Becoming a Bat Yam Local (Or Attempting To)

Year Course participant Sam Reichstein writes about volunteering in Bat Yam.

On my Year Course journey, I’m amazed at how much my life, and myself, have changed so much in such a short amount of time.

I am an active Young Judean,  so going on Year Course has been engrained in my head ever since I was around eleven years old. For years I would tell family and friends that I was planning to spend my first year out of high school in Israel, yet I never let myself think about it long enough to picture what exactly I would be doing.

Samantha ReichsteinNow Bat Yam, a 3-mile city most Americans have never heard of, with a 30% Russian population has crazily, yet indefinitely, become my home.  Bus routes have replaced my Hyundai Elantra, my local Randall’s has transformed into the ever-famous “Super-Douche”, and my days of giving my mom a full basket of laundry have become nights across the street, using free-Wi-Fi, as my 15 shekel wash awaits it’s drying moment. Though quirky and strange to those who are not experiencing this with me, these are just a few of the many changes that are building my amazing journey here in Bat Yam.

Our main focus here this semester is to volunteer, and the opportunity given to me could not be at a more rewarding location. Alongside two good friends, I help teach English at a school with children who need additional help. My first few mornings were intimidating to say the least. Never would I have imagined being scared of what eight year olds were thinking of me, but using my basic Hebrew and receiving blank stares and angry responses of “Mah?!” placed me in a terrifying circumstance.

Luckily, things turned around quickly. Before I knew it my morning walk into school brought chants of “Hi Sam!”, “Sam!”, or my distinctive home-state, “Texas!” The kids love us being there, and are beyond excited to learn anything new. It’s amazing to me how they are learning— or even attempting— to become bilingual at such a young age. There are moments when my simple Hebrew and their struggling English collide and create understanding. It makes the whole process and experience of teaching so much greater.

Though I may not be able to haggle my cab prices down when I want, and I still end up not getting off at the right bus stop, finding myself in Central Tel Aviv, I know that as my bus arrives in front of Anna Frank, feelings of ease and comfort arise as I know that this is my address. These few months have been a whirlwind, filled with fast friendships, sunny afternoons lounging on the beach, experiencing nightlife in Tel Aviv, immersing myself in as much Hebrew as possible, and helping amazing children.  In this short time, I feel like I know exactly what I am doing on Year Course, and I couldn’t be happier knowing how easy it is to call this small, eclectic city, my home.

View other pictures of Bat Yam volunteers.

Together, you and I can STILL change the world

Help Us Meet Our $100K Challenge Grant By 12/31

EOY 2013 Ungar

Shalom Chaverim,

Young Judaea changed my life.  And, if you’re reading this letter, I suspect it’s also true for you or someone you know.

Young Judaea programs – from club meetings to conventions, camp to Year Course – shaped me into the person I am today. My morals, my understanding of the world around me and my family would all be different had Young Judaea not influenced me during the most important times of my life.

Now, Young Judaea is at a crossroads. After 45 years under the wing of Hadassah, we have become an independent organization. The future of YJ, America’s largest and most successful Zionist youth movement, is now fully in the hands of our alumni, families, and friends.  

For decades, Young Judaeans have been singing, “Ani v’Atah Neshaneh et Ha’Olam, You and I will change the world.” Along with those words we have, in fact, also changed the world. As a movement and as individuals we have influenced and shaped some of the most important trends and institutions in Israel and the American Jewish Community.

But will we continue to change the world? Will future generations of Judaeans have the opportunity to explore their own Jewish identities and relationships to Israel with the same burning passion that drove previous generations to ask, “If not me, then who?”    

In order to survive and thrive as an independent organization, we need your support like never before. We need everyone to pitch in to help with scholarships like the ones that allowed me to go to camp and Israel when I was a kid, and with funds to keep growing our award-winning Israel programs. Thousands of teens and young adults between the ages of seven to 35 depend on this support each year.

