Back to School Blues

Contrary to popular belief, just becuase I haven't blogged recently, things are still happening! Last Wednesday NATIV left their humble abodes and went down to the desert to discover their Bnei Yisrael roots. Armed with Lulavim, Etrogim, water, and high spirits we came to the desert where we would spend the next three days hiking, sleeping, hiking, shmoozing, hiking, eating, hiking, sitting, and bonding. Oh, and a little more hiking. My group, Yerucham's task was to get to the Machtesh (giant crater in the middle of israel...look it up, it's cool) from the Aravah Valley. Walking about 20+ kilometers in 3 days we did it. It was fantastic. My favorite part of the trip, aside from all the hiking, heat, sleep deprivation, and exhaustion, was my 45 minute nap up on the ledge of the Machtesh. You just don't do those things every day. We davened with our lulavim in the desert to simulate a real o'naturAl experiance.  We got back to Beit NATIV a few hours before Shabbat. Shabbat was very nice, I attended the Great Synegogue for kabbalat shabbat which is always a treat, and then congregation Kedem for shacharit. I allowed them to nudge me into doing haftorah for this week. Bereishit...it should be fun, once I look at it that is. The remainder of chol hamoed Sukkot came and went and we found Simchat Torah in our laps. In America, Simchat Torah's pretty insane. In Israel, Simchat Torah's a legitimate reason to quit clubbing. Nowhere else can you get this many people singing, and dancing, with this type of kavanah. It was a very amazing, and special experiance. On erev Simchat Torah I attended Yakar. We danced for 2 hours. Up and down the street, around cars, around people. It all became a reality when I was able to dance with a Torah during the 7th Hakafa. There are some experiances that I may remember my whole life. That makes that list without fail. I was then invited to a very lovely dinner with some friends and staff. It was very nice to have a homecooked meal again. This morning I attended The Great Synegogue. I had wanted to hear Geshem since I arrived in Israel. It did not dissapoint. Both the cantor and the chior were fantastic. I left right after because it was time for lunch. After a quick game of risk with some friends I moseyed on down to the sukkah to see what was happening. I walked up to a game of Jungle Speed. This is an intense game, I had learned it under a different name: Jungle Jam. And I played that for an hour. For those who would like to look this game up, please do, also note that no one was hurt, physically that is, for the enjoyment of this game. After Jungle Speed, NATIV walked over to a park and attended Hakafot Shniot. This is a ceremony that is basically Hakafot with live music. It was great fun. Shimon Perez was there, along with all the cheif rabbis of Israel, and they were all dancing and having a great time. I go back to school on Thursday, and I've got much homework to complete. For all you readers out there. Please leave a little comment, either with questions, comments, things that will make me laugh, etc. You've been slacking a little bit on my past blogs. 

Until Next Time

V'samachta, Bechagecha, Vahita Af Sameach

-Z