Event Reports
Shnat 5772 first report!
This has been our first real, proper week on Shnat and I think we talk on behalf of everyone in the group when we say it has been fantastic.
The last few days of Orientation, based in Beit Shmuel – in central Jerusalem the headquarters of Progressive Judaism worldwide – far surpassed our expectations of a week of ‘get-to-know you games’ and ‘rules and reg’ sessions that last years Shnatties had led us to believe would be the case. On Thursday we were taken on a 4-hour tour of the Old City by Amy Ben-Dov – a NFTY movement worker famous for the incomparable speed at which she talks, her intimate knowledge of Jersualem and her infectious enthusiasm. Every single person came out of the tour with a greater connection to Jerusalem; we all designated our own spot at the Western Wall and learned more than we cared to remember.
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Shnat Netzer Reports 2011
This article conatins a collection of Shnat reports from 2011. For photos of Shnat 2010-11 please click here
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Shnat week 2
Shnat - Week 2
A great, though exhausting week just passed! Our new shnattim arrived to Israel a week and a half ago, and already had an intensive seminar in Jerusalem, followed by a long long drive to the South of Israel, to start their group experience on Kibbutz Yahel.
The Klita (orientation) seminar finished on a high note, after many interesting sessions, great services and peer- led peulot, and lovely ceremonies. We hope the shnattim are now better familiar with the expectation of the year, with the rules and regulations, know Jerusalem a bit better (though they will have plenty of time later in the year to explore Jerusalem in depth), and hopefully are now ready to start their journey here in Israel (physically and mentally).
On Tuesday morning, right as the seminar finished, all our shnattim and a TONE of personal belongings, boarded on the bus going to Yahel. Yahel is one of the two Progressive Kibbutzim we have in Israel. It is located in the Arava area, about an hour away from the Southern border we have with Egypt. It is in the desert, and has a unique community. We will be staying in Yahel for a full month, in which we will have intensive Hebrew lessons, some field work, chinuch (education) sessions, and day trips.
The first couple of days at Yahel were very unique, and to some- a bit stressing. For most of them, this is the first time living in the desert, shopping, cooking and cleaning. To top that, the heat of the desert is not easy to cope with, especially if you arrive from colder countries. Another challenge the shnattim also faced is of course the physical work they will do 3 times a week- closing the date season and fold all the equipment for the next season.
This is the first free Shabbat on the program, and quite a few shnattim decided to stay at Yahel for the weekend, as some Southerners are coming to meet them there. Hopefully we will hear the good stories of this coming weekend in the next report.
We want to wish you and us a pleasant Shabbat,
The Netzer staff
Parents report: by Dan Mackenzie and Sarah Nathanson
We woke up on Friday excited for our first Shnabbat together as a Kehillah (that means community don’t you know). We set off with Raya and Amy for a walking tour around Jerusalem during which we had to complete various photo “missions” to help us get acclimatised to our new surroundings. During the tour, we ventured into the old city and were very excited to experience our first PIZZUR meal. This is when we are given 30 shekels with which to buy our own food. Once we’d completed our missions, we headed to the Kotel via the roof terrace where we could see the holy sites of the three major religions. It was a vivid demonstration of why Jerusalem is so fought over.
For our Friday night service we went to Kol Haneshama, the closest reform synagogue to our hostel. We all enjoyed the opportunity to experience a service from another culture. We then walked back buzzing with oneg excitement! Oneg was run by Flora, Rachel S, Ayla and Sarah (!!) and consisted of the introduction of the SHNAT BAND which includes the guitar, harmonica, accordian, recorder and the musical ruler. We also experimented with putting notes in balloons which ended with a bang.
The next day (Saturday) we ventured once more to Kol Haneshama to run our own Shacharit service. The service was lovely and we were all amazed when it culminated in us all being barmitzvah’d as a group. Back at the hostel we had a much needed shabbat shluf to recoup on some of the sleep we had missed out on since starting shnat. During this time there was music floating around the hostel courtesy of the shnat band that made for a very relaxing atmosphere.
After a few more sessions we were taken outside for Seuda Shlishit and Havdallah run by Zara, Tamara and Tanya which was a lovely medly of compliments and candles. That evening, we were taken out on the town by some of the Southern Shnatties for yet more PIZZUR and an oppertunity to catch a taste of Jerusalem’s night life.
Sunday was a day of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) joy. We went to volunteer at Sataf piling rocks to repair the terraces. Although it was hot, sweaty and dusty, we all found it a rewarding experience and a great taster of the tiyul and volunteering experiences that are to come
For the last day of our Klita Seminar, we wrote letters to ourselves outlining specific hopes for our adventure ahead and then went out for a special dinner to celebrate Jonathan and Tamara’s birthdays. We were all in great spirits and ended the evening excited for the start of our Kibbutz experience.
On Tuesday we awoke bright and early ready for the long coach ride down to Yahel. We immediately fell in love with the place and it’s peaceful surroundings. We’re looking forward to the bonding experience it is bound to provide.
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MDA say thank you to Tour 1
Tour 1 recently got back from Israel, and as a group they decided to collect all their loose change, which amounted to 271 NIS.
They donated it to Magen David Adom UK, the Israeli ambulance service, who treat everyone in the region.
Click below to see their letter of thanks - KOL HAKAVOD (well done!) ve Yeshar Koach
Add a comment
Page 1 of 9
Shnat 5772 first report!
