Tochnit Shalem: A More Complete Religious Israel Program

Post-Pesach Tiyul

2010-04-16T19:44:00.000+03:00

Welcome Back from Pesach vacation!

As a fantastic addition to the normal schedule, we partcipated in a two-day tiyul last week .

Additionally, Rabbi Yossela started a new class about "Tefilla" which is very interesting.

We partook in a meaningful tekes for Yom HaShoah and commemorated the day by a memorable activity.

Also, Rabbi Motty Berger from Aish Hatorah gave a special lecture that turned into a discussion about "Can the Jewish people disappear?"

All in all another great week!

Below are photos from the tiyul and some additional updates.

Enjoy!

The Shalem Staff.

Pre-Pesach Volunteering and learning

2010-04-16T19:40:00.001+03:00

Some of us later contributed of ourselves by volunteering at the "Chazon Yishaaya" soup kitchen and helped pack around 10,000 packages for "Kimcha D'pischa" - making sure that Holocaust survivors and other poor people receive food for Pesach. WOW, that was amazing!

Additionally, Rav Yossela reviewed the halachot of Pesach with us, reminding us what to clean, how to clean, and what to do with the remainder of our chametz. He taught us the halachot of Mechirat Chametz, including how exactly to go about it, and talked to us about the timeframe of Bedikat Chametz and Biur Chametz.

We accomplished all this while continuing to learn our regular Judaic classes and volunteering. In short, what a great first two weeks in Jerusalem! Can't wait for more!!

Purim and Moving to Jerusalem (Mid-March)

2010-04-16T19:31:00.001+03:00

This week was so much fun. It began with Purim and, as you know, in Israel, there are two Purim's - on the 14th of Adar and on the 15th of Adar (Shushan Purim). Some of us had a great seuda in our apartments in Arad and some of us went to Yerushalayim on Sunday and did not celebrate that day. On Monday we all came to Jerusalem in the morning and had an awesome Seudat Purim with Rav Yossela in Beit Ar-El. Afterwards we scattered to participate in the different exciting Purim events in Yerushalayim and had lots of fun.

We then went back to Arad and had a "Last night in Arad" celebration. We cleaned our apartments and then headed to our new home in Jerusalem on Wednesday.

WOW! It's so great to be in Jerusalem, just breathing in the spiritual air all around! The campus is beautiful and the neighborhood is so peaceful. It is exhilarating living in the heart of the city! Although a few things were missing from the apartments when we first moved in, they were replaced quickly by the really great staff. Some of us even went to the mikvah with Rav Yossela to toivel new keilim!

Last week we had an interesting sicha with Rav Yossela about the need to continuously and actively try to enhance our lives religiously and spiritually. He discussed with us the ability we have to take control of our lives and look to the future. We had some great learning, both Judaic and secular, and we are very excited to meet or new teachers in Jerusalem.

Our madricha Moran has been very helpful, warm, and cheerful. This Shabbat is our first in Jerusalem as a group and we look forward to a fun Shabbat B'Yachad! This is going to be a great change! These new surroundings will hopefully enable us to continue to grow spiritually and mature into the leaders and Jewish adults we want to be. We are going to make the most of the little time have left!

