WRJ Centennial Trip: The Journey Begins!

Yesterday six of the group headed from their plane to Rosh Hanikra at the Lebanese border. Following their cable car ride to the sea, they then learned about the caves cut out by the British. They headed back to Tel Aviv but not before having lunch at the Tishbi Winery, which include a wine and chocolate tasting.There isn’t a better combination–this should become its own food group! On this trip, 27 women joined together in Tel Aviv to learn about Israel and our progressive movement in Israel (IMPJ) and to tell Israel about WRJ! After a delightful dinner that involved getting to know each other last night, we began our day filled with exploring Tel Aviv and Jaffa as well as learning some history, visiting several museums, sharing time with Mechina teens and, of course, enhancing the Israeli economy. Half the group began at the Palmach Museum that told the history of Israel’s early defense forces that empowered the creation and defense of Israel in its initial days as a modern nation. Rozan Anderson said, “This was an intensely moving experiential museum. We felt as if we were there with those men and women from all over the world and Palestine who fought for Israel to be free and independent. How brave and incredibly visionary!” [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"90306","attributes":{"class":"media-image wp-image-13571 alignright","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"312","height":"233","alt":"Rabin"}}]]The other part of our group visited the marvelous Rabin Museum that told, in words and pictures, the life story of Yitzak Rabin, of blessed memory. While following a general history of the world that went from entertainment to science/technology that trailed along the floor, the group learned about Prime Minister Rabin, including highlights of both his military and diplomatic career such as that famous handshake between Rabin and Arafat when President Clinton making sure their hands actually clasped together. Onto the next stop, and we arrived in Jaffa at the progressive movement’s Mechina Program supported by the YES Fund. We met with their director and four of their 50 young people who have deferred their army service for a year and live together, rather independently, with each day filled with study, discussion on moral dilemmas facing the world, and social services. They come from around the world; some secular and some with Reform backgrounds. A vision of former IMPJ Director Iri Cassel, two progressive mechinot exist and there are hopes for many more. These young people work in committees to organize their living, cooking, and cleaning. Dealing with their daily living is their responsibility; yes, they have four ‘counselors’ but this is an experience to empower them to become independent young adults. These young people include (left to right): [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"90311","attributes":{"class":"media-image wp-image-13570 alignleft","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"320","height":"241","alt":"Left to Right: Ben, Carmel, Max, and Noa"}}]]Ben, a young man from Haifa, works each day with an after-school program for poor kids. He felt empowered by seeing violent kids literally change attitudes. He works with kids with cancer who come to the hospitals for treatment and kids with minimal home support. Carmel, hailing from a small town near Jerusalem, grew up in the Israeli Scouts (many visit our North American URJ camps in the summer), comes from a secular home and works with 4^th graders whose home does not offer many advantages. Max, from NJ, came to Israel with his family in 2007. He  likes the concept of his peers running the program. His volunteerism revolves around teaching life skills to other young people. Noa from Australia shared that coming to Mechina was the best decision of her life! She has volunteered with a 13 year old girl who has spent her life being bullied and now has a caring friend… one-on-one to change a life! These young people are not only growing and changing themselves, but they are touching many other young lives. They reach out to all they meet. The young director, who happens to be HUC-JIR’s Rabbi Nechama Kellman’s daughter, thanked WRJ for its support. Their hope is that the program will grow and encourage younger people from North America to find their way to this gap year. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"90316","attributes":{"class":"media-image wp-image-13572 alignright","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"346","height":"195","alt":"Shoe"}}]]Now for shopping as women always find some time to help Israel’s economy! Part of the afternoon was filled with a few free hours. Some went to the Tel Aviv Museum of Art and others shopped and still others took to the Tel Aviv Promenade in glorious weather. Those who spent part of the afternoon in Jaffa also had fun seeing the many brides passing and taking photos. Thursday is definitely a good luck day to get married in Israel! Following dinner at an assortment of restaurants, we headed for a moving theater experience called “Not By Bread Alone” featuring actors and actresses who were blind, deaf, or both. The show displayed not only those with disabilities but the staff that helps them move throughout the stage, acting, dancing, and sharing their experience of life. Wake-up calls come early tomorrow at before the crack of dawn and we’ll be off to learn about migrant workers, visit Bet Daniel, and visit WRJ-Israel at its National Meeting! And, that’s all before lunch time! Shabbat shalom from your sisters in Israel!