Well MBI has come to a close and everyone is safely back home aside from those who remained in Israel. With all the hours and effort put in to the building and running of MBI, it was rewarding to be at the airport and see the new friendships, connection to the movement and the love of Israel that this wonderful group came back with. It is always exciting to see a new group of young leader come back with energy and excitement.
Thank you to all of the chaperones for all of our buses and flights which made the travel day a success. Of course a thank you goes to the MBI tzevet(staff) led by Gil and Jacki(our technical director) for all of their hard work and dedication to the creation of an incredible experience for the MBIers. Their guidance, knowledge and leadership paired with the experience and know how of our program providers the Israel Experience, made MBI Chai so special. And of course thank you to all you parents for your support throughout the program.
This year and especially the last month have been an incredible learning process for me and I am glad that overall things have gone quite well and I am always open to and wanting to receive any constructive feedback you might have for the future. We will be sending out a feedback survey at the beginning of next week.
I hope everyone has a great rest of their summer.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
On their way home
All of the MBIers that are coming home today are on their way.
All of the flight have taken off and are scheduled to arrive on time.
All of the flight have taken off and are scheduled to arrive on time.
MBI is coming to an end
Yesterday the MBIers continued the sikkum (conclusion). They participated in a variety of peulot with their kvutzah(small group), machaneh (camp) and with all of MBI.
The morning began with an activity with all of MBI. Even though all seven camps have similarities each camp has a distinct personality and traditions. The kids split up into groups by camp and decided on a song that represented their camp and then taught it to the rest of the MBIers. This was a way to share in each others cultures and bring a new tradition back to their home machaneh. It is always exciting to return to camp teach them something you learned from friends at other camps.
They then split up by their kvutzot and had a peulah about their ideal visions for society and how they can be a part of creating those visions. The peulah began with creating society as it is and their ideal society out of food items. Even though they had worked so hard to create their societies they could not resist munching on their creations while discussing the positive impact they can have on society and how they can work towards their ideal.
After lunch everyone gathered together to begin the long process of saying goodbye. They were given paper and other art supplies and they created "warm fuzzy books". These are books that they can pass around and write notes to each other about the experience they had on MBI.
Following this the kids sat by machaneh with a madrich from that area and discussed the coming year and the role that they will or want to have in the ken. (regional year long activities). They discussed the responsibilities they have as someone who has completed MBI in the movement and how they can be active until next summer.
After dinner the MBIers enjoyed one more musicale and then celebrated by having their final mesibah (party).
This morning the MBIers participated in a volunteering project with Shulchan l'Shulchan (Table to Table). Shulchan l'Shulchan rescues excess, unserved food that would otherwise be destroyed from catered events, bakeries, army bases, perishable food manufacturers, farmers and packinghouses. They then transport the food to non-profit organizations throughout Israel serving people in need. The MBIers were at a farm helping pick produce that would otherwise be neglected.
After returning to Nordiya, each kvutzah sat for one last time together to say their final goodbyes and receive their bus and MBI tshirts. Before dinner they had a tekkes siyum (concluding ceremony) in which Gil said some nice words about how enjoyable this experience was for him as a first time Rosh and everyone sang the movement anthem. After this they will have dinner and head to the airport.
The morning began with an activity with all of MBI. Even though all seven camps have similarities each camp has a distinct personality and traditions. The kids split up into groups by camp and decided on a song that represented their camp and then taught it to the rest of the MBIers. This was a way to share in each others cultures and bring a new tradition back to their home machaneh. It is always exciting to return to camp teach them something you learned from friends at other camps.
They then split up by their kvutzot and had a peulah about their ideal visions for society and how they can be a part of creating those visions. The peulah began with creating society as it is and their ideal society out of food items. Even though they had worked so hard to create their societies they could not resist munching on their creations while discussing the positive impact they can have on society and how they can work towards their ideal.
After lunch everyone gathered together to begin the long process of saying goodbye. They were given paper and other art supplies and they created "warm fuzzy books". These are books that they can pass around and write notes to each other about the experience they had on MBI.
Following this the kids sat by machaneh with a madrich from that area and discussed the coming year and the role that they will or want to have in the ken. (regional year long activities). They discussed the responsibilities they have as someone who has completed MBI in the movement and how they can be active until next summer.
