Thoughts as I near the end

So, clearly it's been quite some time since I've last updated my blog. But, with so many trips, seminars, work, and just simply living like a local here in Israel, I am finding the weeks to be flying by and before I know it, I can't keep track of the days I've missed to write about them! 

Today, I decided to take a break from my job searching/resume tweaking/small self-pity parties about what my plans are in the coming months when I return from Israel, and write it on here. I need to learn to write in my journal more because I do like writing, but I also type a lot faster and this will help me get my thoughts out more quickly. 

I was reading an article called "Find Your Passion With These 8 Thought-Provoking Questions." Each section is very poignant but I thought I would just share a few of my favorites. 

1) Drop box founder Drew Houston once said '“The most successful people are obsessed with solving an important problem, something that matters to them. They remind me of a dog chasing a tennis ball.” To increase your chances of happiness and success, Houston said, you must “find your tennis ball--the thing that pulls you.”' Right now, that tennis ball is my love for my Jewish identity and my passion for Israel, which means becoming an activist when I return to the States.

2) "What is something you believe in that almost nobody agrees with you on?" I wouldn't say that nobody believes in the beauty Israel has to offer. On the contrary, minus the bogus BDS boycotts, many people, whether living here or not, are finding the value and meaningful journeys Israel takes its citizens or foreigners on. I have never been more excited about anything in my life than speaking up about what Israel has to offer, and what this country has given me while living here. One of my duties from my activist fellowship I am a part of is finding and connecting to a non-Jewish community back in the States and leading discussions about Israel. These discussions can be in any form we like, and however creative we want them to be. I know I may be met with a lot of opposition and negative opinions, but perhaps this is the kick I need in life - to show what I am truly passionate about and not back down from what I care about most.

3) “We learn who we are--in practice, not in theory--by testing reality.” This means rather than wallowing around thinking about my next move, I just need to get experience, even if it's not exactly in the teaching field. I think getting experience in various fields, and all over the world, is the best way to discover who you really are and what you're passionate about. The only thing I guess hanging me up from being able to pursue anything I please is finances. So, if I find a cool job that can start paying me a full-time salary, I'm set to go!

During Passover break, I was fortunate enough to travel all around Israel with mom and then travel throughout Spain. I'm hoping that once I find the time to sit down and either blog or write about those two trips, something will come to the forefront of my mind as to what intrigues me and what I am passionate about to pursue for a potential career. I already know many things that I am passionate about, but perhaps through more reflection, something else will surface. For now, I really want to keep these three questions in mind while I begin the pursuit of my future!

Stay tuned...

Seminar #4 - Golan Heights

January 16-19 in the Golan Heights: Tu B'Shevat

This seminar was all about ecology. Since it was the holiday of Tu B'Shevat, we learned what it means to be one with nature and how important trees are to life and to the state of Israel.

Tu B'Shevat literally translates to "15th of Shevat;" this is the birthday of the trees. Although it's not the most ideal time to plant most trees, Israel has a tradition that for every person who makes their way to Israel and stays for however long, they should plant a tree for the next generations. It is also a tradition at weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, or any other important Jewish celebration, a gift of a tree planted in Israel in the honoree's name. My brother and I already have a forest of trees here, but this time I was able to plant my very own tree! It was actually a jacaranda tree (for those that live in OC, you know them as the purple trees that bloom in the spring and create purple messes in the streets!). I felt honored to put a piece of my work into the land of Israel. 

Here is a look at my weekend activities:
On Friday, we left for a 3 hour bus ride up north to a permaculture orchard in Moshav Ramot. There we met a family who originally lived in Jerusalem, but decided a few years ago to live a more sustainable lifestyle, and now run this permaculture farm. We ate an organic lunch filled with the farm's veggies, homemade organic bread, and lots and lots of hummus! 

Then we took a hike down the side of the mountain where the orchard spreads out and got into groups to plant various trees. Although it was a bit chaotic, we got the job done and now I can say I have planted a tree in Israel! 

The view from the orchard

Listening to instructions on how to plant

Doing my part

We then departed for Kibbutz Afik, which is right above the beautiful Kinnert Lake. We had time to relax and get ready for Shabbat. After sundown, the Netanya group led us in Kabbalat Shabbat songs (Kabbalat Shabbat means the Shabbath Bride, and it's how we welcome the Sabbath) and a fellow from Beit She'an gave a D'var Torah (a talk on that week's Torah portion). There was an optional prayer service, and I decided to stay since it was led by other fellows. Then we had a huge, delicious Shabbat dinner, followed by free time. I chose that time to go to bed since I had to wake up early the next morning!

