Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Missing Israel


Hey! It's been a few weeks since we've returned from Israel and I've just started school. In my Spanish class I accidentally said b'vakashah instead of por favor but Israel has been so present in my life in so many other ways. I often think about the incredible experiences we had, especially our time with our partner cohort in the Upper Galilee.
The only other time I'd been to Israel prior to this trip was when I was 8 months old, so this was pretty much my first time experiencing it all. I was amazed by the history and beauty of Jerusalem. I also loved the juxtaposition of old and new that is seen in Jaffa and Tel Aviv. Visiting Independence Hall was especially meaningful to me because of the significant history of the hall. I thoroughly enjoyed shopping in the shuks, which was something we did in almost every city we visited. Sleeping under the stars in the Negev and then climbing the Ramon crater (while learning about how the crater was formed) was surreal, especially when we reached shade (and had a meditation!) and then when we reached the remnants of an ancient desert shelter. I was so glad that we got to experience the Negev with our partner cohort, Etzba HaGalil, because I had missed them all so much and we had lots of time to catch up!
At the beginning of the Kennes, Avraham Infeld gave an amazing speech focusing on the idea of Jewish peoplehood. It was really meaningful to me because it gave me the feeling that Jews can be united through anything. Although there is, even now, some internal conflict in Judaism and Jews have faced persecution throughout history, we have successfully stayed connected as a people. Avraham Infeld introduced the concept of the five-legged table of Jewish Identity, the legs being memory, family, covenant, Israel, and Hebrew. The following workshops, based on these concepts, definitely helped me to both struggle with and strengthen my Jewish identity.
I loved everything about being in the Upper Galilee – it felt like home, even as we approached it for the first time. Our opening ceremony featured a fantastic video created by some members of our the Etzba HaGalil group and they got us really funny and cute t-shirts, bringing our Diller t-shirt count up to 4! I loved staying in my host Noam’s house, her family was so welcoming – we had a family barbeque along the Jordan and I got to participate in the family Skype with her sister, who is currently working in Kansas. In the Upper Galilee, I really loved going rafting on the Jordan, attending the Maccabi games opening ceremonies and seeing Hadag Nachash, visiting many of the kibbutzim of the Etzba HaGalil fellows, and taking Jeeps up into the hills. Her mom also made me two sandwiches every day (even though lunch was always provided) and cried when I left. I think about Israel (especially the Israeli Diller Teen Fellows) often, and I hope to go back soon. I have read a lot about the recent attacks on Israel and I hope for peaceful resolutions.
My Israel Summer Seminar experience was...magnificent. I am appreciative of each of the members of the SF-UG partnership’s unique personality, which really added so much to the trip. I am so grateful to Helen Diller and the Diller family, as well as everyone who has worked to continue the program’s growth.

- Hannah Rosenblum


SF Diller in Israel

I was stung by jellyfish and still have the faded marks to prove it. I was blind for an hour and got to experience the world that way. I dealt with unbearable heat. I met 239 other Dillers and had one of the most inspiring weeks of my life. I bought a beautiful bracelet and lost it. Twice. I stayed at an Israelis house for a week. I could list for pages all the things I did this summer in Israel, that would be easy. But what I find difficulty in is describing how much each of those things affected me, and describing in actuality how much this summer meant to me, because I feel that no words can do it justice. I will try my best though!

The first thing that comes to mind is how comfortable and connected I feel to every single person in our SF Diller Cohort. It is a rarity that anyone should ever find themselves having a group of 19 other people that they can trust and confide in, and know they are loved by. I am beyond fortunate, because not only does this group provide trust and love, but they are all such intellectuals and never fail to have a thought provoking comment to add to any discussion. I found that this summer I became immensely spoiled by constantly being surrounded by such remarkable teenagers!

Many people get the chance to go to Israel and have quite meaningful experiences no doubt, but none of them have ever gone with the 14th SF Diller Cohort. I got to hike and raft and ride buses with some of the funniest people I have ever met. I got to renovate a bomb shelter and the teen center Hafooch Al Hafooch with people who truly had motivation and understood the value in the work we did. It is difficult to not become inspired when surrounded by people striving to do good in the world. Even more difficult when your staff are some of the most hard working and outstanding human beings you've ever met.

I suppose the biggest thing I have taken away from the entire Diller program, lesson wise, is how to truly be my own advocate and to take responsibility for anything I want to accomplish. There is no group project I can't take on now. When a problem arrises, I have no doubt that one of the problem solving strategies I have learned will be able to solve the issue. I also snap incessantly at everything I agree with, one of the many little Diller fads that has stuck.

As I predicted, I am already four paragraphs in and I still haven't covered half of the things I could say about my summer. But what I want to emphasize is this: If you are reading this blog right now and you have not reached your Junior year in High School yet, KEEP DILLER ON YOUR RADAR! There is no other experience like it and I am confident it will make a huge impact on your life. You will discover, or find yourself on the path to discovering your Jewish identity, you will learn the beautiful positives and surprising negatives of our Holy Land. You will serve your community in a meaningful way and you will find a new strength of leadership within yourself you may not have known you had. And you will make friendships not easily made in other aspects of your life. At least I know I did, how lucky am I?

In conclusion all I can say is a thank you to everyone who has helped create, nurse and improve the Diller Teen Fellows program, and of course a HUGE thank you to Helen Diller, for without her vision none of this would be possible.

