Kehillah 2008 Updates

July 13, 2008 - Northern Nights

Dear Nesiya Family and Friends,

Time flies when you’re having fun… who can believe it is already the third week of the program?

We last met our stalwart adventurers on the shores of the Kinneret, rejuvenated by the lake’s silky water and satiated by the culinary delights of a Nesiya barbecue. After sleeping on the beach and visiting a few more sites, everyone was ready to trek northward to continue exploring models of community and culture represented by both Zionist pioneers and Talmudic Rabbis in the history of northern Israel.

In Tzippori, the groups learned about the rabbinic community of the second century and visited Roman and rabbinic archeological sites, including an amphitheater and synagogue ruins with depictions of the zodiac signs. (Due to high heat index, K2 did not make it to the synagogue). Participants compared this historical Jewish community to today's community, noting the tensions between religiously observant and secular Jews from then and now. In Chavat Kinneret, the site of the first kibbutz in Israel, the groups looked at more recent efforts to build communities and learned about secular Zionism. They also visited the cemetery where early pioneers and Zionist visionaries are buried, including the well known poetess Rachel and the late, great songwriter Naomi Shemer. The approaches to community building led by the pioneers and the Rabbis were radically different, yet both were inspired by a passionate concern for the collective future of the Jewish people, and stressed the critical importance of individual responsibility for the life of the community.

Driving further north, the Nesiya groups winded their way up the steep, curving mountain to reach Tzfat and begin their exploration of mystical Judaism, Kabbalah, and prayer. Each group toured the ancient and modern city of Tzfat – learning about the 16th century Kabbalistic community as well as meeting with modern Kabbalist artist Avraham Leventhal, whose work touches upon the same theme of giving and receiving that groups explored in their Negev text studies. Participants also had time to go shopping in the artist colony and buy their own lunch in the Old City marketplace.

And now the best part (okay, I’m not being totally objective -- but this upcoming report is one of my favorite parts of the summer): Shabbat in Tzfat! Not only does Shabbat in Tzfat provide an excellent rhyme opportunity for a song or poem, but also, and maybe (just maybe) more importantly, Shabbat in Tzfat affords spiritual, relaxing moments of reflection, prayer, and singing against the backdrop of ancient and modern synagogues and terraced apartments, and dramatic views of the Galilee landscape. On Friday night, participants were offered various prayer opportunities at some of Tzfat’s many synagogues and could choose to participate (in prayer, singing and sometimes even dancing) or sit quietly to observe and marvel. There were also meaningful alternative prayer and non-prayer options available.

The Shabbat morning text study was the Talmudic text about Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai studying for twelve years in a cave. In discussions led by Nesiya senior staff members, the participants discussed the sacrifices required of an individual to become part of a community, as well as the rewards of the communal experience. After a good Shabbat nap, counselor-educators told their madrich stories and the first series of short chanich (participant) stories were also told.

This morning, the groups left Tzfat to begin preparing for their community service projects. In planning and coordinating our community service projects, we work with an organization called Yeladim – Fair Chance for Children, a voluntary organization, founded in 1986, in order to assist children in residential group homes. The following is some background information taken from their website (www.yeladim.org.il): In Israel today, there are more than 10,000 children growing up in 80 residential group homes across the country. These children, ranging from birth to 18 year olds, have been removed from their homes by court order or by the welfare authorities, mainly due to their parents' inability to provide them with care and protection. For these children, who have suffered from neglect and abuse, the concepts of home, family, support and protective adults are not to be taken for granted.

Each K is volunteering at a different residential group home: K1 will be in Havatzelet Hasharon at Neve Hadar, a children’s home for kids up to age 15. K2 will visit Renanim, near Zichron Yaakov, a children’s home for kids up to age 18. K3 will be in Afula at Omen, a religious children’s home for boys and girls ages 6-18. K4 will be in Pardes Hana at Neve Michael, a religious children’s home for boys and girls up to seventh grade.

While volunteering at the group home, Nesiya participants serve as mentors and friends to teens close in age who come from troubled situations and who rarely socialize in other circles. Both communities of young people enjoy meeting each other and, for a few days, welcoming each other into their different worlds. More details will follow regarding the specific work of each group.

Back to the future – A few days ago, participants read excerpts from “Night of the Twentieth,” a play by Israeli playwright Yehoshua Sobol about a group of young people who have left behind their families in Europe and question what kind of new Jewish community they should develop in the land of Israel. This play serves as a soundtrack of sorts to the issues of community and individuality explored in the Galilee unit and throughout the summer. Today and tomorrow groups will engage in a creative “Night of the Twentieth” workshop, which will use the play as a springboard for creative exploration of the conflicting ideals which arose within the “intimate groups” of the young Kibbutz movement founders. The workshop also provides a unique opportunity for participants to reflect on their own community-building experience this summer and their similar attempts to build an “ideal community.”

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

> Not receiving emails: Please make sure yael@nesiya.org and all @nesiya.org email addresses are added to your safe email list on your email account to ensure that these updates and other important information are not spammed.

> Phone contact with participants: The best time to call participants on their cell phones is in the evening, Israel time, after the final activity of the day. This is generally between 21:00 and 22:30. Please understand that it may be difficult to get in touch with participants as free time is limited and never at the same time everyday.

> Mail and packages: Please include the K number on any mail and packages sent to the Nesiya office. (This makes mail sorting much easier, though mail sent without the K number will still arrive to participants).

> Photo Gallery: New photos have been added for Week 1-2 Desert Experience, and Shabbat and Arts Workshops for K1 and K2. Check it out!

> Photo Opportunities: For parents who have not yet spotted their children in photographs, please understand that there are over 140 North American and Israeli teenagers participating in the program, and it is difficult to ensure that every one of them gets their photo taken. The staff, who are generally the ones armed with the camera, try to capture everyone in their element, but their first priority is ensuring that programs are running smoothly and that participants are enjoying themselves. The emphasis on one-on-one attention may preclude getting in photo opportunities. We will continue to try and get everyone on film – thank you for being patient!

Until next time,

Yael