So you want to stay updated on current events in Israel...

Hey everyone--how's it going? We hope you are enjoying the summer whether you're at camp, work, home, abroad, or anywhere in between. It was just about a month ago that our group flew back to the US, after two weeks of learning, fun, hummus, and site-seeing. Since then, a lot has happened in Israel--events of great geopolitical significance, controversial laws, cross-boarder skirmishes and rescue operations, inter-denominational strife, and much, much more. One of the things our group learned from Ilan, our guide, and many of our speakers, is that almost everything in Israel is colored by various voices and conflicting vantage-points. Even though our trip has ended, we hope you'll keep listening for those different angles. The stories above are just a handful of examples of Israeli current events--there's so much more happening here! While you'll find stories about Israel in the Washington Post or New York Times once in a while, you can check out some of the following news sources for more consistent information:

• The Times of Israel - A leading English-language news sources for goings-on in Israel. The paper covers everything from local news, to news from all over the Jewish world, to cultural events and lots more. Their blog section offers a very wide-array of opinions from across the political and religious spectrum. 
• Ynet News - Yidiot Ahronot is one of the most widely-read papers in Israel, and this is their translated-to-English website. It covers mostly local news and features Israeli opinion writers. 
• Arutz Sheva News - Arutz Sheva (literally "Channel Seven") offers this website for the English-reading world. Like Ynet, it covers mostly Israeli topics and lots of areas from politics to music to sports.  
• Haaretz - Haaretz is one of the oldest newspapers in Israel. This generally left-leaning publication offers thorough news coverage, as well as the most reputed financial section in Israel. It usually publishes in Hebrew but this is their English site (a subscription might be required) 
• Tablet Magazine - Tablet Magazine is a US-based online publication that offers in-depth analysis on topics from all over the Jewish world (from "The 100 Most Jewish Foods" to "This Week in Gal Gadot..." to a weekly summary of the Talmud's Daf Yomi, or "daily page" cycle). They offer really great insights about goings-on in the US Jewish community and in Israel as well.

You can check out any of these sites to get a taste of what's going on. With that, we'll leave you with some positive news. The 35th Annual Jerusalem Film Festival is opening (in Jerusalem, of course) and it promises to be really amazing. Check out of some of the movies and events that will be featured here. 

Final Thoughts from Gabi Aladjem

Looking back on this trip, a few key things stand out to me. First, how much closer we have all gotten as a group. It sounds cheesy, but it's true. During our rough hikes and longs days in the sun, we all learned to encourage each other. On our hardest hike, the Snapir, while we were literally rock climbing up a cliff, we cheered each other on until we all of us finally made it to the top. All of us shared the same feelings of triumph and exhaustion. Activities like this gave us shared experiences that we will remember far into the future.

Second, we all gained a newfound appreciation for other cultures and differing worldviews. By the city of Yeruham, we visited a Bedouin woman in her village as well as the home of a Mizrachi Jewןsh woman, both of whom welcomed us in warmly and patiently answered our questions. I personally learned a lot about cultures that I previously knew very little about. In our visits to synagogues, we were exposed to unfamiliar Jewish traditions. It reminded me of the diversity of Judaism and the Jewish people, which many of us often forget. We also had many discussions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I am grateful to our guide, Ilan, for allowing us to have engaging discussions that presented many sides of the issue. I think by the end of the trip, we can all truly appreciate the plurality of cultures, religions, and political views that are are present in Israel.

Our group at the old port of the
beautiful Caesaria National Park

Finally, we got to experience Israel’s natural beauty. I had never been in a desert, so our time in the Negev, which included hiking and stargazing, had a huge impression on me. We all marveled at the wonders that are the Dead Sea and Makhtesh Ramon. The views of the Kinneret from the mountains were astonishing. I will carry my new appreciation of nature with me, as I know others will too.