After dinner the MBIers enjoyed one more musicale and then celebrated by having their final mesibah (party).
This morning the MBIers participated in a volunteering project with Shulchan l'Shulchan (Table to Table). Shulchan l'Shulchan rescues excess, unserved food that would otherwise be destroyed from catered events, bakeries, army bases, perishable food manufacturers, farmers and packinghouses. They then transport the food to non-profit organizations throughout Israel serving people in need. The MBIers were at a farm helping pick produce that would otherwise be neglected.
After returning to Nordiya, each kvutzah sat for one last time together to say their final goodbyes and receive their bus and MBI tshirts. Before dinner they had a tekkes siyum (concluding ceremony) in which Gil said some nice words about how enjoyable this experience was for him as a first time Rosh and everyone sang the movement anthem. After this they will have dinner and head to the airport.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Uncovering history
On Monday MBI spent the morning exploring the hills of Jerusalem in a series of activities run by the JNF/KKL (Jewish National Fund). This included a short hike and learning about the history of the area. They then went down into a series of caves that are also rich in history. This is where the Bar Kochvah revolt took place. The Bar Kochvah revolt against the Roman Empire was the third major rebellion by the Jews and the last of the Jewish-Roman Wars. The goal of the rebellion was to regain independence from the Romans, who had destroyed the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 70 C.E. These caves were the military headquarters for Bar Kochvah and his men. The groups also took part in an archeological dig looking for remnants of Jewish and Roman artifacts.
In the afternoon MBI visited an old underground ammunition factory called Machon Ayalon. The Hagganah (defense force)convinced a group of people who wanted to build a kibbutz to building an ammunition factory. They dug out an enormous underground hole in just weeks, while the British thought they were building a kibbutz. 40 people would go underground daily to make bullets. The kibbutz took in laundry as its source of income, and the access to the ammunition factory was under a washing machine that slides to the side to reveal a ladder. All 40 of the original workers were trained to climb down the ladder in record time. They made 250,000 bullets without a single mishap, and bullets were the one thing the Israelis did not run out of during their war for independence. Visitors walk down the ladder and view the machinery while listening to the story.
In the evening after returning to Nes Harim the groups started the sikkum (conclusion process)with a peulah discussing the relationships that they created on MBI and in Habonim and how they can continue those and create those kind of friendships in their life outside of machaneh (camp).
In the afternoon MBI visited an old underground ammunition factory called Machon Ayalon. The Hagganah (defense force)convinced a group of people who wanted to build a kibbutz to building an ammunition factory. They dug out an enormous underground hole in just weeks, while the British thought they were building a kibbutz. 40 people would go underground daily to make bullets. The kibbutz took in laundry as its source of income, and the access to the ammunition factory was under a washing machine that slides to the side to reveal a ladder. All 40 of the original workers were trained to climb down the ladder in record time. They made 250,000 bullets without a single mishap, and bullets were the one thing the Israelis did not run out of during their war for independence. Visitors walk down the ladder and view the machinery while listening to the story.
In the evening after returning to Nes Harim the groups started the sikkum (conclusion process)with a peulah discussing the relationships that they created on MBI and in Habonim and how they can continue those and create those kind of friendships in their life outside of machaneh (camp).
Monday, August 3, 2009
Shabbat and Back to Jerusalem
After a few days apart on kibbutz the MBIers were happy to be together for their final Shabbat. On Saturday morning they had chuggim (interest groups) which were run by both madrichim and chanichim. This is a time for them to sit in small groups and have discussions about a specific topic of interest. These discussions range in topics pertaining to politics, music, philosophy, nature among many others.
After chuggim they had michpachot (families) which was time for them to sit by machaneh (camp) and have a check in with their home camp friends. This is a time for them to talk about camp and to share stories from each buses experience.
In the evening the MBIers had a peulah in preparation for their visit to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial museum in Jerusalem. On Sunday they went to the museum and had a guided tour through the museum. The museum which was which was recently renovated has a unique design. The building is a long triangle that at the end there are windows piping light and a beautiful view of Jerusalem. In order to reach the light you have to criss-cross through each section of the museum, which spans from before the Holocaust looking at communities, through the end of the war exploring the many difficult topics and some of the more inspirational tales of righteous gentiles and the youth movements role in the war. The tour tries to focus on some of the aspects of the Holocaust and then ends by discussing the importance of Israel in our history as the Jewish people. The tour was followed by a processing discussion within the kvutzah with madrichim. This was a emotionally moving and important experience for all.
