Sunday, August 24, 2014

Tikkun Olam Overnight Cohort 17



The overnight began Saturday night and was a nice opportunity to get together after TOSS and get back to routine Diller programming. We had a campfire and Maaal Layla. 

Sunday was Tikkun Olam Project day. After an early breakfast, we gathered in our main building for a lesson on making an impact led by senior counselor Ariel Light. Fellows discussed the relationship between proximity and responsibility, while each of us brainstormed problems we feel responsibility to solve in preparation for our upcoming tikkun olam projects.Then we broke into our committees to plan upcoming workshops. As the next Diller cohort (cohort 18!) begins to meet, responsibility for planning our workshops will shift from Gabi to us.

 














After the committees met, we reconvened for a program about charity led by fellow Jack Goldstein. Jack walked us through the different categories of causes a person can contribute to, and provided some excellent examples of charities that already exist. Soon after his program ended, we had a reflection of TOSS, the series of activities we did during the time when we would've been in Israel. We concluded that TOSS ROCKS.

After a fantastic vegetarian lunch, we gathered back in our building. We then had a Q&A session with Alumni Barry, Rachel Katz, and Ariel Light. They shared their experiences connecting with Israeli partners during their trips and working on tikkun olam projects.


Fellows Ophir and Chelsea, who were in Israel when the trip was cancelled, then led an exciting program exploring the situation in Israel. Afterwards, we had a chance to begin planning our tikkun olam projects. And then, after our eval session, the overnight was over.

-Paul, Cohort 17 

Thursday, August 7, 2014

TOSS 2014-Mini Israel day Cohort 17

The Israel day was a great way for our cohort to be able to spend our last day of TOSS together. We began our day with a check in and then skyping with a couple of Israelis and discussing their daily lives these days and their political thoughts. Afterwards, Rachel led an entire program for us through Skype! We talked about what the phrase "רק פה/rak poh" or "just here" means in context of a song by an Israeli band called Hadag Nahash. 



We had a program I led about Tisha Be'av and the concepts of ahavat and sinat chinam, which led the cohort to think about what it means to appreciate people and whether intentions matter if the same result is obtained either way.







We had a wonderful falafel lunch and resumed our mini Israel with a program led by Sam and Jack about different neighborhoods in Jerusalem. The conversation about neighborhoods was a very fascinating way to see how different members of the cohort perceive their neighborhoods. 


Samara and Moriah led a program about coexistence relating specifically to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. It was really cool to be able to express our views through that concept and to see an outsiders take on the conflict through a short video clip. Gabi also led a fun activity that involved the cohort acting out different things related to Israel. A movie and dinner followed this as well as a maagal. The day was a wonderful way to incorporate people's programs built for ISS into TOSS.

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

TOSS 2014-Peace Village Interfaith Summer camp cohort 17


Two years ago, I was a Teen Leader at an interfaith summer camp called Peace Village. I was disappointed when I realized I couldn’t work there this summer, because I was going to be in Israel with Diller. Since we didn’t go to Israel, I decide to contact my rabbi and the others in charge about having Diller help out. It worked out perfectly since they needed volunteers to watch the children during lunch.

We listen to the Torah story of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar told by Rabbi Callie. The campers were hearing the story told from different perspectives throughout the week. It led right into a program I led about perspective and point of view. Each fellow wrote down what they remembered from the first Diller meeting. So much had happened, we had all forgotten quite a bit, however, each person remembered something a little different, and had felt slightly different emotions.

After our brief Diller program, we went out to watch the campers while the Teen Leaders, many of whom I am friends with, had a break for lunch. