Tel Aviv!!!

After an incredible 2 weeks in J’town, we have now moved to Tel Aviv! For the next month we will be at Wingate (Israel’s premier sports institution), volunteering at Spivak (sports institute for the disabled) and having a great time!

On Sunday morning, the last member of our team arrived – Zoe Diamond!!! Everyone was incredibly excited for Zoe to finally arrive and we promptly went to Wingate for our first session. We had a morning of Orienteering, which will be quite useful as we will have to find our own way around for the next month while living independently… 

After Wingate, we bussed back to Tel Aviv to settle into our accommodation for the month, Beit Leni. There are only 3 words to describe it – Location, Location, Location! It is smack bang in the middle of Tel Aviv, a one minute walk to Dizengoff Mall, a few minutes to Shuk HaCarmel, and with great walks and shops in abundance J. Our first priority was buying food and each room sat down and worked out their menu for the month before going to the supermarket to buy it all. Then came the cooking…

On Monday we began a three day seminar, focusing on leadership through martial arts. We learned a lot about karate and did some practical exercises outside, which everyone really enjoyed. After lunch, we had our introduction to Spivak, an amazing place where people from all walks of life with a range of disabilities come to learn and play sport as part of their rehabilitation or just because they want to continue playing. After getting a tour of the facilities, we were told to each find a wheelchair and had a scratch match of wheelchair basketball! While really fun, all our arms and shoulders were exhausted by the end…

On Thursday, having finished the leadership seminar, we had a full morning of aerobics and dance. While enormously fun, we all felt quite tired all over our bodies as we stretched muscles we didn’t know existed… Afterwards, we still had some energy left to play some tennis and soccer in the Wingate facilities. 

To end off the week, we all headed down to the Tel Aviv Port for one of the activities celebrating National Chocolate Week! There was a 3 day festival and the range of chocolate was mouth-watering J. A few of us bought a slice of chocolate pizza, we all agreed it was delicious! 

On Friday, everyone went their way for our first free Shabbat, a chance to rest and recuperate before another huge week on MSLP! 

Jerusalem Part 2

We had an amazing week last week in the holy city of J’town!!!

After a wonderful Shabbat in Kibbutz Ketura, we returned to the capital of Israel, Jerusalem. On Monday, we kicked the week off with an amazing and interesting tour of the Kottel tunnels, where we walked under the Muslim Quarter of the Old City, exploring excavations and seeing artifacts of Jerusalem of old.  This was followed by a tour of the Christian and Muslim Quarters including a visit to the Shuk and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

On Tuesday, we got to do or first slot of
volunteering with Chazon Yeshaya, a soup kitchen in Jerusalem. It was a great experience to cook and serve food to those in need and we also made some Scandinavian friends also volunteering there! Then we all trooped to Machane Yehuda for lunch, before heading down to the Menachem Begin centre. We had an interactive tour of Begin’s life, which was quite fascinating. Once we got back to our accommodation, we were treated to an expert analysis of the political situation in Israel thanks to Kol Voice.

On Wednesday, we began the day walking in sunshine only for it to hail on us during our walk to the Knesset. We eventually arrived safely and intact before getting a guided tour though the parliament. Only the day before, the 19^th Knesset was sworn in and the clean-up was taking still taking place and a few politicians were spotted as well.

Following that, we walked across to the High Court of Israel where we walked through the stunning building, and were given some insights into the architecture of the place. To finish, we sat in on a trial in the main court room. No one understood a thing.

To finish off this jam packed day, we took the light rail to Yad Sarah, an organisation that provides medical equipment loans to those who need. We had a tour of their amazing facilities and helped out by cleaning some wheelchairs at the end.    

On Thursday, we did a tour of Jerusalem’s borders over the year and heard interesting and funny stories about the Israel – Jordan border between 1948 – 1967. WE also had a glimpse at the security fence and discussed its impact and what it means. Then we headed off to Malcha Mall for lunch and some shopping. That night we celebrated the Jarreds birthday by going bowling in Talpiyot and it can be safely said that he had a ball J

On Friday we did an amazing race around Nachlot neighbourhood and the shuk. Everyone met some interesting characters and learned some cool facts about the area. After some final preparations for Shabbat, we walked to the Kottel for davening which can only be described as absolutely incredible. It was a beautiful night and the Kottel was packed with people, all singing and davening in a really wonderful atmosphere. We all felt part of something special and it was certainly an eye opener for many. We walked back to the hostel for a very enjoyable Friday night meal followed by fun Friday night activities. 

 On Shabbat day we chilled and played some ultimate Frisbee before having one final night in Jerusalem before heading off to Tel Aviv for a month. The time we spent in Jerusalem was enjoyed by all and was a great way to start the program.

We now eagerly look forward to Tel Aviv and Wingate!

Kibbutz Ketura

On a cold and wet Thursday morning, the participants of MSLP woke up at 5.30 for the long journey to Kibbutz Ketura, near Eilat. The trip was quite unmemorable as everyone took the opportunity to sleep for 4 hours. Once we arrived, unfortunately for us, it was a rare day of rain for the kibbutz. As such, the walking tour was cancelled and we instead we did it driving and looking out through fogy windows (Hence no photos, despite the beautiful landscape).

Leah, a founder of the kibbutz 40 years ago, gave a wonderful commentary on the history and economy of the kibbutz. Not only do they grow dates, milk cows and have other agricultural goodies, they also operate a solar energy field worth millions of dollars, grow the only natural extract of astaxanthin in 300km of algae pipes and are home to a department of Ben Gurion University.

A sumptuous lunch was served before a soccer game was played on the Kibbutz soccer field. Following that, an activity where we learned about how the kibbutz was run and also went through some scenarios that may come up on kibbutz. We then met with some local teenagers before sharing a BBQ with them.

 Early the next morning, the weather had cleared sufficiently for a bike ride. We rode though the fields and even went as far as the Jordanian border, which turned out to be a low lying fence. After coming back through the date forest, we tried our hands at mud building. This is where they make outdoor chairs and tables from old tyres and mud, which was not only fun, but very educationally enlightening as well.

After lunch we made challah for Friday night before preparing for our first Shabbat in Israel. We joined the kibbutz for Friday night services and then ate dinner with the entire kibbutz in the dining hall. 

Then we met with a representative of the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies whoc explained about what they do in the department. After Kiddush on Shabbat morning, we had a program on discovering Israel which will come in handy throughout the program. Lunch was followed by free time before Havdala. Then we all trooped out into the desert to enjoy a bit of peace and relaxation under the stars and among the mountains bordering the kibbutz.

Finally on Sunday morning it was time to leave. On our way back to Jerusalem, we stopped off at the Ein Gedi hot springs for a sulphur spa and a dip in the Dead Sea. This was certainly enjoyed by all!

Now we are in Jerusalem for another week before heading off to Tel Aviv and Wingate next week!!!