Ranch Life by Barry Kantrowitz

2010-01-25T21:06:00.007+02:00

The beeping of the alarm rings distant, like a blurry light at the end of a tunnel. The noise keeps getting louder and more intense after every beep, soon pushing me into consciousness. I look at my clock after hitting the snooze button, its 8:20, I've got time. I then tuck myself back into my warm covers, remembering the pleasantries and freedoms that sleep has to offer. I drift back into limbo. I'm gone.
The same obnoxious beeping goes off again in my mind as my eyes open up slowly and check the time, its 8:50! Without even giving a thought as to how cold the apartment was or how tired I was, I quickly jump into a pair of overalls, strap on my boots and put on my cowboy hat. After davening, I go for the door, turning the knob to find that it's locked. What a surprise. I rummage through my closet to find a neon green key with a pocket flashlight attached to it. I dart back to the door, thrusting the key into the lock and turning. I decide to take my bicycle with me, being that it's the only way I can get to the destination I have in mind. After fitting my bicycle vertically in the elevator room, I press zero, counting every four seconds as it changes floor numbers, until it reaches the ground floor.
I get out and my bike collapses back on its two wheels. The ride there is mostly downhill, barely pedaling as I rip through the wind and feel the breeze pull back on my curly brown hair. My blue eyes begin to tear as the gusts of air press against my pupils. As the descent begins to even out into flat land, I turn up my gears and begin pedaling onward. The nicely paved road soon turns into a jagged, rocky desert trail.
When we arrive there we park our bikes underneath a steel awning next to the corral. I look around and see just mountains and desert, parts of it shaded from the clouds. We then go to the side of the barn and attain our utensils; a rake, a shovel, and a wheelbarrow. We roll it all out into the petting zoo, the precursor of what is yet to come. Being that basically all the animals in the zoo are birds, it's fairly easy to rake up their messes and change their food and water, except the duck's.
After cleaning the petting zoo, we then move to the horse stables. This time, we haul out a bigger wheelbarrow and bring out the pitchfork, a necessary device in the cleaning of the stables. There are around 10 horses and one pony, Monty. We then proceed to strap the bridles onto the horses and walk them into the corrals, where they run and gaze gracefully among their kind. Though horses are a beautiful species, they leave an awful mess that takes some time to clean, that's where we come in. After around 3 hours, we take a lunch break. Usually taking place around the cafeteria, our lunches consist of food we brought from home or a barbecue with hummus and pita, supplied by the owners of the ranch, Yeshai and his father Ami.
After eating, we finish up on the horses, driving pitchforks into bales of hay and placing them into the food tanks. When we finish the final raking and dumping, we take a couple minutes out to play with sandy, the youngest of three dogs that Ami owns. Once all of the tools are stored away, we go to the back of the stables, where there are numerous irrigation pipes of all sizes. Some are loaded on a tractor, some stacked already on the ground. We then proceeded to aid Ami in the unloading of the tractor. Ami is an aged man of great wisdom. His hands are callused like the ground or the rusted pipes that we unload.
When we finish taking the pipes down, we all hop on the tractor and go on a 30 minute tractor ride with Ami to the main irrigation fields, to where we load more pipes onto the tractor. The field is beautiful. All there is for miles is sand and more sand, but over there is this giant patch of green, sprouting plants such as alfalfa and hay, reminds me of the Garden of Eden or something that's flawless and beautiful. When all the pipes are loaded, we head on back to the ranch, where we stack them on the ground with the others.
After doing all the pipe work, we head on back to the corral, where we lead all the horses back into their stables so they can eat and rest in a clean environment. Sometimes we clean off the horses and let the pony run around, followed by them going back to the cells and eating some more. When everything is clean and done, we are free to go. We bid farewell, get back on our bikes, and start pedaling home.
All in all, I have to say that volunteering on the ranch is definitely one of my highlights of Arad, if not the year in Israel. From the views, to the people, to even the cleaning of the cells, working here inspires a good and rewarding work ethic, as well as a love for nature and all that resides in it.

