Occupy Tikkun Olam!

Check out this column in J Weekly, Northern California's Jewish News weekly, by Coexistence Track participant Samantha Kanofsky. Samantha attended a few of the social protests that gripped Israel over the summer, and reflects on that in light of the "Occupy" protests currently sweeping the U.S.

On a Sunday night, two other Tikkun Olam participants and I opted out of a night of clubbing (which in Tel Aviv is no easy task) to attend the public gathering in the vast outdoor courtyard of the Tel Aviv Museum. Upon arrival, we were met with an unusual sight. Tables of Israelis, stretching as far as the eye could see, were arranged in a manner I’ve only ever seen before at large organized (and often expensive) conferences or benefits — never in a public arena open to anyone, regardless of his or her social status.

Strangers, or near strangers, eight or nine to a group, were gathered around each table, respectfully discussing the social and economic reforms they hope for and expect to work toward in their daily lives.

Read the whole article here.

Tikkun Olam en Espanol!: Empezando la Rutina. Ehmm.. Bueno, Casi Casi Empezando la Rutina...

Miri Mercado, current participant on the Coexistence Track, wrote this about her adjustments to life in Tikkun Olam and a snapshot of future sports glory with the new Official Women's Soccer Club of Tikkun Olam, Maccabi Holon:

Sentada en un cafe en una de las calles mas bonitas de Tel Aviv (Rothchild y Allenby), pensando en lo que ha pasado en los últimos días... Ha sido un momento en el cual me he acostumbrado mas a la vida de Israel. Entonces, sentada viendo a la gente pasar, decido escribir un poco sobre lo que me ha pasado, aunque no ha sido mucho...

En estos días todo ha estado muy tranquilo. En Israel, durante las fiestas, muchas cosas dejan de funcionar. La gente se va de vacaciones, mucha gente no trabaja, las escuelas están cerradas y hay un aura de relajamiento total. Para mi, estos últimos días, me han servido para acostumbrarme mas a la vida Israelí. Me siento mas "en casa".

Algo muy especial me pasó ayer cuando fui a un entrenamiento de fútbol del equipo Maccabi Holon. En Israel, la liga de mujeres es competitiva. Muchas de las integrantes del equipo juegan en el equipo nacional de Israel. Tener la experiencia de jugar fútbol en Israel, durante mi estancia en este maravilloso lugar, ¡es increible! Por fin pude encontrar un lugar donde puedo desconectarme de la vida diaria y tener un tiempo y espacio para mi. El equipo es muy bueno y me recibieron muy bien. Estaba muy nerviosa antes del entrenamiento pero cuando empecé a jugar se me quitaron los nervios y solo disfruté el deporte. Los partidos empiezan en Noviembre. ¡Estoy muy emocionada!

También ya tomé la decisión de donde ir a hacer el trabajo voluntario. Me voy a quedar con Omanoot, la escuela Amal e Ironi Z. Todavía puedo cambiar los lugares, pero por ahora voy a ver si puedo quedarme en estos. Ironi Z empieza hasta Noviembre, Omanoot empieza ahora y Amal ya empezó. No he hecho mucho, en cuanto haga mas cosas en estos lugares voy a contarles mas...

Me estoy llevando muy bien con mis compañeros. No hemos tenido mucho drama y salimos mucho todos juntos a tomar una copa o un cafe. Nos ayudamos unos a otros y compartimos pensamientos sobre los lugares donde vamos a trabajar. También nos estamos viendo en nuestras clases que son muy interesantes. La clase de Arabes en Israel es la que mas me gusta. El profesor es un genio. Esta semana aprendimos sobre la manera en la que el Islam ve al Oeste y la manera en la que rechazan muchos de los conceptos, por ejemplo derechos de las mujeres. La manera en la que piensan ellos es muy diferente, no es malo, ni bueno, solamente diferente. A mi me encantaría que las mujeres tengan derechos como los hombres en todas partes del mundo, pero la religión y las tradiciones que ellos han tenido no lo permite. Otra clase que hemos tenido es una clase para ayudarnos en nuestro trabajo voluntario. Una profesora de Inglés nos enseñó que se puede usar cualquier objeto para crear una clase. Por ejemplo, unas llaves comunes y corrientes se pueden usar para hacer una actividad en donde los niños hablen de la llave de su futuro, para que cuenten que es lo que harían con una llave que los lleve al futuro. También se pueden usar para describir la textura, el color, o para describir como y para que la usarían. Todo eso formaría parte de la clase de Inglés. Así hay muchos ejemplos donde podemos usar objetos normales y hacer actividades con eso. ¡Me encantó!