Gabi Aladjem

Bus

Route 6, Israel

Our Trip to Israel and Our Connection to the Larger Jewish World by Sammy Lerner

Back in April, my Dad signed up for an Ancestry DNA test. We all thought that he would be 99% Ashkenazi or maybe a little bit of something else. After many weeks of waiting for the results I realized that I would likely be in Israel when the results came out. This turned out to be a perfect coincidence because I realized that I will learn much more about my identity when I am in a place that is meant for me to connect with our Jewish identity.

The Chaim Abulafia Synagogue in the
North of Israel. Rabbi Chaim Abulafia
was one of the great Sephardic
Kabbalists of the last 400 years 

So finally, when our group was riding through the hills of Judea & Samaria/West Bank, and entered through the gates of Jerusalem I saw an email pop up from my Dad. As I was seeing the Dome of the Rock in the distance, a place where the Holy of Holies is said to have been located, I read the first few words of the email saying that my dad was only 87% Ashkenazi. However, my anticipation only grew for the remaining 13%, as I had to wait because of a lack of WIFi. However when I arrived to my room I was shocked. I learned that my Dad was 9% Iberian. It then came to me how much I have grown to love Ladino culture the past year. Our family has always incorporated cool Ladino traditions like singing Una Candelica on Hannuka. However it was not until I met my classmate Ito at religious school that we started talking about Solitreo (the ladino script) and the other inner workings of the Jewish-Iberian language. And here he was in my room with me when I learned about my Iberian heritage.

I was ecstatic to tell him. Not even waiting a second I called my mom and we made arrangements to speak with my Dad when I wake up at 6:00am so that he could be on the line at 11;00pm. He told me that he realized that we might get our Iberian heritage from a distant relative that my uncle met. That stuck with me all day when we were at the Kotel (a.k.a., the Western Wall) and the rest of the Old City of Jerusalem, so much so that I decided to buy a postcard and send it to my uncle. Then when we left Jerusalem, crossing beautiful green hills on our way North I started to write my message to him. When we arrived in our first Northern city, Akko I anxiously tried to find a place to send it. However, soon the next day I was quickly distracted by the city of Tzfat, and its great Sephardic history. As we were learning about the Kabbalists of the North, while seeing their beautiful synagogues, my bond to my Iberian roots grew. My bond grew closest when I was wandering the old narrow streets of Tzfat and stumbled upon a Mezuza shop with Ito and found out that the storekeeper was also of Spanish descent. He had soothing Ladino music playing in the background and Ito and I started to converse with him. However as I was listening to the ladino music I started to focus on the ticking of the watch my grandparents gave me which reminded me of my constant connection to my family. The next morning, as the sun rose over the horizon at our accommodations at Kibbutz Gonen in the Golan, I promptly went over to the front desk and asked them to send the postcard. When the person there said shalachti (I sent it) I knew it was the end of the beginning of my personal journey.

Our Second-to-last Day In Israel by Maddy Molyneux

Climbing down Mt, Arbel
Upper Galilee, Israel

Time has been hard to keep track of on this trip. While it is shocking to think that tomorrow is our last day, this morning feels like seven years ago, and it was difficult for me to remember how our day started. Eventually I remembered that we began our day with what most of us agreed was one of the best breakfasts so far. We then headed off to hike Mount Arbel. We did tefillah at the top with a view of the beautiful Kinneret. The hike down was steep, but we took a break in the middle to learn about the history of the mountain, and how it connects to the Jewish people going back 2,000 years.

After a hummus lunch, we headed off to a point on the current border between Israel and Syria. Overlooking the landscape and the fence between the two countries, we discussed past military conflicts, as well as the current civil war in Syria and Israel’s participation (or lack thereof). It was a particularly jarring and engaging moment on the trip. I think what made it unique to our other conversations about Israeli politics and its military, was that we could hear bombs going off in the distance. Not bombs being safely tested on an Israeli army base, but bombs killing real people in a real war. So, in a word, it was just that: more real. Ilan took time to answer any and all questions we had about the conflict, and we had what felt like a very adult conversation.