Masada

2010-01-18T16:48:00.001+02:00

At Masada this morning, after a very early wake up and short climb up the Roman path - as opposed to the longer, more chosen snake path - we watched the beautiful sunrise that attracts so many people to the ancient fortress. Watching the sun peek over the mountains on the other side of Yam HaMelach (Dead Sea) was very inspirational, and in the distance, some of us said morning prayers with the rising golden sun illuminating the words on the pages of Siddurim.
Although watching the beautiful sunrise was inspiring, the image quickly left my head, as it only lasts a moment, and beautiful sunrises can be seen almost anywhere. But what stuck in my mind more about the day wasn't the rising sun, or the inspirational prayer, or the stories or history that the remnants told. After a whole morning touring Masada, the thing that stuck in my mind the most was what we saw as we prepared to leave.
As we walked by the top of the snake path, a large group of soldiers were walking up on a hike. A few dozen soldiers in uniform, taking turns carrying each other on stretchers, worked their way up the side of Masada, singing songs to keep themselves motivated. As they hiked up, singing, "We are believers, sons of believers, and we have no one else to rely on, but on Our Father in Heaven," I felt a sort of inspiration that cannot be felt by a beautiful sunrise or impressive fortresses of the past. I felt inspired by the message of now, and the message of the future.
After hearing the story of Masada, of Jews rebelling against tyranny and taking their own lives as Roman soldiers climbed the sides of their fortress, here I got to see soldiers once again climb the sides of Masada. But instead of oppressors coming to enslave and destroy the Jewish people, Israeli soldiers, coming to protect the continuity of the Jewish people rose up and reached the top. And as they did so, tired and in need of someone to lift them up, they sang out with great strength about the power of God uplifting those in need of someone to rely on.
The sun rises and sets every day, and every day it looks just as glorious as the day before. But the sunrise is not what I find most inspiring. Although the Jews of Masada saw limited sunrises like that of today's, the soldiers that today climb Masada give hope that we as a people may see limitless sunrises, and that, not the rising and setting sun, is something even more eternal, inspirational, and worth praying for.

By Yoni Buckman

Photos from last week's siyyur to Arad

2009-12-28T21:31:00.001+02:00

2009-12-21T20:18:00.002+02:00

Ezra studies intently while Yoni looks on.

The kind of happiness that only Moroccan Sufganiyot can provide.

2009-12-08T18:32:00.001+02:00

Some of the Shalem girls enjoy a night out at a restaurant with some of their leftover stipend money

Shabbat B'Yachad

2009-12-08T18:30:00.001+02:00

Shalem spent last Shabbat in the Golan Heights in a Yishuv called Yonatan.
After a very early start from Bat Yam the group arrived in the Golan and started their weekend together.

Shalem visited Gamla - the remains of the Jewish capital city of the Golan from 87 BC to 68 AD when it was conquered by the Romans.
The area is also partially a home to vultures and other amazing birds which the group were able to see during the visit.

After the visit to Gamla the group returned to Yonatan, where they had an exciting and inspring Shabbat at this beautiful Yishuv in the Golan

A Stroll On Sheinkin

2009-12-01T19:23:00.001+02:00

There is something unique about Tel Aviv that separates it from the other culture centers of the world. The most obvious answer is that it's the eclectic mix of Judaism and secularism that gives Tel Aviv its own particular flavor. However, as I discovered today, that is not entirely true. In fact one could view Tel Aviv as a metaphor for today's Jewish world. In one block I saw: a man wearing a streimel crossing a street, a woman eating from a non-kosher restaurant with a mezuzah on the door, a man with tattoos covering his entire body, and a woman in a sheitel and hair covering running a small trendy fashion shop. Going through my head as I witnessed all this was, "Wow, only in Israel." We are on a pluralistic program, but as religious Jews we must find ways to both socialize and separate ourselves from the rest of the group. On Sheinkin Street I saw a variety of different types of Jews mingling with one another. We have a diverse religion and we must accept and embrace it.
- Jason Edelman (from 11/2)

Sukkot adventures and a D'var Torah

2009-10-12T16:07:00.003+02:00

Before Sukkot, the Shalem group visited Shuk Arba'at Haminim to pick out their Lulav and Etrogs for the Chag. During Chol Hamo'ed, they visited the kotel to see the largest Birkat Kohanim of the year. Seeing the thousands of Kohanim gathered together at the Kotel can only be described as "amazing".

