I'm moving to Jerusalem February 1! I won't bore you all with all the details, but I'm living in a lovely apartment with two other women. It's a great location, and I like my roommates. However, I am not a fan of the weather. It's cold in Jerusalem!
The average temperatures for right now are in the 40s and 50s (F). Ashkelon is about 5-10 degrees warmer than Jerusalem, and Ramla is about 5-10 degrees warmer than Ashkelon. Thus, in the past month I've had to adjust from temperatures in the 60s to temperatures in the 40s. And by adjust, I mean that today when I walked to the grocery store I wore long underwear (top and bottom), two sweatshirts, a vest, a fleece hat, a scarf, and gloves. And super warm fuzzy socks.
I don't remember being this cold in America, where it was definitely colder. But it doesn't matter, because I get to live in Jerusalem!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Sderot
This week I went to Sderot, and it was, well, boring. The most interesting part of my trip was actually in Ashkelon, where I was asked (in Hebrew) if I spoke Russian by this nice older woman. I don't speak Russian, and she didn't speak English or Hebrew, but I still managed to convey to her when her bus was going to arrive, and walked her to the right platform. I felt very proud that I could actually do that, as when I first got the Israel finding the right platform and bus was a very hard ordeal for me.
There really wasn't much to do in Sderot, and what was going to be a half day trip turned into a two-hour trip. I looked at the bomb shelters. I looked at more bomb shelters. I looked at numerous plaques declaring that such and such "was a gift from the people of Italy", "generously supported by the Jewish National Fund", "made possible with the help of American donors", or "built in partnership with with Jewish community of Pheonix". Besides the obvious financial support from outside sources, Sderot looked like any other small town in Israel. There was a huge shopping mall, some falafel shops, a bunch of parks, a library; it actually reminded me a little bit of Ramla. There were also a bike lanes in some parts of Sderot, which took me by surprise, as I have yet to see bike lanes anywhere else in Israel. I was kind of hoping that I'd be able to see Gaza from Sderot, but I wasn't able to. After walking back up to the highway, I caught a sherut back to Ashkelon and walked home.
There really wasn't much to do in Sderot, and what was going to be a half day trip turned into a two-hour trip. I looked at the bomb shelters. I looked at more bomb shelters. I looked at numerous plaques declaring that such and such "was a gift from the people of Italy", "generously supported by the Jewish National Fund", "made possible with the help of American donors", or "built in partnership with with Jewish community of Pheonix". Besides the obvious financial support from outside sources, Sderot looked like any other small town in Israel. There was a huge shopping mall, some falafel shops, a bunch of parks, a library; it actually reminded me a little bit of Ramla. There were also a bike lanes in some parts of Sderot, which took me by surprise, as I have yet to see bike lanes anywhere else in Israel. I was kind of hoping that I'd be able to see Gaza from Sderot, but I wasn't able to. After walking back up to the highway, I caught a sherut back to Ashkelon and walked home.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Nefesh B'Nefesh Aliyah Flight Arrival Ceremony
About two weeks ago I woke up at 5am, jumped out of bed, and ran to the Ramla Central Bus Station to catch the 5:30am bus to the Ben-Gurion Airport. I was the first one at the bus station, and once I got on the bus, I realized that I could have walked about half as much and just caught the bus on Herzl Ave. But that didn't really matter to me, because I was so excited! I was going to greet new olim (immigrants) who were making aliyah on the last Nefesh B'Nefesh (NBN) charter flight of the year! I didn't really know what to expect, except that I had been told that there was lots of singing, dancing, and joyous tears. I also couldn't find anyone who wanted to wake up that early, so I went by myself. The bus dropped me off right in front of the terminal, and there were NBN signs pointing me in the right direction. I entered the terminal, and was greeted by a NBN staffperson who I had met the previous week at a presentation about student aliyah. She got me signed in, and then I proceeded through security.
NBN had taken over the terminal. There were hundreds of chairs set up facing a stage with a podium and huge projector screen, and there were hundreds of people milling around, helping themselves to the free pastries and coffee and chatting about why they were there. There were people of every age, people who had made aliyah before NBN was founded, people who hadn't made aliyah, yeshiva boys and seminary girls, kibbutzniks, Orthodox families- every part of Israeli society was represented (there were people with dreadlocks next to people with peyos.) There were also a bunch of people from the press interviewing different people. There was also a small minyan davening Shacharit in the back of the terminal, although it was men-only. I've gotten used to people praying in seemingly random places, but I don't think I'm even going to get used to non-egalitarian davening. I got some food, and then just sat around for 30 minutes. We were told to get to the airport before 6:30am, but the flight didn't land until 7am, and the first olim weren't off the place until around 7:20am. Around 7am, all 500+ of us were herded toward the area where people normally go through customs. Israeli flags were passed out (although many people brought their own) and anticipation reached a climax. There were about 30 soldiers already out on the tarmac ready to start greeting the new olim, and we started to climb on the banisters for better views.
