Friday, April 23, 2010
April 22- last day of a great trip
April 22
On our last day we started with tree planting in a JNF Forest. We each had in mind someone that we were planting our tree in memory or in honor of, which made it even more meaningful. Then we went to Latrun, where there is a Soldeirs' Memorial and Museum for the Artillary (tank) Division. Our Israeli counselor, Guy, served in the Tank Corps and he shared with the students some memories of his commander who was killed in the Second Lebanon Campaign. He also answered many questions that the students had about operating a tank. There were many tanks that the children were able to climb on and one was the kind that Guy had trained on.
After that we drove to another forest and memorial for our closing educational lesson with our guide Tuvia. Many of the students shared personal feelings about their trip to Israel and it was very moving. Then everyone shared words of thanks to each other- all 46 stduents and five staff, and the genuine warmth and friendship expressed was very special.
We had a final Bar B Q dinner at the Alexander Muss Campus, with visits from two more shlichim families who lived in our Akron community-first Maya and Lior with their son Eli and then Maayan and Gur with their three children. We started our visit two weeks ago with a visit with our shlichim (Lihi and Aharon) and now we ended our trip with visits from 4 more shlichim all of whom did so much to bring Israel to our Akron community and still feel a warm connection with Akron.
It seems that two weeks has flown by. We did, saw and learned so much! As we loaded the bus to head for the airport to fly home, we were sad to say goodbye to all of our new friends from the Donna Klein School and sad to leave a place where we felt so at home- Israel. Each student really had a chance to make their own personal connection with the land and people of Israel and to have some very meaningful experiences. Tuvia asked them each to think of three meaningful experiences that they had during the two weeks and I am very happy to be able to share them with you:
My three most meaningful experiences on this trip:
Justin Bober
• Meeting new friends because I love meeting new kids and hanging out with them
• Praying at the wall because I felt like I had a spiritual and powerful connection with G-d and also I got to be able to pray for my family at the holiest site for the Jewish people
• Being able to experience this trip with friends which is a very rare moment in life to do
Lani Skelley
Every moment of this trip was so amazing it is hard to choose just three. But if I had to I would start with Ein Gedi. Ein Gedi was my favorite place that we went. The waterfalls, animals, and nature in general were all beautiful. My second choice would be Yad Vashem. I was most nervous to go there and almost didn’t but now I am so glad I did. It made me very proud to be a Jew . Last but not least, making new friends. Making friends can be hard sometimes but the Donna Klein kids just clicked with us. It only took three days for friendships that could last past this trip to form. Overall I will never forget my 8th grade Israel trip.
Alyssa Katz
• Praying with beautiful scenery in the back ground:
We had lots of different places to pray. We prayed in the desert. We prayed in the mountains. We prayed next to the ocean. We prayed in beautiful synagogues.
• Meeting more Jewish kids our age:
We met lots of kids, both Israeli and American. I made some really nice friends.
• Being in a land for the first time that I have been learning about for a long time. I also thought
it is really cool to see monuments. We have seen in lots of pictures throughout the years and now we saw it all in person.
Alisha Crane
I really liked seeing things my sister told me all about from her Israel trip! It will be fun talking with her about the trip when I get back. It would be great if my parents would take us on a family trip together, especially since we have nice family in Israel.
I liked trying new things like kayaking, visiting Israeli family I haven’t seen in five years, being with forty more eighth graders than usual, and walking through tunnels.
On many occasions I pushed myself to new limits, especially on the hike and home hospitality with strangers. I was determined to do as much as I could and I did!
Jonathon: My three most meaningful experiences were: When I went to the wall and all of the guys were dancing with rabbis and Israeli soldiers. My second one was when we went kayaking and my group was with people from the other school. Their names were Harrison, Jared, Eli, and Mrs. Young. We were in first place. The final one was climbing Masada to watch the sunrise. It was very beautiful and I got it all on video in HD. I will miss everyone from the other school and our guides Tuvia, Guy, and Ainav.
Jillian: My three most meaningful experiences we did on the trip were: Being in Jerusalem for Shabbat and going to the Kotel. My second one was being on my own and meeting a whole new group of people that was really meaningful (plus the kids at the other school are all really nice!) Then climbing Masada was so cool. We got to learn about everything that happened up there. When we were up there we saw fighter jets fly over and tip their wings to salute Masada because of the tragedies that happened there. And if I could add a fourth thing it would be planting a tree in honor of my family. I had a great trip and I will miss everybody!!!
On our last day we started with tree planting in a JNF Forest. We each had in mind someone that we were planting our tree in memory or in honor of, which made it even more meaningful. Then we went to Latrun, where there is a Soldeirs' Memorial and Museum for the Artillary (tank) Division. Our Israeli counselor, Guy, served in the Tank Corps and he shared with the students some memories of his commander who was killed in the Second Lebanon Campaign. He also answered many questions that the students had about operating a tank. There were many tanks that the children were able to climb on and one was the kind that Guy had trained on.