A Dvar Torah by Masha Gollub, Shalem

Sukkot is an awesome holiday-definitely one of my top three. Like most however, it is accompanied with slightly strange mitzvot. But the same can be said for every Jewish holiday custom; yes they seem bizarre but that's a good thing. That means were thinking. We're questioning what it is we're doing. For me, you see, Judaism is something I do not wish to practice out of route. I do not wish to blindly oblige and accept. If something seems archaic, it is upon us to discover a meaningful motivation behind why we are still doing it. The simple fact that it is "tradition," should not advance its continued practice. Focus on the main aspect of Sukkot, the building of the Sukkah. On the scale of strangeness I'm positive it's pretty high up there. Building and living in random huts is a little absurd. So why do we do it? I want answers I can fully believe in and connect to.

The main and most acclaimed answer found was as follows: Sukkot is essentially a holiday of trust. This trust is not limited to solely harvesting reasons, (i.e. trusting in Him to supply us with a decent supply of crops,) but to ourselves as well. As we leave our comfortable homes and enter into the great and wild outdoors, we are consequently more vulnerable, yet, we are trusting that G-d will protect us. The building of the Sukkah puts this trust on public display. This answer would have been harmless if it had not been followed up with a sentence that I was strongly bothered by. The other half stated, that by trusting in G-d, we are in actuality doing ourselves a favor, for it ultimately assists us in leading happier lives. With this trust we will accept all that happens to be for a reason, and are thus ensured of undisturbed bliss throughout all misfortune. It is for this reason that Sukkot's second name is called "Zman Simchataynu" for accompanying this trust is an enriched, happier life. I don't like it. The message I'm picking up on is one that can now allow us to look at the world through a rose-colored lens. It seems as if I'm being advised to remain at all times, deliriously happy with anything that might occur. The idea makes us seem like puppets; puppets with a plastered smile on our face, eternally content with anything thrown our way. The answer does not satisfy me. The second half corrupts the first, making it unacceptable--Why should I build a sukkah if this answer, the supposedly best one out there, offers such awful life guidance? Thanks but no.

And so the search for meaningful answers continued. Soon however, I was rewarded with the discovery of not one but three. To me, the building of the sukkah is significant because not only does it express two of the most important qualities of man- compassion and appreciation, but it also accomplishes a third feat. Firstly however, compassion is revealed, for we are illustrating to all that the struggles our ancestors underwent are not ignored. Hard times, although preferable, should not be forgotten. Rather, we need to identify and empathize
with the situation our nation experienced, and do so by positioning ourselves under similar conditions. Thus, both through living in and building the sukkah, we are respecting and commemorating their time in the desert. Secondly, there is the appreciation factor. With this mitzvah we acknowledge G-d and His protection of us throughout the 40 years in the desert. That's no simple task--gratitude in connection to such a significant gift is overwhelming, but a few days of slight discomfort is enough to initiate the feeling. In short, both empathy and appreciation are two of the world's most beautiful qualities and the fact that we have a whole holiday encouraging us to practice them is no light insinuation; these attributes are heavy stuff, and we should attempt to fully feel them.

And now for the third. It seems as if this holiday is attempting to shake us up. It seems G-d does not want us assume that with the conclusion of Yom Kippur comes the introduction of relaxation. Rather, He rudely requests us out of our homes, and commands the creation of new ones! His motives in doing so are surprisingly not sadistic, but rather, because through this, we are forced to think about everything: about religion, about G-d, about why we do the stuff we do-and this was His exact plan. The physical labor of building the Sukkah, and the resulting discomfort is meant to consciously pull G-d into our thoughts, for it is these thoughts that will help us commence the year on an authentic connection. A connection results only through questions and challenges-not through robotic behavior in which we are forever programmed into happy mode. By finding for ourselves reasons that we value, we are building a connection not only to the mitzvah itself but with G-d as well. Hopefully, with this Dvar Torah, we have accomplished just that.

A look at this week's schedule in Bat Yam

2009-09-30T12:30:00.003+02:00

Monday

Yom Kippur

Tuesday-SIYYUR DAY (Field Trips!)