And then people catapulted themselves over the barrier and starting running for the tarmac; shouting, singing, waving flags, crying, and greeting the first busload of olim off the plane. There were people holding signs saying "Welcome Home!", "Bruchim Habaim!", and my personal favorite "Welcome Home Saba and Savta!" ("Welcome Home Grandma and Grandpa!") which was held up by some adorable young children. The first batch of olim off the bus looked stunned. Some immediately joined in the dancing, and some just looked like all they wanted was to do was find the nearest bed. There was a three person band playing Shalom Alcheim, and on of the security guards even joined the band. Occasionally they switched to another patriotic song such as Am Yisrael Chai, although they never played the Moshiach song or the Nachman song, which I appreciated. And we just kept dancing, and dancing, and dancing. Whenever a guest spotted an oleh they knew, there was frantic shouting and then hugging. Bus after bus of olim from the airplane kept arriving, and we kept celebrating. Someone pulled out a shofar and started blowing it. I sat on top of a police barricade and took picture after picture.
At one point a special El Al vehicle pulled up, flashing lights and beeping. We all became quiet, and an El Al staffperson stepped out, pulling a woman in a wheelchair with a man following them. When they were lowered to the ground, the woman turned around, and started waving. She was the oldest olah on the flight, at 86 years old. At 86 years old, she was giving up everything she knew to move to Israel with her husband. I was amazed. (The youngest oleh was 2 months old.)
More olim arrived, and NBN staff helped families with children carry bags and strollers and make sure that none of the kids got separated from their parents. NBN charter flights are only for olim, and so they are specifically tailored to the needs of olim. Paperwork for Israeli identity cards and olim identity cards are processed in the air, olim can bring pets on the plane, there are bigger baggage allowances, and NBN staff are on board to answer questions and make sure everything runs smoothly. 210 new olim arrived on the flight, which included 40 children, 81 singles, and 13 IDF soldiers.
After what seemed like hours of celebration, but was in actuality less than an hour, all of the olim had arrived, and we all moved inside the terminal to listen to some speakers. The founder of NBN spoke, the Minister of Development in the Galilee and the Negev spoke, the Minister of Immigration Absorption spoke, and so did some other people who I don't remember. They mentioned that Israel has a very high proportion of citizens who weren't born in Israel, that NBN and the new olim were helping Israel expand in the North, and that Israel was very glad to welcome home the 210 olim on the flight. One of the Ministers was born in Tunisia, and is an oleh himself (I think he was the Deputy Prime Minister.) He mentioned that only in Israel do heads of government wake up at 5am to welcome new immigrants at the airport. There was a ceremony where a couple of the olim were handed their new Israeli identity cards, and the soldiers stood up and looked patriotic. Then there were announcements about how guests were not allowed to accept bags from the new olim before they went through customs, and where olim should go after customs so NBN staff could arrange their free taxi ride to any location in Israel, courtesy of the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption.
Then we all stood up and sang Hatikva. It was one of the most resounding and heartwarming versions that I have ever heard.
NBN had taken over the terminal. There were hundreds of chairs set up facing a stage with a podium and huge projector screen, and there were hundreds of people milling around, helping themselves to the free pastries and coffee and chatting about why they were there. There were people of every age, people who had made aliyah before NBN was founded, people who hadn't made aliyah, yeshiva boys and seminary girls, kibbutzniks, Orthodox families- every part of Israeli society was represented (there were people with dreadlocks next to people with peyos.) There were also a bunch of people from the press interviewing different people. There was also a small minyan davening Shacharit in the back of the terminal, although it was men-only. I've gotten used to people praying in seemingly random places, but I don't think I'm even going to get used to non-egalitarian davening. I got some food, and then just sat around for 30 minutes. We were told to get to the airport before 6:30am, but the flight didn't land until 7am, and the first olim weren't off the place until around 7:20am. Around 7am, all 500+ of us were herded toward the area where people normally go through customs. Israeli flags were passed out (although many people brought their own) and anticipation reached a climax. There were about 30 soldiers already out on the tarmac ready to start greeting the new olim, and we started to climb on the banisters for better views.