After that we drove to another forest and memorial for our closing educational lesson with our guide Tuvia. Many of the students shared personal feelings about their trip to Israel and it was very moving. Then everyone shared words of thanks to each other- all 46 stduents and five staff, and the genuine warmth and friendship expressed was very special.
We had a final Bar B Q dinner at the Alexander Muss Campus, with visits from two more shlichim families who lived in our Akron community-first Maya and Lior with their son Eli and then Maayan and Gur with their three children. We started our visit two weeks ago with a visit with our shlichim (Lihi and Aharon) and now we ended our trip with visits from 4 more shlichim all of whom did so much to bring Israel to our Akron community and still feel a warm connection with Akron.
It seems that two weeks has flown by. We did, saw and learned so much! As we loaded the bus to head for the airport to fly home, we were sad to say goodbye to all of our new friends from the Donna Klein School and sad to leave a place where we felt so at home- Israel. Each student really had a chance to make their own personal connection with the land and people of Israel and to have some very meaningful experiences. Tuvia asked them each to think of three meaningful experiences that they had during the two weeks and I am very happy to be able to share them with you:
My three most meaningful experiences on this trip:
Justin Bober
• Meeting new friends because I love meeting new kids and hanging out with them
• Praying at the wall because I felt like I had a spiritual and powerful connection with G-d and also I got to be able to pray for my family at the holiest site for the Jewish people
• Being able to experience this trip with friends which is a very rare moment in life to do
Lani Skelley
Every moment of this trip was so amazing it is hard to choose just three. But if I had to I would start with Ein Gedi. Ein Gedi was my favorite place that we went. The waterfalls, animals, and nature in general were all beautiful. My second choice would be Yad Vashem. I was most nervous to go there and almost didn’t but now I am so glad I did. It made me very proud to be a Jew . Last but not least, making new friends. Making friends can be hard sometimes but the Donna Klein kids just clicked with us. It only took three days for friendships that could last past this trip to form. Overall I will never forget my 8th grade Israel trip.
Alyssa Katz
• Praying with beautiful scenery in the back ground:
We had lots of different places to pray. We prayed in the desert. We prayed in the mountains. We prayed next to the ocean. We prayed in beautiful synagogues.
• Meeting more Jewish kids our age:
We met lots of kids, both Israeli and American. I made some really nice friends.
• Being in a land for the first time that I have been learning about for a long time. I also thought
it is really cool to see monuments. We have seen in lots of pictures throughout the years and now we saw it all in person.
Alisha Crane
I really liked seeing things my sister told me all about from her Israel trip! It will be fun talking with her about the trip when I get back. It would be great if my parents would take us on a family trip together, especially since we have nice family in Israel.
I liked trying new things like kayaking, visiting Israeli family I haven’t seen in five years, being with forty more eighth graders than usual, and walking through tunnels.
On many occasions I pushed myself to new limits, especially on the hike and home hospitality with strangers. I was determined to do as much as I could and I did!
Jonathon: My three most meaningful experiences were: When I went to the wall and all of the guys were dancing with rabbis and Israeli soldiers. My second one was when we went kayaking and my group was with people from the other school. Their names were Harrison, Jared, Eli, and Mrs. Young. We were in first place. The final one was climbing Masada to watch the sunrise. It was very beautiful and I got it all on video in HD. I will miss everyone from the other school and our guides Tuvia, Guy, and Ainav.
Jillian: My three most meaningful experiences we did on the trip were: Being in Jerusalem for Shabbat and going to the Kotel. My second one was being on my own and meeting a whole new group of people that was really meaningful (plus the kids at the other school are all really nice!) Then climbing Masada was so cool. We got to learn about everything that happened up there. When we were up there we saw fighter jets fly over and tip their wings to salute Masada because of the tragedies that happened there. And if I could add a fourth thing it would be planting a tree in honor of my family. I had a great trip and I will miss everybody!!!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Our last full day and night in Israel
April 21
Today was our day in the Golan Heights. We learned alot about the battles in and for this region. Then we went on a beautiful , but challenging and difficult, hike in the Golan. In the evening we had a final activity with our counselors and made some crazy skits spoofing different parts of the trip. Everyone seemed to enjoy poking fun at our guide Tuviah, who has been absolutely amazing to us.
Our Israel trip ia almost over and everything has gone so well! The kids have really made the most of the whole experience and I am proud of them! Don't be surprised if they come home totally exhausted- as you can tell from our itinerary or blog, we have been on the go from early morning till night for two weeks. I'm not sure if I'll have time to write tomorrow before we go to the airport, so---I'll see all of the parents at the airport on Friday morning around 10:15!! I'll post a final reflection over the weekend and get the students to write some final reflections on our trip home, which I'll post over the weekend as well.
