HDNA MBI – Bus 13
The Power of the Sukkah
This past Sunday marked the last day of Sukkot. There are few holidays in Israel that are as powerful as Sukkot, a holiday that makes you feel as though you are living in the Torah. In Israel, Sukkot is not just a two day festival, but it is a seven day holiday known as “Z’man Simchatenu/A Time of Our Happiness”, a festival where businesses shut down and everyone in the country takes vacation. You see sukkahs (booths) suddenly appearing all over the country, and not only in people’s homes, but in falafel shops and schwarma stands, too.
Summer 2019 is on the horizon
With summer officially over as of this past Saturday, we are already thinking about Summer 2019! In just nine short months, our first groups will be departing on flights across the Atlantic to begin their epic journeys into the story of our people. They’ll explore, hike, eat delicious food, meet amazing people, conquer challenges, and much more on their 3, 4 or 5-week adventures through Israel.
5 Ways to Break Your Fast Israeli-Style
Fresh, unripened cheeses are a staple of Israeli diets, so it’s no wonder they make it into an Israeli break fast! Plus it’s light, tasty, and makes a great alternative to cream cheese on that American break fast staple, the bagel. This recipe takes just a few minutes of cooking time followed by an hour-and-a-half of waiting for the liquid to drain. It keeps well in the fridge, if you want to make it ahead.
On Yom Kippur, Hearing Isaiah’s Prophetic Voice at the Kotel
On Yom Kippur, when haftarah readers all over the world will raise their voices in chant – so-lu so-lu… build up build up a highway – the symbolic image of Isaiah’s highway translates in my mind to the major roadways crisscrossing Israel today. Road-building and highway expansions in Israel are a good sign for the country’s overall economic health.
How I Went from Participant to Professional
Another successful NFTY in Israel summer has come to an end. With Facebook memories and Timehop, I can’t help but to reflect on my own NFTY in Israel experience eight years ago in the summer of 2010. While I always had a passion for non-profit work and a deep connection to Judaism and Israel, never did I think I would be sitting here working for NFTY in Israel, years later, helping families send their teens on this journey.
Yad Vashem Reflection
As we walked through the great stone doors of Yad Vashem a great sense of familiarity swept over us. It has been 4 weeks since we journeyed through the horrors of the holocaust in Europe yet the wounds of our ancestors of which we learned still seemed fresh. Each document of deportation, each death certificate; every bit of evidence of the atrocities creates another void of anguish within us.
It’s Not Goodbye, It’s L’hitraot (see you later)
Now that the NFTY in Israel journey is about to end, another journey is beginning. Your teen’s will soon disembark from the airplane very tired, but nevertheless very fulfilled. It is without a doubt the NFTY in Israel summer is a challenging summer and ultimately it is a summer of growing up. These young people who were so far away from their homes needed to work together in a group experience that was often demanding and frequently called upon them to harness their inner resources.
It’s Not Goodbye, It’s L’hitraot (see you later)
For the last four weeks these teens have been living in an environment where the dominant culture is Jewish. Israel is a unique country because the national language is a Jewish language – Hebrew. The overall rhythm of time is Jewish because each day of the week is named according to its relationship with Shabbat.
Thoughts on Gadna
Last week in the Chavaya, Gadna, I spent 4 days learning what it meant to be part of the IDF. Every Israeli teenager has to join the IDF when they turn 18, and as a 16 year old I was given a small taste of their reality.
Make the Most of What’s Left
I want to cry and be sad, but part of me doesn’t feel that way. When I think of home some piece of me, a piece I don’t want to admit, is happy. I love many things about NYC and I don’t feel wrong to miss it, but I don’t want to. I would stay with the Eisner people here until the end of time, creating new stories and memories each and every day, but I know that can’t happen.
Financial
Assistance
NFTY in Israel believes the opportunity to travel to Israel is one that cannot be missed. Many organizations support our mission of sending teens to Israel for a fun, educational and meaningful journey. To help offset the cost of a summer on NFTY in Israel, local communities, such as synagogues and federations, provide scholarship and financial aid to families.