Summer 2019

By: Gaby Gotesman 

This morning we woke up in the bedouin tents and after going to the bathroom tent we had breakfast in another tent! Then we went to Masada and took the cable car up to the museum on the top which had a pretty solid view. After we drove to ein gedi and walked up to the waterfall where we splish splashed around for a little. Post the splashing we ate lunch and went to the dead sea where many of us found out that salt hurts. Later we drove back to our home sweet home mevs but made sure to stop for bathrooms twice on the way back. Overall today was a 10/10 day 🙂

By: Eva Small

Today we went to an old aged home. As we walked through with our tour guide, there were many people sitting down and painting, sewing, and more. This was very nice to see because it showed that it gave those people something to do throughout their day and not be bored the entire day. After this, we had chaburas and lunch in a very nice park. Then we drove South of Israel to go camel riding which was so beautiful. We rode the camels around the desert which lead into sleeping in the Bedouin tents. All of GIVE slept in one big tent along with other programs surrounding us. We learned all about how Bedouins live and their lifestyle. We ate dinner like them, slept like them, and lived like them for a night. It was a very different lifestyle than the life we live today and was interesting and to experience.

Overall it was a very fun day and full of activities:)

By: Zehava Chefitz

In the Morning we finally reunited with all our Givers. Then we went to the organization One Family to learn what’s its all about. Then we started to prepare for the run by cutting headbands. We then went back to our base Mevaseret to get some rest because of the fast. Then we went to hear an inspiring speech by Tammy Carmel about how she lives with ASL, following with singing. We finally feasted in a beak fast with yummy food. Our night activity was cake wars with the theme of Judaism.

By: Esther Cohen Saban

Today we woke up early after an incredible night at Yom NCSY. We had an amazing shakshuka breakfast. Then we divided the bus into different groups. Some people went to a school in Beit Shemesh to make kids happy by dancing, singing, and playing games with them. The rest of the group went to 3 different homes to help less fortunate families out. We went to the grocery store and got many items that we thought would be helpful for their family. When we got to her house we swept and mopped her floors for her, changed her sheets, and made salad for her and her family. She was so appreciative and couldn’t stop thanking us. Then we went to the park for lunch to have our delicious bagels. Lastly we got dropped off for our off Shabbat. Today was an amazing experience to help out family’s who really need our help. It really helped me realize how lucky we are and how fortunate we are to live comfortable lives. Can’t wait to do more chesed !!!

By: Dasi Vann

This morning was a late wakeup, which means everyone was well-rested and super excited for YOM NCSY!!! Our first activity was medical-clowning training, in order to prepare us for Sha’are Tzedek hospital. The training lesson was very inspiring, as it included the goals of medical clowning and practice with skills such as juggling and balloon-animal making. I couldn’t believe how far I got in juggling!

Afterwards, we visited Sha’are Tzedek hospital, where we walked in super excited to be able to cheer up the patients. But very quickly, we were a little dispirited because we realized that a hospital is a place of despair, rather than a playful scene. Plus, we wanted to play with kids, and we were sent to the adult oncology unit. This was a little hard on us, especially me because I can’t understand Hebrew. It was frustrating that I could barely do anything to help these people, but my advisor said that chessed doesn’t always come on a silver platter.

Then we made our way to Yom NCSY! Our bus got so hyped up on the way that the bus driver got really annoyed. It was so much fun to see all of my friends on different programs from Southern NCSY and the Lion Pride. The program was ridiculously fun, and I was drenched in sweat!

By: Simi Broner

Today the first thing we did was go to a breakfast at the YU office. We sat and listened to a inspiring speech given by a teacher from YU. After breakfast we went to go for a tour of shalva the building was big and beautiful and we learned about the different voulenteering opportunities. When we finished the tour of shalva we went to a kids school. At the school we sat and played with the kids spoke to them and got faces full of stickers which was really fun. We then went to the park for lunch and went to the o u after to hear another speaker. The speaker talked about her experience as an advisor on GIVE.

By Ruthie Seidemann

After davening and breakfast, we started the day off by going to Begin Science School in Beit Shemesh and making a carnival for kids in elementary school. Last night, we prepared many booths for the carnival, including bobbing for apples, hair and nail polish booths, face painting, and pin to tail on the donkey, to name a few. We went to the school, set up the booths, and the kids were able to go around to the different booths and have a great time. We also danced with the kids and they taught us some of their dances. It was so fun! It was amazing to see how much we had an impact on them. As we were leaving, one of the girls asked one of us if we were coming back next year when she was in 1st grade. When the girl was told that we would be coming back next year, her face lit up. All the kids hugged us as we left, and it was such an amazing experience to be able to make these kids so happy. After, we drove to Yad Vashem had chaburas and ate falafel for lunch outside. We then went into the museum and split into two groups for a tour of Yad Vashem. It was a very meaningful experience. We learned about life before the Holocaust and the events that led up to it. We learned about concentration camps and heard stories of individuals in the camps. Our tour guide also told us personal stories of her father and mother in law. After the museum, we went to the Childrens’ Memorial, which really left a lasting impression. The memorial was five candles reflected in lots of mirrors, which symbolizes all the generations that could have came from these children who were killed. We left the museum with the idea that we need to remember the Holocaust and the people who went through it.
We then went back to Mevaseret and had some free time until dinner. After dinner, we had night activity: races, such as cup stacking races and a race to eat a banana while there were stockings over the contestants’ heads. All in all, it was a fun and meaningful day.

By Zahara Goldkin
Today, we woke up super early to go to Aquakef! The Kineret was a refreshing wake up call after the long night before. After Aquakef, we went shopping in the old city of Tzfat. We got coupons to choose our own lunch as we shopped. There was sushi, pizza, falafel, and ice cream to choose from. Then, we went on a boat on the Kineret and we blasted music, sang, and danced. We drove a while to get back to Mevaseret after our amazing Shabbat in Tzfat to plan our carnival for the next day. After our Shabbat in Tzfat, we enjoyed exploring the city and experiencing the culture while shopping.

By Leeby Levine
This shabbos we had an amazing time in tzfat. We began with kabalas shabbos at all different Shuls in the are and continued into a really fun Friday night meal filled with singing and divrei Torah. After we had a tisch and kumzitz together. On shabbos day we had a nice meal which included a dvar Torah by Rabbi Schwartz, the CFO of the OU center. Following that we heard from a woman in the community who shared with us her journey to converting to Judaism. It was fascinating to have the opportunity to hear from someone who became Jewish on their own. We ended off Shabbas with a beautiful ebbing and havdalah.

By Shalhevet Cohen

Today we visited an old age home. To get into the spirit of Shabbos, we sang songs and played music with tambourines and instruments with the residents. After a long bus ride, we ragged down the Jordan river. It was a blast! We had so much fun that we cut it close to Shabbos, but Baruch HaShem we made it to Tzfat with just enough time to shower. Some of us davened with the Karlebach minyan, and that plus the spirit in Tzfat, made Shabbos a unique and spiritual experience.