Option One: Outdoor Cooking With The Tzofim (they will teach you how they do it)

Option Two: The Old City of Jaffa (Yaffo)

Option Three: Migdal Shalom And The Beginning of the First Hebrew City in Israel

TRIVIA of the Week

* Did you know that on Yom Kippur nothing is open-and NOT by law

* Sukkot in Israel is 7 days, not 8

Wednesday

8:30-12:30-Volunteering

1:30-3:15pm-Class

3:30-5:15-Elective Class

7:30pm-Shuk Arbah Haminim-The Four Species of Sukkot

Thursday

8:30-12:30-Volunteering

3:00pm-Dessert and Learn "Sukkot and the First Fruits-Four Quartered Pizza"

Clean Your Apartment!

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sukkot Sameach!

Shalem 2009-10 is off to a great start!!

2009-09-15T12:40:00.000+03:00

The group spent their first Siyyur volunteering at Pitchon Lev, an organization in Rishon LeZion that organizes food packages for the less fortunate. All of the Bat Yam classes and volunteering started this week and the group is enjoying Bat Yam's beautiful beach. Check out some of the pictures from the first few weeks.

Also, here's an article from Yoni Buckman written about the trip to Pitchon Lev:
This past Tuesday, all of us on SHALEM went to Rishon LeZion to volunteer at an organization called PITCHON LEV which makes and distributes food packages for the less fortunate in the city. Usually, Tuesdays are occupied by a Siyur (a group trip) aimed to enhance our knowledge of Israel and the Jewish people, and this week our Siyur was slightly different in that we were volunteering and helping others instead of focusing primarily on ourselves. Although the Siyur did not seem to be as beneficial to ourselves as it would be to others, each of us definitely gained many important insights into Israeli culture and those who work - literally - underground, supporting the country.
When we arrived in Rishon LeZion, we were dropped off at a very familiar looking shopping area, a setting that most of us are very familiar with. However, we did not go into any of the stores or famous restaurants, such as Toys R' Us, the Nike Store, or Burger King, rather we were taken into the sublevel parking lot and taken to a very dark and stuffy area against the concrete walls, covered in boxes of food and clothing. From there, we were introduced to the staff of PITCHON LEV who gave us our instructions on how to put together food packages to go to families for the High Holidays.
We were split into teams in front of two long tables and soon put to work sorting flour, chickpeas, rice, and soup mix into plastic bags. In order to both be efficient and have some fun, each team turned our community service into a competitive race, of which team could complete their task first. Through all the competition and a little fooling around, we soon forgot about the heat and the uncomfortable conditions in which we were working. By the end of the day, each person had largely contributed to the group's task in feeding the less fortunate and we were all in a far better mood than when we had arrived.
Although we had some fun and turned our work into a bit of a game, we did realize all the hard work and time that those who ran the program put into it. Unlike us, those people didn't always have a fun group of teenagers to do their jobs, and their tasks did not only last a few hours of a single day, but they devoted their days to helping others. Through our short time in Rishon LeZion, we learned so much about a side of Israel that we have not all yet seen. On this Siyur, we met a new demographic of Israeli society. We were not spending time with the typical Israeli taxi driver that we've become familiar with, or with soldiers who we see walking through the streets, or even those in suits working in office buildings. On this Siyur, we met a group of people who chose to work in the heat and the dark of an unattractive parking garage with the sole purpose of selflessly helping others.
But perhaps the most important part of this Siyur was not just the people we met or a side of Israel that we haven't seen before. The most influential part of this volunteering was what we felt after we had finished. When we walked into that parking garage, the first thing that went through my mind was how hot it was and how much I would like to get out of it and breathe fresh air. But through the time that I spent with everyone, I became more comfortable with my setting and had fun while working, and by the time I walked out, I felt accomplished and happy to have helped out. Although this Siyur was not as aesthetically pleasant or rigorous as a hike in the Carmel, I believe that I connected so much more to the true beauty of Israel: that every day, people devote their time to help the less fortunate, keeping Israel alive from those who cannot afford to feed themselves and their families to those who have the privilege of being a part of it through volunteering.