If you gave a gift last year, thank you. Please consider increasing your gift this year to help fill in the gap. If you were waiting for the right time to include Young Judaea in your generosity at year-end, please wait no more. All donations will be matched by a generous Judaean donor up to $100,000.

The future truly is in our hands, both yours and mine.

Thank you for your commitment.

MikeBerman
Mike Berman
President, Young Judaea Board of Directors

 

PS – As an independent organization for the first time in more than 50 years, we rely on your generosity. Please consider a gift of $180 or more to support a Judaean in need at camp or in Israel.

PPS – This is the year we need ALL our alumni, families and friends to step in. No one else will. You can give online at  youngjudaea.org/give or contact Director of Development and Alumni Relations Jeffrey Cahn at jeffrey.cahn@youngjudaea.org or (646) 292-2394 with your offer of support or to volunteer.

Young Judaea Global, Inc. is a tax-exempt charity under the IRS code section 501c3.

New Jersey Overnight, Dec 7-8

Sharon Schoenfeld, Director, Year Round Programs, on a recent YJ event in New Jersey.

This weekend, I had one of the more inspirational and thrilling experiences in my YJ professional career.  Over over 60 teens, young alumni staff and shlichim gathered together for an exploration of Israel beyond the headlines.

Niro and NJThe energy in the room was electric and the sense of peer education and peer leadership was obvious.  Led by the phenomenal NJ teen leadership of Ethan Gertzman, Adina Gitomer, Tamar Arenson and Sander Miller with the support of some of YJ’s best staff, Joel Srebrenick, Alli Rovensky, Yael David and Ruby Welkovich, the weekend went off without a hitch.  After a moving Havdala service, the teens were brought together to work with Niro Taub, the YJ Northeast Shaliach, to explore a side of Israel that most of us do not know, Street Art and Graffiti.   This is not the kind of graffiti that you might see here in the US on underpasses and walls.  This street art is an expression of some of the deeper and humorous sides of the country, telling stories of culture and current events with a sense of humor, with sarcasm, but also expressing the beauty and uniqueness of Israel.  The teens had the opportunity to create their own images.  After snacking on pizza and some of the best Israeli snacks available (parents, don’t be surprised if your teens don’t ask you for some “Krembo”) the teens then settled into an exploration of technology and innovation in Israel.

We were joined by guests, YJ Southeast Shaliach Neta Shani and local community Shaliach Matan Sidi.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Niro NJ 2

Other Year Round Programming News: LionFest, YJ’s gathering in February (an upgrade and twist on National Convention) is taking place from February 14-17th 2013 at Camp Young Judaea Texas in Wimberly, Texas. See your camp friends from around the country, meet new friends, learn and help move YJ’s mission to the next level.  AND!  Take part in the first ever YJ Winter Games. The first 75 registrants pay only $280.

If you are interested in getting more involved in Young Judaea to help support our teens, please contact me at sharon.schoenfeld@youngjudaea.org

Learn more about events in New Jersey by joining the Ganei Yehudah Young Judaea group on Facebook. Learn more about national events on the general Young Judaea Facebook page.

 

Mount Herzl Tiyul

Year Course participant Hannah Newburger on a recent field trip.

Recently section two of Year Course was one of several MASA programs invited by the WZO to a field trip to Mount Herzl. While there, we learned about many famous Zionist leaders buried there including Yitzak Rabin, Golda Meir, Ze’ev Jabotinsky, and Theodore Herzl. It was beneficial to learn about such famous people in Israeli and global history because it makes us appreciate where we are living this year. Our tour guide showed us an article which related Rabin’s assassination to Gedaliah’s assassination because they were both killed by a fellow Jew.