Following the museum the group headed to Har Herzl (Mount Herzl), a national cemetery in Jerusalem, named for Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern political Zionism. The cemetery was created as a burial place for national figures and fallen soldiers. Each group walked through the cemetery and the stories of some of the figures buried there such as Hannah Senesh and Yitzhak Rabin.
After an emotional morning, the group spent the afternoon taking in the sights, sounds and scents of Machaneh Yehuda, the largest and busiest outdoor market in Israel. This gave the chanichim a chance to see one of the staples of life in Israel and to be amongst Israelis in their day to day routine.
In the evening MBI had musicale, a Saturday night tradition at camp where chanichim are given the chance to show off their musical talents. Many a friendship has been formed over a common love for songwriting, musical instruments and singing.
After chuggim they had michpachot (families) which was time for them to sit by machaneh (camp) and have a check in with their home camp friends. This is a time for them to talk about camp and to share stories from each buses experience.
In the evening the MBIers had a peulah in preparation for their visit to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial museum in Jerusalem. On Sunday they went to the museum and had a guided tour through the museum. The museum which was which was recently renovated has a unique design. The building is a long triangle that at the end there are windows piping light and a beautiful view of Jerusalem. In order to reach the light you have to criss-cross through each section of the museum, which spans from before the Holocaust looking at communities, through the end of the war exploring the many difficult topics and some of the more inspirational tales of righteous gentiles and the youth movements role in the war. The tour tries to focus on some of the aspects of the Holocaust and then ends by discussing the importance of Israel in our history as the Jewish people. The tour was followed by a processing discussion within the kvutzah with madrichim. This was a emotionally moving and important experience for all.
Following the museum the group headed to Har Herzl (Mount Herzl), a national cemetery in Jerusalem, named for Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern political Zionism. The cemetery was created as a burial place for national figures and fallen soldiers. Each group walked through the cemetery and the stories of some of the figures buried there such as Hannah Senesh and Yitzhak Rabin.
After an emotional morning, the group spent the afternoon taking in the sights, sounds and scents of Machaneh Yehuda, the largest and busiest outdoor market in Israel. This gave the chanichim a chance to see one of the staples of life in Israel and to be amongst Israelis in their day to day routine.
In the evening MBI had musicale, a Saturday night tradition at camp where chanichim are given the chance to show off their musical talents. Many a friendship has been formed over a common love for songwriting, musical instruments and singing.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
MBI Return Travel Repost
Flights
Return to Newark
EL AL LY 27
Depart: Thu. 06 Aug. 2009 Ben Gurion APT, Tel Aviv, Israel(TLV) 12:05 am Term. 3
Arrive: Thu. 06 Aug. 2009 Newark, Newark, NJ, USA(EWR) 04:45 am Term. B
The bus to PA/MD will meet the kids at Newark airport.
Bus Information
Keneseth Israel, Elkins Park PA- 8:30am
White Marsh Park and Ride, White Marsh MD- 10:30am
Montgomery Blair High School, Silver Spring, MD- 11:30am
Return to JFK
EL AL LY 1
Depart: Thu. 06 Aug. 2009 Ben Gurion APT, Tel Aviv, Israel(TLV) 01:00 am Term. 3
Arrive: Thu. 06 Aug. 2009 John F Kennedy Intl APT, New York, NY, USA(JFK) 05:40 am Term. 4
There will be Habonim staff at JFK to help MBIers find their connecting flights.
Return to Toronto
Delta DL 153
Depart: Wed. 05 Aug. 2009 Ben Gurion APT, Tel Aviv, Israel(TLV) 11:35 pm Term. 3
Arrive: Thu. 06 Aug. 2009 Hartsfield Intl APT, Atlanta, GA, USA(ATL) 05:50 am Term. S
Delta DL 5492
Depart: Thu. 06 Aug. 2009 Hartsfield Intl APT, Atlanta, GA, USA(ATL) 07:45 am Term. S
Arrive: Thu. 06 Aug. 2009 Lester B Pearson Intl, Toronto, ON, Canada(YYZ) 09:57 am Term. 3
There will be a Delta representative meeting the MBIers to take them to their connecting gate.
