we were early arrivals. (We left around 1am I believe.) The next day we headed to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust museum. I left with tears in my eyes. We also went to Mount Hertzl that day where Israel’s most important people are buried (except for David Ben Gurion). We ended the day in the Old City where we saw Western Wall and the Dome of the Rock. After saying goodbye to the soldiers that night, we stayed at a kibbutz and woke up early to climb Masada.

Masada is such a scenic area and we saw the sunrise over the mountains in Jordan. I learned about the historical significance as well as get my blood flowing! We went on another hike through some streams and stopped by the Dead Sea. It was cool at first, but I couldn’t really find myself relaxing that much because you can’t really swim there. Just float. I did buy some mud though which was fun. After the Dead Sea, we rode camels. My partner was Jackie (from Chicago). That night we stayed in Bedouin tent and learned about their people. They are the people of the desert and have been roaming for thousands of years. It is in modern history that they have settled down more, started learning at universities, and obtaining modern jobs. They served us tea and then coffee which they roasted over the campfire first! We had great schwarma for dinner and had a bonfire that night and told jokes and stories and played games. A large high school group also stayed at the facility that night. We talked to a couple of them and they were on a 3-day trip which included Eilat.

The next day we went to where David Ben Gurion is buried and the learning center that exists there today. It was a remarkable view and learned about his amazing life. After all his accomplishments, including Prime Minister, he spent the last days of his life as a shepherd. Later that day we did some rappelling in the largest crater on earth called the Ramon Crater. It isn’t from a meter, rather it exists naturally. We visited a nature preserve and a dairy plant on our way down to Eilat, where we spent the last night in a nice hotel. We went out that night of course and stumbled home around 2am. I woke up early for some reason and watched the sunrise with Joe over a cup of coffee. After snorkeling in the Red Sea, we made our way up back to Ben Gurion where the rest of the group flew and eleven of us stuck around.

That first night Heidi, Anna, Emily, Joe, Stephanie, and myself stayed at Sky Hostel in Tel Aviv. It was a dump, but included breakfast for only 50shek. That day I just hung out and did some much-needed work online. I did laundry for the first time in 10 days, went to the post office to get stamps and make a fax, and stopped by the American Embassy. Heidi and I stayed one more night but down the street at Momo’s hostel. I met up with Keren that afternoon and later on, we met up with Eitan.

The next day was Friday again and time for Shabbat. I met up with Shimmy in the Old City and he hooked me up with everything. I met up with a guy named Gavin from LA who ended up showing me around the Yeshiva and I spent the evening in a bed in the dorms. I met up with some cool guys (all Americans who made Aliyah) and some cool Rabbis. Rabbi Schwartz was my favorite. He was from Toronto and now teaches at the Yeshiva. His wife made sushi for dinner that night which was amazing and we spent the evening talking and singing songs. After Shabbat, I spent the evening in a hostel down the street. On Sunday morning, I took an Essentials class with Rabbi Schwartz before taking an all-day Discovery class with various Rabbis. Actually, the last speaker of the day was Rabbi Donnie whom I met the previous week.

I then made my way back to Tel Aviv for the evening, met up with Eitan for pool and drinks, then headed south to Be’er Shevat the next day. I had no plans and Tal ended up taking care of me. Her mom Rahel was super nice. She ordered pizza and even made me a sandwich for lunch today. (Right now I am on the train to Haifa.)

So that is where I am at now. I feel like even though this was a long entry, I skipped so much stuff. There is no way I could have documented everything accurately I don’t think because I wasn’t prepared. But that’s okay. I’m glad I got the chance to have this opportunity to write this.

Shalom from Israel.