Shnat Netzer - Update 3

Dear parents, shnattim and snifim shalom,

Rosh Hashana took place last weekend, and added another day to our weekend here in Israel- Sunday. For the majority reading this email, it is obvious that Sunday is a part of the weekend- in Israel, the week starts on Sunday. Not this week though. Majority of shnattim spent their Rosh Hashana eve with family, friends or host families. One obvious thing that repeated in most of the shnattim's report to us was- they had a really good meal!! Thank god for Jewish holy days!

The Machoniks went on their Northern Tiyul, and are having a great time. Sophie sprained her ankle on the hike, but is doing fine. Everybody went on several hikes in the Golan Heights, went ice- skating and really enjoyed their time.

Etgar had a normal week, and started their Hebrew lessons- hopefully they will get a lot out of them. Last Thursday they went on a night tour in Jerusalem, to see the Jerusalemite going to Selichot (Selichot (Hebrew: סליחות‎) are Jewish penitential poems and prayers, especially those said in the period leading up to the High Holidays, and on Fast Days. The Thirteen Attributes of God are a central theme throughout the prayers). They went through different communities, and found that there are different night lives in Jerusalem. And indeed, many people are going for Selichot right before Rosh Hashana, and even more so before Yom Kippur- it's time to forgive, put things behind, open a new slate and start a fresh new year.  

On Tuesday we had Yom Tnua only for the Etagrinks, as Machon was on Tiyul. To continue the tour from last Thursday night, we had a Tashlikch session, where we spoke about forgiveness, and then each wrote the things s/he has to ask for forgiveness from the past year, things s/he would like to forgive, and things we would like to leave behind. It was time to reflect on our individual year, and try and deal with it. Later, we went to the closest water fountain in order to "You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea."- we metaphorically moved all the sins and things we wish to leave behind, and then through leaves into the fountain.

Wishing you all a Chatima Tova, and may we all have a fresh new year.

The Netzer tzevet


Etgar - Sara Dritz

Hello from Israel!

I hope all of you had a good start to the New Year!  I went with Corine to my cousin’s house-she lives in Jerusalem about a ten minute drive from the flat.  We had an amazing dinner of veal and grilled tuna, it was so good.  Everyone was very filled after the weekend, and it was a nice change from pasta!  We started with classes again on Monday.  Corine and I led a sicha (discussion) about sexuality in Judaism.  Everyone is going to lead a sicha in the coming weeks.

Then we had a class with Mark, and went on a field trip to Mea Sherim.  It’s an ultra orthodox neighborhood; we walked through and observed their customs-it was really interesting, and different.  On Tuesday we started our Hebrew classes, it was okay-but the advanced class’ teacher never showed up, so everyone joined together for a review.   After Hebrew we had our current events class with Neil.  We are learning about how to talk to groups and make speeches and current events.  This week we have to write the beginning and end of the speech-he is going to teach us how to lead discussions better.  Today we went to Tel Aviv and Jaffa and did a tour of the two cities.  We also went to the flea market and bought lunch.  We did a kind of scavenger hunt, it was the best part of the day.  We got to interview people on the street!

Well that’s all that’s happened so far, but I hope everyone has good yom  kippur!


Machon - Neil Brodie (Madrich Machon)

The Machonikim are on tiyul this week and so are unable to write a report for themselves, so I thought I would write something instead!  Firstly I want to say how much I love working with this year's group.  I go visit them at Machon each week and run activities for them every Tuesday and I always enjoy seeing them!

The tiyul is time for them to bond together with the other movements that take part in Machon, and for them to get to know the country of Israel better.  It's also a nice way to spend their week before the country comes to a standstill on Yom Kippur this Sunday night.  If you have been in Israel over Yom Kippur you will know that everything here closes, the restaurants, the shops, the taxi companies – everything!  It's quite an experience to know that everybody honours Yom Kippur in their own way and respects the day.  In fact the only things you will see on the roads are Ambulances (and from what I hear Yom Kippur is a particularly busy time in the maternity wards!)

I'm sure that next week you will get a full report on their tiyul and Yom Kippur experiences.

From all of us at Netzer – Shana Tovah and Gmar Chatimah Tovah!

Neil


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