Sitting in a graveyard filled with soldiers that have fought and died for a Jewish nation, got me thinking about what these soldiers were defending. Not only are they defending the righteousness of Israel, but of the Jewish people as well. After discussing this and learning more about Har Herzl, we met someone who made aliyah eight years ago and is now studying law at IDC. He shared his story with us about what it was like to be a lone soldier, which I’m sure went to the hearts of other people thinking of making aliyah. Later, there was a ceremony celebrating the seventh night of Hanukkah with other gap year programs from around the world. We celebrated with music, jelly donuts, and a visit from a minister of the government. It was such a great way to celebrate the festival of lights. We were surrounded by Jews our age from around the world all in Israel to study and learn for a year, at a place where some of the most iconic leaders in Israeli and Zionist history are buried.

Cooking Kubeh for Credit

Year Course participant Dan Dobro on a recent cooking lesson.

In our Jewish Sociology class with Dr. Avi Rose, we learned about and then made kubeh.

Kubeh can be found in Iraqi, Kurdi, Syrian, and other Middle eastern kitchens. In simple terms, it’s meat stuffed inside dough and then cooked- kind of like a dumpling. Today with the help of Shuli, whose family came from Syria, and Yael, whose father is Indian by way of Iraq (also known as a Baghdadi Indian) we made our own kubeh.

20131127_113333First, we chopped up vegetables- Onions, celery, and beets. and used them to prepare a broth in which to cook the kubeh. Then came the wrapping. We made two kinds of kubeh today- Yael and Shuli both brought their own recipes. Yael’s kubeh called for a semolina based dough. To handle it, we lightly coated our hands in oil and then pancaked a small dough-ball into our palms. Then in the middle of that we plopped some of Yael’s pre-made meat mixture, which was raw chicken and a hint of mint. Then we carefully rolled up the meat into a ball and attempted to close it without it tearing or falling apart. Then we put them on a plate.

Shuli’s kubeh were a little more difficult. While we were rolling Yael’s, Shuli was cooking a pan of grilled beef and 20131127_113400onions. Meanwhile, they both were setting the soup up to boil. Shuli’s dough had semolina too but also other grains- it was a bit harder to handle, we had to wet our hands with water. She taught us a special technique of rolling where instead of making a pancake out of the dough, you roll it around one finger and shape it like pottery. Then you just spoon a bit of dough into the bowl, and roll it closed. When the soup has been boiling for ten minutes, you add the kubeh and let it cook for about twenty more. Then you have fresh hot kubeh soup. It was delicious!

The Spirit of Arik Einstein

Year Course participant Steph Blizter reflects on Arik Einstein’s passing

Even before I went to CYJ Sprout Lake (starting in Ofarim) I was singing Arik Einstein’s music.  “Ani V’Ata” was my anthem by 4th grade; the song helped me define what I believe is my purpose in the world.

steph_memorialLast night (November 26th) at 11:45 pm, I was out with some friends when I heard the song “Oof Gozal” being sung by some people out on the streets. Memories of camp and year round activities washed over me.  I was confused as to why people would be singing the song until I got home and saw the news on the Internet.

“Arik Einstein passes away at the age of 74” is what the headlines read.

November 27th was an all around somber day.  The sky was gray and the feeling in the air was gloomy.  A group of us from Year Course felt obligated to pay our respects to the man who composed the songs we sang as we created some of our best memories as campers.  We caught a bus to Rabin Square in Tel Aviv from our apartments in Jerusalem to attend the memorial service.

The ceremony was moving.  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others spoke in front of a large crowd of thousands of people wearing red (for HaPoel Tel Aviv) reminiscing about Arik Einstein and his impact on people around the world.

I felt compelled to attend the ceremony; it was important to me.  Although I’m not one to cry over the loss of a celebrity, I couldn’t help but shed einstein9some tears because Arik Einstein was more than a celebrity.  Arik was a thoughtful, modest, talented musician who greatly influenced my friends and me.  It will be different singing his songs in the future; it is no longer singing with him about his dreams, it will now be singing in his memory trying harder than ever to make his dreams a reality.

You and I will change the world  אני ואתה נשנה את  העולם

And we will together, in the spirit of Arik Einstein.