Por otro lado, la vida social va muy bien. Pasé el shabbat pasado con mi amiga Ale. Cenamos y fuimos a la playa al otro día. Después también fuimos a cenar con Yardena y Shaina. Estuvo buenísimo porque Yardena, Shaina, Ale y yo somos muy diferentes, pero la pasamos muy bien. Me encanta platicar con ellas. Son muy divertidas... Platicamos mucho sobre chicos y cosas asi. jajaja. También me estoy llevando muy bien con mi amigo Rafa. Vemos los partidos de fútbol Americano juntos y salimos a caminar o a comer, y siempre la paso muy bien con el. Le digo que es mi ángel de la guardia en Israel porque me ayuda en todo. También en Rosh Hashanah fui a casa de Amber y Mulan y su familia. A ellas las conozco de Miami, pero están visitando a sus padres que viven acá. Me encantó la cena, su familia es divina, y fue increíble platicar de la vida de Miami con gente que conozco de ahí. Me enseñaron música Israelí y estuvimos hablando todo el tiempo en Hebreo.

Hay un dicho en Inglés que dice, "The road of life has twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet, our lessons come from the journey, not the destination." - Don Williams Jr.

En este viaje en eso me estoy enfocando, mi aprendizaje esta viniendo de todo lo que hago en el camino a mi "destinación". Es como toda la vida, hay que tener metas y "destinaciones", pero no hay que olvidar todo lo que se aprende en el camino.

Volunteering - First Impressions

Here's a snippet from Social Justice Track participant Nikki Michaelson on her choice of volunteering places for the coming semester:

I have finally started my volunteer shifts, and couldn't be happier. I started with Hagar and Miriam, a group that provides help to pregnant refugees and asylum seakers from Africa. We escort them to doctor appointments, make sure they know their rights, and provide follow up care. It's an amazing project, and I feel incredibly honored to be a part of it. I'm also volunteering at Holland House, a center for toddlers through preschool-aged kids with a range of disabilities. They are amazingly positive and make me smile everyday. Finally, Ironi Het, an all boys middle and high school for kids who have, until now, gone to strictly religious schools. For a variety of reasons, they decide they want a future that includes university, which requires passing the matriculation exam. These boys are incredibly behind on the basics due to such heavy study of religion, and Ironi Het works very hard to close the education gap and allow them to continue onto higher education. I'll be working with 11th and 12th graders on literature and poetry. Right now I'm having them look at Frost's "The Road Not Taken" and connect it to how they're traveling their own roads not taken by the other men in their family who have only studied at yeshivas.

From Down Under to the Middle East

Check out this story from the Zionist Federation of Australia on Tikkun Olam alumna Kelly Heideman, who recently finished the Social Justice track for the Spring 5-month program.

“You experience and learn from Israel first hand, explore your identity and really give back to those that need it. As well as having unthinkable amounts of fun with similar aged Jews from around the world and other Israelis!” she said.

Applications are now open for Spring 2012, so click here to apply and have unthinkable amounts of fun for yourself!

Keeping the Intellectual and Spiritual Stimulation Going

Tikkun Olam 2010-11 alumna Vanessa Mieger was recently featured in Birthright NEXT's Alef blog, and also in the Union for Reform Judaism's "Israel Programs" blog writing about her experience on the Tikkun Olam program.