This has been our first real, proper week on Shnat and I think we talk on behalf of everyone in the group when we say it has been fantastic.
The last few days of Orientation, based in Beit Shmuel – in central Jerusalem the headquarters of Progressive Judaism worldwide – far surpassed our expectations of a week of ‘get-to-know you games’ and ‘rules and reg’ sessions that last years Shnatties had led us to believe would be the case. On Thursday we were taken on a 4-hour tour of the Old City by Amy Ben-Dov – a NFTY movement worker famous for the incomparable speed at which she talks, her intimate knowledge of Jersualem and her infectious enthusiasm. Every single person came out of the tour with a greater connection to Jerusalem; we all designated our own spot at the Western Wall and learned more than we cared to remember.
Add a commentShnat Netzer Reports 2011
This article conatins a collection of Shnat reports from 2011. For photos of Shnat 2010-11 please click here
Add a comment
Shnat week 2
Shnat - Week 2
A great, though exhausting week just passed! Our new shnattim arrived to Israel a week and a half ago, and already had an intensive seminar in Jerusalem, followed by a long long drive to the South of Israel, to start their group experience on Kibbutz Yahel.
The Klita (orientation) seminar finished on a high note, after many interesting sessions, great services and peer- led peulot, and lovely ceremonies. We hope the shnattim are now better familiar with the expectation of the year, with the rules and regulations, know Jerusalem a bit better (though they will have plenty of time later in the year to explore Jerusalem in depth), and hopefully are now ready to start their journey here in Israel (physically and mentally).
On Tuesday morning, right as the seminar finished, all our shnattim and a TONE of personal belongings, boarded on the bus going to Yahel. Yahel is one of the two Progressive Kibbutzim we have in Israel. It is located in the Arava area, about an hour away from the Southern border we have with Egypt. It is in the desert, and has a unique community. We will be staying in Yahel for a full month, in which we will have intensive Hebrew lessons, some field work, chinuch (education) sessions, and day trips.
The first couple of days at Yahel were very unique, and to some- a bit stressing. For most of them, this is the first time living in the desert, shopping, cooking and cleaning. To top that, the heat of the desert is not easy to cope with, especially if you arrive from colder countries. Another challenge the shnattim also faced is of course the physical work they will do 3 times a week- closing the date season and fold all the equipment for the next season.
This is the first free Shabbat on the program, and quite a few shnattim decided to stay at Yahel for the weekend, as some Southerners are coming to meet them there. Hopefully we will hear the good stories of this coming weekend in the next report.
We want to wish you and us a pleasant Shabbat,
The Netzer staff
Parents report: by Dan Mackenzie and Sarah Nathanson
We woke up on Friday excited for our first Shnabbat together as a Kehillah (that means community don’t you know). We set off with Raya and Amy for a walking tour around Jerusalem during which we had to complete various photo “missions” to help us get acclimatised to our new surroundings. During the tour, we ventured into the old city and were very excited to experience our first PIZZUR meal. This is when we are given 30 shekels with which to buy our own food. Once we’d completed our missions, we headed to the Kotel via the roof terrace where we could see the holy sites of the three major religions. It was a vivid demonstration of why Jerusalem is so fought over.
For our Friday night service we went to Kol Haneshama, the closest reform synagogue to our hostel. We all enjoyed the opportunity to experience a service from another culture. We then walked back buzzing with oneg excitement! Oneg was run by Flora, Rachel S, Ayla and Sarah (!!) and consisted of the introduction of the SHNAT BAND which includes the guitar, harmonica, accordian, recorder and the musical ruler. We also experimented with putting notes in balloons which ended with a bang.
The next day (Saturday) we ventured once more to Kol Haneshama to run our own Shacharit service. The service was lovely and we were all amazed when it culminated in us all being barmitzvah’d as a group. Back at the hostel we had a much needed shabbat shluf to recoup on some of the sleep we had missed out on since starting shnat. During this time there was music floating around the hostel courtesy of the shnat band that made for a very relaxing atmosphere.
After a few more sessions we were taken outside for Seuda Shlishit and Havdallah run by Zara, Tamara and Tanya which was a lovely medly of compliments and candles. That evening, we were taken out on the town by some of the Southern Shnatties for yet more PIZZUR and an oppertunity to catch a taste of Jerusalem’s night life.
Sunday was a day of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) joy. We went to volunteer at Sataf piling rocks to repair the terraces. Although it was hot, sweaty and dusty, we all found it a rewarding experience and a great taster of the tiyul and volunteering experiences that are to come
For the last day of our Klita Seminar, we wrote letters to ourselves outlining specific hopes for our adventure ahead and then went out for a special dinner to celebrate Jonathan and Tamara’s birthdays. We were all in great spirits and ended the evening excited for the start of our Kibbutz experience.
On Tuesday we awoke bright and early ready for the long coach ride down to Yahel. We immediately fell in love with the place and it’s peaceful surroundings. We’re looking forward to the bonding experience it is bound to provide.
Add a commentMDA say thank you to Tour 1
Tour 1 recently got back from Israel, and as a group they decided to collect all their loose change, which amounted to 271 NIS.
They donated it to Magen David Adom UK, the Israeli ambulance service, who treat everyone in the region.
Click below to see their letter of thanks - KOL HAKAVOD (well done!) ve Yeshar Koach
Add a comment