And then people catapulted themselves over the barrier and starting running for the tarmac; shouting, singing, waving flags, crying, and greeting the first busload of olim off the plane. There were people holding signs saying "Welcome Home!", "Bruchim Habaim!", and my personal favorite "Welcome Home Saba and Savta!" ("Welcome Home Grandma and Grandpa!") which was held up by some adorable young children. The first batch of olim off the bus looked stunned. Some immediately joined in the dancing, and some just looked like all they wanted was to do was find the nearest bed. There was a three person band playing Shalom Alcheim, and on of the security guards even joined the band. Occasionally they switched to another patriotic song such as Am Yisrael Chai, although they never played the Moshiach song or the Nachman song, which I appreciated. And we just kept dancing, and dancing, and dancing. Whenever a guest spotted an oleh they knew, there was frantic shouting and then hugging. Bus after bus of olim from the airplane kept arriving, and we kept celebrating. Someone pulled out a shofar and started blowing it. I sat on top of a police barricade and took picture after picture.
At one point a special El Al vehicle pulled up, flashing lights and beeping. We all became quiet, and an El Al staffperson stepped out, pulling a woman in a wheelchair with a man following them. When they were lowered to the ground, the woman turned around, and started waving. She was the oldest olah on the flight, at 86 years old. At 86 years old, she was giving up everything she knew to move to Israel with her husband. I was amazed. (The youngest oleh was 2 months old.)
More olim arrived, and NBN staff helped families with children carry bags and strollers and make sure that none of the kids got separated from their parents. NBN charter flights are only for olim, and so they are specifically tailored to the needs of olim. Paperwork for Israeli identity cards and olim identity cards are processed in the air, olim can bring pets on the plane, there are bigger baggage allowances, and NBN staff are on board to answer questions and make sure everything runs smoothly. 210 new olim arrived on the flight, which included 40 children, 81 singles, and 13 IDF soldiers.
After what seemed like hours of celebration, but was in actuality less than an hour, all of the olim had arrived, and we all moved inside the terminal to listen to some speakers. The founder of NBN spoke, the Minister of Development in the Galilee and the Negev spoke, the Minister of Immigration Absorption spoke, and so did some other people who I don't remember. They mentioned that Israel has a very high proportion of citizens who weren't born in Israel, that NBN and the new olim were helping Israel expand in the North, and that Israel was very glad to welcome home the 210 olim on the flight. One of the Ministers was born in Tunisia, and is an oleh himself (I think he was the Deputy Prime Minister.) He mentioned that only in Israel do heads of government wake up at 5am to welcome new immigrants at the airport. There was a ceremony where a couple of the olim were handed their new Israeli identity cards, and the soldiers stood up and looked patriotic. Then there were announcements about how guests were not allowed to accept bags from the new olim before they went through customs, and where olim should go after customs so NBN staff could arrange their free taxi ride to any location in Israel, courtesy of the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption.
Then we all stood up and sang Hatikva. It was one of the most resounding and heartwarming versions that I have ever heard.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Getting to Kalanit Mercaz Klita
I don't have a car in Israel (which is probably a good thing, as I am not a very good driver and neither are most Israelis.) It is rarely a problem, because public bus and train transportation is very comprehensive in Israel. I can easily get from one end of the country to the other (buses depart from Eilat, the southernmost city, and Kiryat Shmona, almost the northernmost city every hour if not more frequently) and traveling by public transportation is very cheap. However, moving without a car presents a challenge.
I chose to move in two trips, as I had the three suitcases I came to Israel with, bedding, a bag of kitchen stuff, a bag of books, and a basil plant. I took the train from Lod to Ashkelon (it's about 45 minutes) and then a taxi from the train station to Kalanit (about 15 minutes). The first trip was horrible. It was very hot outside, and I walked about a half an hour with four bags before I got to the train station. I was hot, sweaty, and not in a very good mood. I had left time for security to go through my bags, but I had assumed that they would just glance at them, and not bother going through all four of them. I was wrong. After being asked to produce a Teudat Zehut (Israeli identity card) and producing my Massachusetts Driver's License, they asked me for a Darkon (passport.) When I produced that, all three of the guards took turns staring at it (probably because none of them could read English fluently.) After asking me multiple questions about my visa (which is rather self-explanatory "Hi, I'm on MASA, which means I'm between ages 18-28 and I'm Jewish"), they finally started to go through my bags. By this time the chance of making my train was very little, which meant I was going to be late for moving into Kalanit, I was really hot, and I was also very much stressing about moving to somewhere I had never been before.