SHALOM!!!!
Today was our day in the Golan Heights. We learned alot about the battles in and for this region. Then we went on a beautiful , but challenging and difficult, hike in the Golan. In the evening we had a final activity with our counselors and made some crazy skits spoofing different parts of the trip. Everyone seemed to enjoy poking fun at our guide Tuviah, who has been absolutely amazing to us.
Our Israel trip ia almost over and everything has gone so well! The kids have really made the most of the whole experience and I am proud of them! Don't be surprised if they come home totally exhausted- as you can tell from our itinerary or blog, we have been on the go from early morning till night for two weeks. I'm not sure if I'll have time to write tomorrow before we go to the airport, so---I'll see all of the parents at the airport on Friday morning around 10:15!! I'll post a final reflection over the weekend and get the students to write some final reflections on our trip home, which I'll post over the weekend as well.
SHALOM!!!!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Independence Day -Yom Haatzmaut
April 20
Yesterday we started the day in Akko at the Weitzman School. We went into a few classrooms and met the 6th and 7th grade penpals. I went into a class from every grade and delivered the beautiful Independence Day Cards that the kindergarten through 6th grade from our school had sent with us. The children in Israel were so excited and the teachers were delighted!!We joined the students outside for recess, and then they performed their Memorial Day program for us. We also did a project with the penpals in their classrrom and then we had falafel together.While we were doing the project the memorial siren went off at 11:00 and we all stood for two minutes of serious silence in memory of the fallen soldiers of Israel. At 12:00 school got out early and we were picked up by our driver.
Our next stop up north were the beautiful grottos at Rosh Hanikra. What a magnificent view of the Mediterranean coast and the grottos. From there we went to the city of Tzefat, best known for being the place where Kabbalah and Mystical Judaism first developed. We visited some famous sunagogues, did some Jewish meditations lead by our guide, Tuviah, and di some shopping in some very stores with Jewish art and gifts. Tzefat is also known for its Artist Colony.
At night we joined in with the festivities for Israel's 62nd year of Independence with at least half of the families from Tiberias at a big outdoor park with a concert and fireworks. It was festive like a carnival and we had a really good time.
This morning we drove up to Kfar Giladi to learn about Hashomer, the early guards and defenders of the land of Israel before the State was declared. The highlight of the day was the awesome kayaking we did on a tributary leading to the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River. The kayak was really a large inflatable boat/raft, so there were six of us in a boat. We had fun floating with the current, getting stuck, splashing, slipping out of the boat to get wet, and doing a terrible job steering the boat with our oars:) The kayaking is always one of my favorite parts of the trip. We ended Yom Haatzmaut with another boating experience- the "Disco Boat." The music was way too loud for this old teacher, but most of the students seemed to love it!
Tomorrow we go up in the Golan Heights and learn about battles and security. We have a challenging hike planned in the Golan to a waterfall.
e
Yesterday we started the day in Akko at the Weitzman School. We went into a few classrooms and met the 6th and 7th grade penpals. I went into a class from every grade and delivered the beautiful Independence Day Cards that the kindergarten through 6th grade from our school had sent with us. The children in Israel were so excited and the teachers were delighted!!We joined the students outside for recess, and then they performed their Memorial Day program for us. We also did a project with the penpals in their classrrom and then we had falafel together.While we were doing the project the memorial siren went off at 11:00 and we all stood for two minutes of serious silence in memory of the fallen soldiers of Israel. At 12:00 school got out early and we were picked up by our driver.
Our next stop up north were the beautiful grottos at Rosh Hanikra. What a magnificent view of the Mediterranean coast and the grottos. From there we went to the city of Tzefat, best known for being the place where Kabbalah and Mystical Judaism first developed. We visited some famous sunagogues, did some Jewish meditations lead by our guide, Tuviah, and di some shopping in some very stores with Jewish art and gifts. Tzefat is also known for its Artist Colony.
At night we joined in with the festivities for Israel's 62nd year of Independence with at least half of the families from Tiberias at a big outdoor park with a concert and fireworks. It was festive like a carnival and we had a really good time.
This morning we drove up to Kfar Giladi to learn about Hashomer, the early guards and defenders of the land of Israel before the State was declared. The highlight of the day was the awesome kayaking we did on a tributary leading to the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River. The kayak was really a large inflatable boat/raft, so there were six of us in a boat. We had fun floating with the current, getting stuck, splashing, slipping out of the boat to get wet, and doing a terrible job steering the boat with our oars:) The kayaking is always one of my favorite parts of the trip. We ended Yom Haatzmaut with another boating experience- the "Disco Boat." The music was way too loud for this old teacher, but most of the students seemed to love it!
Tomorrow we go up in the Golan Heights and learn about battles and security. We have a challenging hike planned in the Golan to a waterfall.
e
Monday, April 19, 2010
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