Here's a tidbit of Vanessa's reflections on her experience in the Coexistence Track:

Most of the women and children that I worked with did not speak English, but this did not prevent us from connecting. With some time I formed friendships and an understanding with them that I will keep for the rest of my life. This is true coexistence, and this is what made my experience so rich and rewarding.

Read the whole blog here.

Not Quite In The Homeland

Dylan, a 5-month participant in the Social Action track, wrote this before departing for Israel to start her Tikkun Olam experience:

I leave for Israel in one week! I've just begun packing and am struggling to pack/throw away/donate enough stuff to forge a clear path through my room. My two suitcases are already full and I've got a box of peanut butter and cliff bars that I'm shipping to my apartment. It's not that I don't like falafel- I hate it. I've got a lot of changes to get used to. Some I am a little more comfortable with, like observing the Sabbath and paying to use public restrooms. Some I am a little more resistant to, like hummus and living without Netflix.

I can't exactly figure out what emotions I'm feeling or where they're coming from. I'm so excited to have the opportunity to spend 5 months in Israel- explore the city of Tel Aviv, experience the High Holy Days in Jerusalem, relax on the beach of the Mediterranean, meet new people and reconnect with old friends.

I feel very blessed to have had such an incredible time on my Birthright trip that inspired me to go back and spend more time in Israel. The people I interacted with during my trip made my experience so special and I know that I can never express how much they impacted my life- although the fact that I'm choosing to go back should be some indication. I know that this trip will be unique. It will challenge and inspire me in different ways, but I know that I will carry the memories of my last trip with me. My first Shabbat at the Kotel will feel a little lonely without my Shmeks singing Kum Kum...

I am also nervous, although this emotion is one I'm trying very hard to suppress. The recent attacks have made me feel uneasy, despite being far away from them. My friends in Israel assure me that I will be safe and I have no doubt, but I am curious to see how the cultural climate of the country changes while I am there. Living in a country with a constant threat of terror is a foreign concept for me, although I can only hope that George W's color coded threat level system has adequately prepared me. What's orange in Hebrew?

I know very little about my program, even after spending hours on the phone with my program leaders. I will be volunteering in the neighborhood Kiryat Shalom. I will have the opportunity to pick where I volunteer, but the focus of my program is to work with refugees and children in this high needs neighborhood. In addition to volunteering, I will take Ulpan (intensive Hebrew classes) and different kinds of Jewish Identity workshops. I should have plenty of time to travel and explore, which is one of the reasons I chose Tikkun Olam over the other programs.

I am very excited to finally be in Israel and I think this week is going to crawl/fly by. It's incredible how time can be wonky like that. Unless anything really monumental occurs over the next week, I'll assume my next post will be from Israel. Oh my wow!

Tikkun Olam 2011-12 Has Begun!

Year 7 of Tikkun Olam in Tel Aviv-Jaffa got underway last Thursday as the 27 participants from around the world gathered in Tel Aviv-Jaffa to begin their 5 and 10 month journeys.

This year's Tikkun Olam group is unique as it is the first and only MASA program group that includes Israeli participants, who join a group of peers from the U.S., Holland, Mexico, France, Hungary and Canada.

The program kicked off with an opening informational session at the Daniel Centers' Beit Daniel in north Tel Aviv, followed by a feast at Afloka restaurant overlooking the Mediterannean in Jaffa.

The next morning, the group set off for Kibbutz Ketura, near Eilat, for a 4-day orientation seminar, which included an introduction to the volunteering options, a short hike through the Kasui sand dunes, and a trip to Eilat to check out a small segment of the largest social protests in Israeli history, with, of course, a bit of time to cool off in the kibbutz swimming pool as well.

Tomorrow morning the gang returns to Tel Aviv-Jaffa to settle into their apartments, start their Hebrew classes and begin checking out potential volunteering locations.