Everyone’s good night’s sleep really paid off. The entire group had their suitcases packed and at the bottom of the bus by 7 AM, and went off to breakfast. At 8 o’clock, we started on our two-hour journey south to Renana--after a stop for a coffee, snacks and bathroom.
In Renana, we learned about the work of Leket, the well-known food rescue organization in Israel which receives donations of 36 tons of fruit and vegetables a day, which feeds 175,000 Israelis each week. They also provide hot meals from restaurants and other organizations to Israelis in need. Our group spent 90 minutes—working alongside other Birthright groups and Israeli school groups--sorting purple onions which will be delivered to people in need.
All of that onion sorting helped us work up an appetite. We went to a kosher food court with lots of options at a shopping mall in Renana. The participants again enjoyed the fact that we could choose sushi, pizza, burgers, schnitzel, even McDonald’s! There was even a vegan ice cream place so we could buy ice cream for one of our Israeli soldiers who is celebrating a birthday today. We then broke into small groups to explore the three floors of the shopping mall. Many participants were surprised to see how many familiar stores they were including Adidas and Toys R Us. A few very determined participants went store to store in search of Pokémon cards in Hebrew. At the last store, they found one pack of Pokémon cards, but they were in English!
We again boarded the bus and drove to Holon for the Invitation to Silence at the Children’s Museum. Following an orientation about the museum, the three groups each met their guides who are deaf. They gave out noise canceling headphones, which we would all wear for the next hour and 15 minutes. The guides immediately put our participants at ease, showing the how to communicate with gestures, facial expressions and more. We played a game of follow the leader, responded non-verbally to many pictures and photos, played a trivia game, and communicated about feelings—all by signing! At the end of the activity, we had a dialogue with our guide. The interpreter interpreted for us and for the deaf guide. She encouraged the members of the group to “ask anything.” People asked about Israeli vs. American sign, possible regional dialects, whether she was married and had children, college, services for the deaf, the deaf community and more. It is not easy to spend so much time not speaking, and with our ears covered-but EACH member participated fully!
When we arrived back at Neve Ilan in Jerusalem, we had some free time to shower and prepare for another wonderful bar mitzvah. It has been so inspiring to celebrate three members of our group who did not celebrate b’nai mitzvah at age 13, but wished to celebrate in Israel—with new friends. After dinner, we ended the first part of our evening with a talent show. We really have some wonderful singers, musicians, dancers, poets and comedians! Some participants are choosing to wind down, while others are gearing up for a New Year’s Eve celebration! As we will be up early tomorrow to load the bus and spend one more very full day in Jerusalem (Har Herzl, Machane Yehuda, Kotel Tunnels Tour, farewell dinner), the group knows they may have the wonderfully disorienting opportunity to “watch the ball drop” in Times Square—since 7 am here is midnight the night before in New York!
We will likely arrive at Ben Gurion Airport around 9 or 9:30 tomorrow night. It is hard to know if there will be enough time for another blogpost. The group cellphone will be returned at the airport. Howard Blas will be available by cell and text at all times prior to boarding, and once we land in NY, at 413 374 7210. As on the way to Israel, our staff will do its best to smoothly get the participants to their gates for their connecting flights. It has been a truly wonderful trip!
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