-Gaby Bornstein

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Reflections on Israel

Every night for almost a week and a half after I returned home from Israel I had dreams about the trip and about all my friends in Diller. This alone shows what an impact the trip had on me. The first few days after I got back I could not stop thinking about all my Israeli and American Diller friends, our inside jokes, and all the memories we shared together.

I thought as time went on and I got back to life in America I would think about the trip less and less. But I didn’t. Everything I do reminds me of something I learned or some place we visited on the trip. Whenever I hear Party Rock Anthem I immediately think back on our stunning performance at Kennes. I constantly hold back from yelling “YA YOU ARE!” in everyday conversation with my family and friends. And I always think something is missing when I get in bed each night. Then I remember I did not have a magal lilah (night circle).

All the conversations and feedback had such an impact on me. It has truly changed me as a person. The experience taught me so much about who I am as a person and who I have the potential to be. From the visit to an orthodox synagogue in Jerusalem to the discussion of the relevance of the Covenant in our lives today at congress, I questioned my Jewish identity in ways that changed and strengthened my beliefs and practices.

I feel this way because our cohort became like a family. I felt so comfortable and supported by every fellow and staff member. Although I experienced this continually during the trip, I felt it most strongly during feedback sessions for the leaders of the day. All of the specific comments and suggestions showed me how much everyone in our cohort truly cares about the development of others as people and leaders. Our friendships are unique because we connect on many different levels. We know how to have fun and laugh. Just look at our endless games of bunny bunny. But we also know how to be serious and thoughtful, anyone who sat in on one of our night circles would be able to see this. This for me is what makes the Diller experience unique.

Thousands of teenagers participate in Jewish programs and trips to Israel every year. But not everyone gets to lead and participate in intense discussions about the American belief of capitalism verses the Kibbutz belief of socialism, or to explore the role the army plays in the lives of Israelis and Americans. Not everyone gets to hear first-hand accounts of what it’s like to lose a sibling or child in the army. Not everyone gets the experience of spending a week being hosted by an Israeli teenager, including having Shabbat dinner with all 25 of her relatives. Not everyone gets to spend their summer with 39 amazing teenagers and form friendships that last a lifetime.

But I was lucky enough to have this experience. For this I am forever thankful.

Ilana Crankshaw

Israel in the US

The Israel Summer Seminar experience not only gave me memories to last a lifetime but also provided me with insight and friendship. As I have begun the college essay process, I have come to realize that almost everything that I write, whether about my favorite book or an experience that touched me, seems to link back to Diller, Israel and/or Judaism. After the initial jetlag wore off and I started to get back into my regular California routine, I realized how much of an impact this past Diller journey has had on me. I find myself looking up at the sky here in the city and remembering sleeping in the Negev where we were dependent upon natural lights, the stars and the moon. From there, I remember how materialistic our adolescent lives here in America can be and I remember that I have a choice in remembering and appreciating the little things, the important things, in life. Similarly, I can not stop thinking about Congress and how we had some of the most intense discussions I have ever participated in in such secure, safe, stimulating environments. From Congress, I learned not only about Judaism and Israel but about identity and emotional strength. Finally, our last week in Israel in Kiryat Shemonah holds a special place in my memory because I started off the week so scared, so nervous and yet by the end of the week found myself feeling so comfortable and at-ease. I can honestly say that I learned more during our three weeks in Israel than I think I have ever learned in a classroom. I learned about community, friendship, and myself and these are lessons that I can take with me far beyond high school.
My last words are for the Diller family. Thank you all for such an incredible opportunity and an unforgettable summer. I have so many new perspectives on life because of all you and the impacts that each one of you have made on my Jewish identity. Thank you.

(Brought to you by Ellie Rosenthal)

The Final Hoorah

It's been seventeen days since we've been home. Seventeen. I don't think any of us imagined how big of an impact this trip would have on us until we got back home and couldn't really understand WHY. Why were we back? Why was it not 100 degrees everyday? Why were we not constantly surrounded by at least 20 teens at once?

These seventeen days have personally been filled by remembering endless inside jokes, anecdotes, and memories that are impossible to share or express with people that weren't part of the trip. Being asked to share my final thoughts on the Israel Summer Seminar, all I can say is this: I am beyond grateful. Not only did the Israel Summer Seminar, or ISS for short, inspire and influence me to be a better leader and citizen of the world, but it also allowed us to form friendships and relationships that I would have never imagined possible. It's easy to say, now, that we miss our Israeli sister cohort, Etzba HaGalil or Upper Galilee, just because we spent so much time with them and are now far away. But honestly, the 40, well...39, of us became a family on this trip. We ate together, slept together, worked together, fought together, laughed together. We were strangers in their homes for a few days, and then became integrated into their families, routines, and lifestyles. We couldn't speak their language, and even though most of us still can't, we learned words and catch-phrases here and there.

It's strange to think that the 20 of us from San Francisco are now either fully embarked or soon to embark on our journey into our final year of high school. In a few months, we'll be done with applications and we'll know where we're off to for the next few years. The 19 of the Upper Galilee kids, however, won't know what college they're going to or what field they will be majoring in; they'll know what field of the army they'll be going into. They'll be those men and women in the green uniforms that tourists always ask to take pictures with! And while we think about the danger and intensity of the army and they think about how odd it is that we're in school for so long, in the back of our minds, I am confident that we'll still all be thinking about each other and the absolutely life-changing, incredible, unbelievable three weeks that we got to spend together.


With love and endless appreciation,
Ari