Another week begins…and it looks like I’m waking up in 6
hours.
I don’t sleep much here.
I roll out of bed every day at 7 am. After reciting “mode
ani” (a morning gratitude prayer) I sit back into child’s pose to begin my
morning stretches. My roommate, Gil, is now used to my strange habits.
What begins as a calm morning soon turns frenzied. I hurry
to scribble my remaining Hebrew homework while chugging coffee with one hand
and spooning yogurt-granola mix into my mouth with the other. Then comes the
mad rush out the door to make the 15-mintue-morning “wakeup” activity, which is
always led by a different Garin member. (I led the very first one – yoga +
meditation – all in Hebrew!)
By 8:05 a.m. we’re all sitting in Hebrew class. I
tested into kita gimel (level 3),
which is the second-highest level. Overall, I am very pleased with Ulpan. It is
a nice balance of hilarious and serious. Half of the students are Israelis who
never learned reading, writing, or grammar and the other half are like me: Americans
who learned all of the above in Jewish day school but never spoke Hebrew at
home. This disconnect provides for some good laughs throughout the 4 long hours
of class.
By 12:30 we are released for 4 hours of free time, during
which I generally do my homework (when I’m feeling inspired), walk down Ahuza
(the main drag in Ra’anana), read, write, relax with friends, or just laze on
my bed/ on the wooden patio downstairs.
In the evenings, we have activities that are planned by our counselors. Some of these activities include: krav
maga/workouts (2x/ week), discussions on Judaism/Jewish philosophy, army preparation,
and fun activities like “dancing with the stars” or fondu night.
These days we’re all a little relieved that our first encounter
with the army—our tzav rishon—is
behind us. While most Israelis do this at age 16, two weeks ago dozens of
20-somethings swarmed Tel haShomer, the DMV-esque building in which many
Israelis have laughed, cried, and waited on exceptionally long lines. That’s
essentially what the “tzav rishon” looked like. I sat for an interview/ Hebrew
test, took a computerized IQ test, got a 3-minute physical exam, and met with
an army social worker. Those 5 stations took 10 hours…I kid you not.
But instead of complaining, we used the free time to talk,
play cards, and support each other throughout the entire balagan (mess)…yet another reason why this program is so important.
We received our results last week, and most of our group scored well above
average. My physical profile is a 97 (the highest) so I’m fit for a combat
position (worry not, parents). I scored a 54 out of 56 on the IQ test, meaning most
jobs are accessible to me if I improve my Hebrew in the coming months. I hope
that I’ll have better Hebrew for our next encounter with the army, which is an
interview this Tuesday. After that interview, we’ll receive a manila with a list of potential jobs.
As of now, I’m keeping an open mind with regard to my army
position. I’ve actually been pretty torn about what I want. Originally, I was
sure I wanted something in chinuch, the
education unit. Within that
unit, there are plenty of job opportunities, such as:
·
Mashakit Chinuch
– Non-commissioned education officer.
They take soldiers (of one unit) on trips and teach them about army values, Israeli
history, Zionism, and Jewish holidays. They have a lot of independence, so this
job requires initiative and creativity.
·
Hod – this
is a track in chinuch that engages
soldiers from disadvantaged backgrounds. On this track, I could end up
educating prisoners (in army jail), people with behavioral issues, or new
immigrants. Both of my soldier-counselors were on this track; Avishag taught
Judaism to recent converts and Inbal taught soldiers in army jail. This work,
from what I’ve heard, is supposed to be extremely challenging and rewarding.
Non-chinuch Jobs
I’m considering:
·
Madas-Nikit
– fitness instructor. Responsible for creating and leading workouts for the
soldiers and aiding them with nutrition and health issues. It is a physically
and mentally challenging course.
·
Matpash (COGAT)
– Coordinates between Israeli and Palestinian governments on
humanitarian/civilian issues in the territories.
·
Hadracha –
combat support; includes a wide range of jobs that involve guiding combat
soldiers on how to operate weapons and tanks.
