This morning I went to the alternative school. I decided to try out a new class and went to the cooking class. It was like nothing I have ever experienced. There were several students in this industrial kitchen all working on their own project. The teacher would comment or guide them when necessary but basically they all knew what they were doing. They were making anything from chocolate pastries, to pizza berekas (pastries you find in the Middle East), pizza rolls, pastry cream puffs to pizza topped with traditional Israeli corn, olives and tuna. Just as everywhere else I have experienced they constantly snack and constantly offer you what ever is around. Everything we as pretty good. I was “sue chef” for one of the boys who was making 2 large pizzas. We made the dough from scratch and he used tomato paste as a base to make his own tomato sauce. It was amazing to see their confidence and love for the food. These are kids who did not succeed for whatever reason in normal school so its nice to see them working hard here.
This afternoon I went back to the Marshall Center to work with the students teaching them English. We had a new 10 year old girl show up today who barely knew English. I decided to work with her not realizing what a challenge it would be. I reviewed the with her but it was nearly impossible for me to teach her vowels without any knowledge of teaching English. How do you explain to someone that just because there are the same letter combinations does not mean they are going to sound the same at all. It was quite the experience trying to work with her.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Today at enrichment we had a lecture on the history of the borders of Israel. The Lecture started back in the biblical time and we talked about what borders and areas were mentioned in the Bible with Abraham to Moses entering Israel. Until 1517 there are so many wars and takeovers within the land its impossible to keep it all straight and the Turks basically rule the land until they lose World War One. When the Turks takeover is when the walls that surround the Old City were build that still exist today. Only the specific Western Wall\Kotel exists from the second Temple. In the late 1800’s the Turks are becoming weaker and weaker and the British and French slowly move in, eventually taking over once the Turks lost the war.
The chaos that existed with the British making promises with everyone in the area and back in Europe was unreal and complicated to understand. They were making promises with a Turkish ruler Hussein, the secret Sykes Peacock Agreement with the French and the Balfour Declaration, declaring the need for a Jewish homeland. Eventually they pulled out in 1947 and soon after the Jew declared Israel as a country therefore starting the War of Independence. Borders were set after the war in 1949 called the Ceasefire lines. If there was one thing we were supposed to get out of the lecture is that ceasefire lines are lines that exist until peace is made and then they are considered a border or until another war breaks out, also known as the Greenline. Everyone thought there would be peace with Jordan first because they would want the Palestinian Refugees to be able to go back into the land and leave Jordan but that did not happen as quickly as everyone had hoped.
In 1967 there was a lot of territory changing hands but the only “border” that Israel considers that changed is the area of East Jerusalem which was annexed, in their terms, opposed to being occupied, under military control. There is a lot more to be discussed but here is not the place for it. Now we have actual borders with Egypt and Jordan which are good but have created a lot of problems regarding the Gaza Strip and the West Bank which Egypt and Jordan want nothing to do with. This whole talk really gives new meaning to the idea and possibility of a 2 state solution.
As much as I have already felt like I have known before these enrichments, sitting through them makes me realize how much more complicated it actually is and how detailed and intertwined all of these issues and topics really are.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Today I went to Jerusalem with Sarah and Michael to represent Oranim and recruit people from the Birthright program for long term Israel programs. In the evening we went out for dinner in Jerusalem to celebrate Michael birthday at this really cute restaurant. Its amazing what you can find behind little allies when you stroll around Jerusalem.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
We did a bit more recruiting this morning then Sarah and I headed to the Old City and the Shuk. We had some kubbe soup and chummus at a restaurant in the market, bought some fruit and headed back to Ashdod. This evening I headed to Tel Aviv with some friends to go out we got some late night lamb pitas and headed back on the late bus.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Today Anna, Sarah and I ran some errands around Ashdod and I had Shabbat dinner with my host family. Shomit, their daughter was in from the States for the night so she joined us. It was nice to have some home cooking, it seems like its been a while.
Afterwards Molly, Sarah and I headed to Tel Aviv for the night.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
This morning we went to the beach for a while. Its so relaxing sitting on the beach, people watching and enjoying the breeze.
It was such a nice evening so Anna and I walked to the Kishatot, restaurant\beach area in Ashdod and got dinner. This is the only area of the city that is busy on Shabbat. The Shabbat dancing was going on until almost ten o’clock at night and people were walking around everywhere. We ordered a tuna salad and kebabs to split and it was so much food. Its unbelievable how big the portions are here. Kebabs in Israel are kind of like little sausages of ground beef cooked on a grill. They were the best I have had yet in Israel and the meat was so juicy. It was so nice to get out and enjoy the beautiful night.
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