When security finally let me through, I ran to the elevator, and arrived at my platform just in time to see my once-an-hour train pulling away. I promptly sat down (on my bags) and started sobbing. I'm sure I scared the two little kids drinking shoko b'sakit next me to- I was definitely a sight to behold. At that moment I hated Israel, I hated Israelis who wouldn't hold the train for me, I hated the weather, I hated public transportation, and I definitely hated security guards.
But! It wasn't my train! I had gotten the times wrong, and 10 minutes later a train pulled up and announced "Ha'rekevet leRehovot, Yavne, Ashdod v'Ashkelon al mishpar shalosh." That was my train! I jumped up, all thoughts of hating Israel aside, and got onto the splendid air-conditioned train with padded seats and views of the gorgeous countryside. And I ate a bar of chocolate.
The second trip was actually quite lovely. I moved after it was already dark outside, so I didn't get all hot and sweaty. But the biggest difference was the security guards. One stopped me outside the station, and when he asked for my Teudat Zehut and received my Driver's License, his only reaction was to switch to English. However, because I was in a much better mood, I wanted to use my Hebrew. As soon as he learned that I was carrying all this stuff because I was moving from Ramla to the Ashkelon Mercaz Klita, he was nothing but smiles. He helped me carry my stuff to the ticket booth, and then had another guy carry it to my platform. When I asked if they wanted to search my bags, they just smiled. That trip, I felt like all of Israel was smiling with me.
I chose to move in two trips, as I had the three suitcases I came to Israel with, bedding, a bag of kitchen stuff, a bag of books, and a basil plant. I took the train from Lod to Ashkelon (it's about 45 minutes) and then a taxi from the train station to Kalanit (about 15 minutes). The first trip was horrible. It was very hot outside, and I walked about a half an hour with four bags before I got to the train station. I was hot, sweaty, and not in a very good mood. I had left time for security to go through my bags, but I had assumed that they would just glance at them, and not bother going through all four of them. I was wrong. After being asked to produce a Teudat Zehut (Israeli identity card) and producing my Massachusetts Driver's License, they asked me for a Darkon (passport.) When I produced that, all three of the guards took turns staring at it (probably because none of them could read English fluently.) After asking me multiple questions about my visa (which is rather self-explanatory "Hi, I'm on MASA, which means I'm between ages 18-28 and I'm Jewish"), they finally started to go through my bags. By this time the chance of making my train was very little, which meant I was going to be late for moving into Kalanit, I was really hot, and I was also very much stressing about moving to somewhere I had never been before.
When security finally let me through, I ran to the elevator, and arrived at my platform just in time to see my once-an-hour train pulling away. I promptly sat down (on my bags) and started sobbing. I'm sure I scared the two little kids drinking shoko b'sakit next me to- I was definitely a sight to behold. At that moment I hated Israel, I hated Israelis who wouldn't hold the train for me, I hated the weather, I hated public transportation, and I definitely hated security guards.
But! It wasn't my train! I had gotten the times wrong, and 10 minutes later a train pulled up and announced "Ha'rekevet leRehovot, Yavne, Ashdod v'Ashkelon al mishpar shalosh." That was my train! I jumped up, all thoughts of hating Israel aside, and got onto the splendid air-conditioned train with padded seats and views of the gorgeous countryside. And I ate a bar of chocolate.
The second trip was actually quite lovely. I moved after it was already dark outside, so I didn't get all hot and sweaty. But the biggest difference was the security guards. One stopped me outside the station, and when he asked for my Teudat Zehut and received my Driver's License, his only reaction was to switch to English. However, because I was in a much better mood, I wanted to use my Hebrew. As soon as he learned that I was carrying all this stuff because I was moving from Ramla to the Ashkelon Mercaz Klita, he was nothing but smiles. He helped me carry my stuff to the ticket booth, and then had another guy carry it to my platform. When I asked if they wanted to search my bags, they just smiled. That trip, I felt like all of Israel was smiling with me.