My big dilemma right now is the following: do I want a
position that is more army-esque, or
a job that is better suited to my personality right now? Should I choose something
totally out of my comfort zone, since the army is a once in a lifetime
experience? The choice that is best suited for my personality is probably the hod track of chinuch. Though it is not particularly army-esque, it is important and is still a part of the bigger
army system.
As of now, my intuition is telling me that chinuch is the
right choice for me.
Last Friday night, while meditating on the beach after
Kabbalat Shabbat services, I felt a supportive energy around this choice. I
can’t say right now that this is my destiny, but I do trust my intuition, which
has gotten stronger and louder in the past month. I’ve been exercising it (like
any physical muscle) a lot throughout this momentous life change.
My stronger intuition made it difficult to part with Jerusalem
two weeks ago.
As I walked through the windy alleys of the Nachlaot
neighborhood, I felt called to the city. I was there to visit a friend from BU
who feels the same way. Together
we indulged in all of the pleasures, both spiritual and physical, that the city
offers. We sipped coffee at a tucked away used bookstore/café, ate fresh rugulach
from the shuk, wandered through the
old city + Arab market, prayed at the Kotel, and ended the day with wine and
friends on the tayelet – an overlook
where the mountains meet the city skyline. At dusk, it is
breathtaking.
I think I understand the meaning of “Jerusalem syndrome”
now. Though I don’t (yet) believe I am the messiah, I can’t ignore the intense
energy of the city and the effect it has on me. I know I have to spend some time
learning/ working there after my army service, though I’m not yet sure in what
format.
Another city I’ve grown to appreciate is Yafo. Last weekend
(the day after the Kabbalat Shabbat on beach) I rented a bike in Tel Aviv and
rode it alongside the beach to the ancient port city of Yafo. I spent the day
(Saturday) biking alone and exploring. Without a plan and without company, I felt
utterly free. This state of mind usually invites surprisingly wonderful encounters,
which this time included an elderly man and an accordion. In short, I ended up
singing with Eduardo (the accordion street performer) for over an hour. We sang
Edith Piaf, My Fair Lady, and French/ jazz songs for the people of Yafo. At the
end of the conversation, we hugged and he insisted that I find a good husband
soon. (No, Dad, he didn't propose himself).
It’s strange. Sometimes, I feel more connected to my
grandparent’s generation of Israelis than my own. They are the
generation of people who so appreciate
Israel. They came from war-torn Europe or were expelled from Arab states. They overcame Pogroms. They were
pioneers. They dreamt and fought and established their homes in the newly
created Jewish homeland.
I am always so enthralled with their stories. Luckily, I get to hear them every week at volunteering, which began two weeks ago. Every
Wednesday, some of us volunteer at Beit Avot, an upscale
old age home in Ra’anana. Yesterday at volunteering we danced to 1950’s Israeli
music, received Rosh Hashana blessings from a rabbi, and were personally
thanked by the mayor of Ra’anana. (Who gave us all his cell phone number.) Only
after volunteering did I find out that the woman I danced with--for hours--was 94 years old.
In other news, I must digress. I have four important updates
to share:
1)
I have a host family! I met them two days ago
and they are wonderful. Our first encounter wasn’t even that awkward. (Even
though I ran to them and said “THANKS FOR ADOPTING MEEEEEE”). The mother made
Aliyah in ’89 and the father is Israeli. They have four kids, aged 10, 14, 19,
and 21. The two oldest are in the army, so it’ll be great to befriend them and
talk to them about all things army related. They invited me to Shabbat dinner tomorrow
night, and I am drooling with excitement for a real home-cooked meal.
2)
Most importantly, the family has two cats and
two guinea pigs.
3)
Jewish holiday season is coming up. Time to
start repenting.
4)
I
have an interview with an army officer on Tuesday. Wish me luck!
That’s all for now. I promise my future posts will be
shorter and more frequent.
Missing you all in the land of Costo and diners!
Leora
P.S - some things I’m starting to miss about America:
- family and friends (obviously)
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| Enjoying the Mediterranean breeze in Yafo |
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| Jerusalem Tayelet |
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| Goofing around in Ulpan |
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| The friendliest TLV Kitty |
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| Selfie with Eduardo |
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| Abu Hassan: The best Hummus in Israel (and thus in the world) |
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