Return to Vancouver
Delta DL 153
Depart: Wed. 05 Aug. 2009 Ben Gurion APT, Tel Aviv, Israel(TLV) 11:35 am Term. 3
Arrive: Thu. 06 Aug. 2009 Hartsfield Intl APT, Atlanta, GA, USA(ATL) 05:50 am Term. S
Delta DL 1105
Depart: Thu. 06 Aug. 2009 Hartsfield Intl APT, Atlanta, GA, USA(ATL) 08:20 am Term. S
Arrive: Thu. 06 Aug. 2009 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City, UT, USA(SLC) 10:19 am Term. 2
Delta DL 4870
Depart: Thu. 06 Aug. 2009 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City, UT, USA(SLC) 10:55 am Term. 2
Arrive: Thu. 06 Aug. 2009 Vancouver, Vancouver, BC, Canada(YVR) 12:19 pm Term. M
There will be Delta staff at all connections to help MBIers find their connecting flights.
If your child is not traveling home on this day.
The best place to pick them up is at the airport. The group will be there starting at 8:30pm to check in. If you would like to make alternate plans or need further information please be in touch with Shani directly.
Return to Newark
EL AL LY 27
Depart: Thu. 06 Aug. 2009 Ben Gurion APT, Tel Aviv, Israel(TLV) 12:05 am Term. 3
Arrive: Thu. 06 Aug. 2009 Newark, Newark, NJ, USA(EWR) 04:45 am Term. B
The bus to PA/MD will meet the kids at Newark airport.
Bus Information
Keneseth Israel, Elkins Park PA- 8:30am
White Marsh Park and Ride, White Marsh MD- 10:30am
Montgomery Blair High School, Silver Spring, MD- 11:30am
Return to JFK
EL AL LY 1
Depart: Thu. 06 Aug. 2009 Ben Gurion APT, Tel Aviv, Israel(TLV) 01:00 am Term. 3
Arrive: Thu. 06 Aug. 2009 John F Kennedy Intl APT, New York, NY, USA(JFK) 05:40 am Term. 4
There will be Habonim staff at JFK to help MBIers find their connecting flights.
Return to Toronto
Delta DL 153
Depart: Wed. 05 Aug. 2009 Ben Gurion APT, Tel Aviv, Israel(TLV) 11:35 pm Term. 3
Arrive: Thu. 06 Aug. 2009 Hartsfield Intl APT, Atlanta, GA, USA(ATL) 05:50 am Term. S
Delta DL 5492
Depart: Thu. 06 Aug. 2009 Hartsfield Intl APT, Atlanta, GA, USA(ATL) 07:45 am Term. S
Arrive: Thu. 06 Aug. 2009 Lester B Pearson Intl, Toronto, ON, Canada(YYZ) 09:57 am Term. 3
There will be a Delta representative meeting the MBIers to take them to their connecting gate.
Return to Vancouver
Delta DL 153
Depart: Wed. 05 Aug. 2009 Ben Gurion APT, Tel Aviv, Israel(TLV) 11:35 am Term. 3
Arrive: Thu. 06 Aug. 2009 Hartsfield Intl APT, Atlanta, GA, USA(ATL) 05:50 am Term. S
Delta DL 1105
Depart: Thu. 06 Aug. 2009 Hartsfield Intl APT, Atlanta, GA, USA(ATL) 08:20 am Term. S
Arrive: Thu. 06 Aug. 2009 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City, UT, USA(SLC) 10:19 am Term. 2
Delta DL 4870
Depart: Thu. 06 Aug. 2009 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City, UT, USA(SLC) 10:55 am Term. 2
Arrive: Thu. 06 Aug. 2009 Vancouver, Vancouver, BC, Canada(YVR) 12:19 pm Term. M
There will be Delta staff at all connections to help MBIers find their connecting flights.
If your child is not traveling home on this day.
The best place to pick them up is at the airport. The group will be there starting at 8:30pm to check in. If you would like to make alternate plans or need further information please be in touch with Shani directly.
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