Our group discussing the history
between Israel and Syria
Mt. Bental, Golan Heights, Israel

Our last activity of the day was rafting on the Jordan River. We split into small groups, and drifted down the picturesque body of water. It was a nice balance between laughing and bonding with friends and observing the natural beauty of Israel. After dinner, we recapped the trip through original skits and then started to pack our bags. We are saving sad goodbyes for tomorrow afternoon, and look forward to one last day of carefree fun during our last few hours here.

Avery Dunn About the North of Israel

At Beit Kaye in Nahariyah

Today, in our hostel just within the old city walls of Akko, our day started off with an amazing breakfast, complete with the all-American classic: pancakes! Miriam was especially excited to see them. After that we packed up and went on our way to visit Beit Kay, a rehabilitation center for army veterans located in Nahariyah. Beit Kay is a center that has been open since the 1960s, dedicated to helping IDF soldiers to recover from injuries. Beit Kay is funded by the same generous people who sponsored our trip: Abe and Minnie Kay. 

Our group in the Artist Colony
Tzfat

After a quick tour we hopped back on the bus to drive to the stunning grottos at Rosh Hanikra. The view was breathtaking. After a discussion with Ilan, our guide, about the history between Lebanon and Israel, we explored the sea grottos. The next stop was the city of Tzfat, one of the four holy cities of Israel (along with Jerusalem, Tiberias, and Hebron). We explored two orthodox synagogues, one Ashkenazi and one Sephardi. After some free time to shop for souvenirs we headed to the last stop of the day, a disco boat on the Sea of Galilee! We had a fun time jamming out to some classic (i.e. "Cotton Eye Joe," "I Want It That Way," etc.) songs and enjoying the beautiful view of the shores of Golan Heights and the Lower Galilee. Next we had free time and dinner in the town of Tiberias and headed to our hotel.

Disco Boat!

One highlight from my day today was exploring the city of Tzfat. It was gorgeous with cobblestone streets and narrow alleyways. There were various shops selling all sorts of art, Judaica, fresh juice, and handmade candles. Much of the city is painted in turquoise and It really reminded me of Santorini, Greece with its gorgeous views and secluded passageways. It was a perfect stop for a new pair of candlesticks and a painting of the old city of Jerusalem. Overall, the day was really fun for everyone.

Shabbat meditations from Taly Lehrich

Just before we head off to Kabbalat Shabbat at the old Ottoman
Train Station, the Tachana Rishona in Jerusalem 

After a long week, Shabbat is much anticipated. It is rejuvenating to shower, put on nice clothes, and enter the streets of a city that has settled down for the day of rest. We began Shabbat with a service at what was once the Jerusalem train station. It felt almost like  a concert instead of a service. We got up out of our seats and danced and sang with each other. We then had the option to go to Danny's synagogue, Tzion, or do a discussion/walking-tour. I was one of six people who went to the longer, musical service. The community, made up of visitors and locals alike, was alive with song. I didn't know many of the melodies, however once I caught on I felt just as much a part of the community as anyone else. The rabbi gave our group a shout-out and welcomed Danny back. She gave a heartfelt greeting which brought some of us to tears.

Saturday morning we had the option to return to Tzion or to go to an Orthodox/Sephardic synagogue (a community that follows traditions from pre-expulsion Spain). Having enjoyed the service Friday night, I chose to go back to Tzion. Many opted to get a sense of the Orthodox/Sephardic communities we are often not exposed to. We walked to our respective synagogues for prayer and Torah service. At Tzion, Avery was honored with an aliyah (blessing over a part of the Torah portion) to the Torah and Danny did hagbaha (raising the Torah as it is dressed and returned to the ark). After lunch and free time we went to the park with a not-so-brief tour of Mishkenot Sha'ananim. At the park we played frisbee, soccer, and read. I went for a run, discovering how Israeli children enjoy pretending to hit you with a bike. We walked back for seudah shlisheet, the last meal before Shabbat ends, followed by an incredibly eye-opening program about the many different people living in Israel.