At 5:30am on Saturday I woke up for a sunrise hike. We walked through ancient Syrian ruins, scaled down the side of a mountain, and back up, and had fantastic views of the Kinnert as the sun was rising. It was cold beyond measure, but it was well worth getting up for! We then had 4 hours to rest and shower before lunch time. We then had a Beit-Midrash session where we continued our discussion of that month's theme, Jewish Peoplehood. We read a passage from the Talmud that had to do with Jewish values. Afterward we had time to rest before Havdalah services (breaking of Shabbat). We had another big dinner and then had the option to go to another Kibbutz's bar or stay on our Kitbbutz. Many of my girl friends from Be'er Sheva, and a couple from Netanya and Beit She'an decided to hang back and have a girls' night in one of my friend's room. We chatted, had some wine, and watched MTV videos.

Suuuuper early. And freezing. 

Syrian fort ruins 

Becca, me, and Anna

Early morning smiles!

Becca being goofy

Even the cactus is smiling!

"Here comes the sun..."

Some of Be'er Sheva taking in the beauty together!

The following morning we got up for breakfast, and went to a gleaning tour. This sounds prettier than it was. We were literally dropped off on the side of the road, walked around with a tour guide, learned about the plants there, picked some up to smell and taste (I did not do the latter), and finally after an hour and a half, we headed to the Hamat Gadar Hot Springs! This is a strip of land between Israel, Syria and Jordan, tucked away in a valley. It even has a zoo! I opted to just stick to the hot springs, which were heavenly. Unlike the Tiberius Hot Springs which are chlorinated, these are all natural hot springs, so you definitely smell like sulfuric acid! Yuck. But, they were still nice to relax in! We even got a lunch ticket to get whatever food we wanted at the resort's grill. After several hours, each city parted ways and we took off on our 3.5 hour drive home to Be'er Sheva.  

Part of our Kibbutz

A peacock on the roof of the entrance to the Hot Springs!

There it goes! I'd never seen a peacock fly before!

The Hot Springs!

The sunset on the ride home to Be'er Sheva

Life in this land

"Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans" - John Lennon

Here are a just a few fun things I got to do in the month of December: 

December 7:
Went dirt biking in the desert, and sat in a 1942 German Glider (I will be going up in it soon!). 

December 16-19:
Went to Jerusalem for the week-long Masa Leadership Seminar. I got to meet people living here in Israel, also on different Masa programs, who are from all over the world. This was a special seminar that you had to apply for. Four other fellows from my Be'er Sheva group were also accepted and traveled to Jerusalem (albeit a day's delay because of the massive snow storm that crippled the country's transportation system). We attended seminars, a gala event, went to the Neot Kedumim Biblical Village, were visited by the Jewish Agency's Chairman Nathan Sharansky, and had a private tour of the the capitol building the Knesset, and got a private tour of the tunnels under the Western Wall. It was a great opportunity to meet new friends, hear some inspirational speakers, learn more about Israel, myself and my purpose here, and get away for a week!

Walking in the hamster wheel to fill jugs of water, the old fashioned way!

Team building exercise...building a sandcastle!

The view from my hotel room. Snow in Jerusalem!

At the Gala Event with Becca, and Samantha from ITF Netanya.

Be'er Sheva girls! Me, Bari, Becca, Anna

Becca, our Israeli friend Avi, and me

Jewish Agency Chairman, Nathan Sharansky

My friend Emily from ITF Ashdod

The Knesset

Bari, Me, Anna, Becca 

This shows who's presently inside the Knesset

Tapestry that depicts different scenes from the Torah

Ruth Calderon, member of the Knesset, and an inspiring woman to listen to! 

The Country and Karaoke Extravaganza

Every country represented at the Summit with a different colored party hat

Getting a tour of the Western Wall Tunnels 

Panorama view of just some of the wall underground

6 centuries of history below my feet

Centuries ago, these tunnels once were an open air market next to the courtyard wall of the Second Temple. Now, they are sealed off, but the Arab community still lives above these tunnels!

Anna and I

The Kotel on a very empty and cold night

December 29:
Had a tour of different communities in the Negev, including a Ayalim, a student village where young adults live and work to preserve tough places that need sustaining. These students are seen as young Zionists and Pioneers to preserving communities all over Israel. Here is a link to their site: http://ayalim.org.il/en/ 
We also visited the black Hebrew Israelites in Dimona, which is almost another hour's drive south of us. It was really fascinating to hear this group of people, who hail from Chicago, IL, and found a calling back to their homeland of Israel in the 70s. We learned why they came here, and what they do in their community. Here is more about them: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Hebrew_Israelites_of_Jerusalem.
Later we traveled to a town called Yeruham, where we were hosted by a very nice woman who came from Romania when she was a little girl in the 60s. Afterward we had a group discussion, coffee, and cookies at a lake nearby. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeruham. It was a very beautiful way to end a great day of adventure. 

The view of the land surrounding the Ayalim village

This is the very definition of "middle of nowhere"

 Listening to our tour guide

Climbing down from a lookout

At the Hebrew Israelites' community 

Our awesome tour guide!

Listening to the minister

At the grocery store, learning they don't eat meat, only "yummy" tofu. Kari and I found it amusing. 

Being fed at a house in Yeruham 

The group

The Yeruham lake

Roommates:)