New Adventures in Ashkelon
My program in Ramla ended yesterday, and I have officially moved to Ashkelon. So far, I really like it! Ashkelon is located right next to the Mediterranean, although I don't personally live that close to it. But as bus rides around the city cost 1 shekel each (about 25 cents) I'm sure I'll be exploring it soon! I live in the Kalanit Absorption Center (in Hebrew: Kalanit Mercaz Klita b'Asheklon.) I've spent the last day setting up my apartment, exploring the Mercaz Klita and exploring Ashkelon. The Mercaz Klita is like a really big apartment building, or rather, buildings. There is a large courtyard, laundry room, some common areas, and a huge and very nice lawn outside with a tennis table and benches for hanging out in. My apartment consists of one large room that has two beds, a huge dresser, two desks/tables and three chairs. Connected to that room is a little kitchenette and a bathroom. It was originally meant to be a double, and I'm sure it would be cramped as a double, but it's positively spacious for me!
Living in the Mercaz Klita has a lot of benefits. There are three different staff people who have various jobs (one is the director, one is the "house parent" and I'm not sure what the other one does) and they are all very nice and willing to help me adjust to living here (whether by showing me where the bus stop is, letting me borrow a broom, giving me maps, or just greeting me with a much-appreciated friendly smile.) There are also three security guards who each work seven hour shifts. I've only met two of them (and it's unlikely that I'll meet the one that works from 11pm-7am) but they are also very nice. I introduced myself to the afternoon security guard yesterday and had a whole, complex conversation in Hebrew with him, which was very exciting!
The Ashkelon Mercaz Klita is also specifically for people 18-35 (out of the 200+ people who live here, only 3 don't fit into that age group) so there are lots of social opportunities. Both Oztma and Magen David Adom (MASA programs) have groups living here, and I've already met some of the participants.
The other benefits that come with living in the Mercaz Klita come when you tell people that you live there. Today in the supermarket when a woman found out that I lived in the Mercaz Klita by myself (she was incredulous: "Ainlach mishpachah b'Israel? Ain?") she invited me over for Shabbat. The bus drivers are nicer to you when you ask if a certain bus goes to Kalanit, the people on the bus are nicer, and everyone just is nicer to you. Today after I was food shopping, while waiting for the bus, I opened up the bread and the hummus and ate some (I was hungry, and forgot that Israelis don't really eat in public.) Two older women were staring at me, and when I asked them why, their only response was "Behtai avon" (it translates as something like "Bon Appetite.") Likewise, when I got on the bus the driver saw the half-eaten baguette and the hummus with scoop marks in it and had to tease me about it too. But very nicely.
I'm not sad about my program ending partly because I was ready for it to be over and was tired of Ramla, but mostly because more than half my group decided to stay in Israel. The majority of them are doing Magen David Adom, but one person is making aliyah and me and another person will be in ulpan in Jerusalem. Hopefully some of them will be visiting me in Ashkelon and making use of my spare bed!
Living in the Mercaz Klita has a lot of benefits. There are three different staff people who have various jobs (one is the director, one is the "house parent" and I'm not sure what the other one does) and they are all very nice and willing to help me adjust to living here (whether by showing me where the bus stop is, letting me borrow a broom, giving me maps, or just greeting me with a much-appreciated friendly smile.) There are also three security guards who each work seven hour shifts. I've only met two of them (and it's unlikely that I'll meet the one that works from 11pm-7am) but they are also very nice. I introduced myself to the afternoon security guard yesterday and had a whole, complex conversation in Hebrew with him, which was very exciting!
The Ashkelon Mercaz Klita is also specifically for people 18-35 (out of the 200+ people who live here, only 3 don't fit into that age group) so there are lots of social opportunities. Both Oztma and Magen David Adom (MASA programs) have groups living here, and I've already met some of the participants.
The other benefits that come with living in the Mercaz Klita come when you tell people that you live there. Today in the supermarket when a woman found out that I lived in the Mercaz Klita by myself (she was incredulous: "Ainlach mishpachah b'Israel? Ain?") she invited me over for Shabbat. The bus drivers are nicer to you when you ask if a certain bus goes to Kalanit, the people on the bus are nicer, and everyone just is nicer to you. Today after I was food shopping, while waiting for the bus, I opened up the bread and the hummus and ate some (I was hungry, and forgot that Israelis don't really eat in public.) Two older women were staring at me, and when I asked them why, their only response was "Behtai avon" (it translates as something like "Bon Appetite.") Likewise, when I got on the bus the driver saw the half-eaten baguette and the hummus with scoop marks in it and had to tease me about it too. But very nicely.
I'm not sad about my program ending partly because I was ready for it to be over and was tired of Ramla, but mostly because more than half my group decided to stay in Israel. The majority of them are doing Magen David Adom, but one person is making aliyah and me and another person will be in ulpan in Jerusalem. Hopefully some of them will be visiting me in Ashkelon and making use of my spare bed!
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