This program was introduced as a Q-and-A session with an ultra-orthodox Jew who made aliyah from Australia. Her quirky personality amused us at first but her highly conservative beliefs--disdain for secular life and Zionism, to name a few--soon made many of us uncomfortable. Out of nowhere, she quickly changed her outfit, replacing her black headdress with a colorful scarf and removed her stockings. Suddenly she was dressed as an Irish woman who had moved to a settlement in Judea and Samaria/West Bank so her family could be away from antisemitism and live freely as Jews. Soon After that she turned into a left-wing activist from Tel Aviv who supported the two-state solution, speaking in broken English. Lastly, she became an Arab principal for an all-girls school who explained the difficulties of life as a Palestinian-Arab resident of Jerusalem. This woman was an actress, portraying various sides to many of the complex issues in the area and we got to ask questions and challenge the statements of each person she portrayed. I went into this session with minimal understanding of these complex issues, let alone an opinion one way or another. This conversation allowed me to think about things from different angles, and each in a distinct way. I still might not have a solidified opinion but at least I feel more informed.

Taly Lehrich
Bayit V'Gan neighborhood
Jerusalem, Israel

Arielle Klein on our first full day in Jerusalem (June 21)

Our group at Robinson's Arch
Old City, Jerusalem

Hey Adas families!! Today was our first full day in the holy city of Jerusalem! We’re staying in a very nice hostel just a few minutes from the center of the city (which does have wifi, so your kids no longer have that excuse to not call you). After a leisurely 6:30AM wake-up and breakfast, we departed for the old city in our super cool Ramah Israel t-shirts! We did tefillah and a short Torah service at Robinson’s Arch and then learned a bit about the significance of the sites around us. It was a beautiful breezy morning and we were surrounded on all sides by kids being Bar Mitzvahed with their families, and it was tough to compete with the rambunctious klezmer music floating from across from the temple. Also for some reason large amounts of balloons kept being released into the sky which was also pretty cool. We then visited a few sites in the area and had some interesting chavrutah and group discussions about topics such as ancient rituals, and similarities and differences between sects of Judaism and how they relate, as well as the meaning of holiness and where it comes from, to name a few. 

Our students placing notes written by
Adas Gesher students in the Kotel

We then got a chance to do a Virtual reality experience about the origins of the temple and the western wall which was very cool. Afterwards we each had some private time at the Western wall, with the opportunity to stick our own note in the crevices, as well as to put those of Middle and Elementary school-aged Gesher students from Adas. After time at the wall and one more group discussion, we had some free time in the Jewish Quarter of the old city to get crazy good street lunch food/awesome ice cream/overpriced souvenirs, etc. Next, we toured the City of David, basically getting a live action history lesson, and we descended into the underground water tunnels supposedly used by King David’s men. Very dark, very cold, very small, but very cool. With half of us falling asleep on our feet, we boarded the bus to go back and get ready for a night out in Jerusalem.

Avery and Eden enjoying juice from
the Etrog Man
Mahaneh Yeuda Market, Jerusalem

Ito, Aden, and Ethan just after some
fresh Turkish burekas
Mahaneh Yehuda Market, Jerusalem

Our night out consisted of a intense, slightly competitive, and very exciting “progressive dinner” (aka 10 courses of free food from 10 different food places in and around the Shuk- that’s heaven if you ask me). We ate until we could eat no more and had to “tap out”. Shameful. We walked back to the hotel, and it was a beautiful night to end a long and interesting day. I need to go to sleep, so I’ll sign off for now. 

As Ilan our tour guide says: don’t forget your hats, water, sunscreen, and tefillah gear!! Lilah tov :)

Arielle Klein
Just outside the Old City 
Jerusalem, Israel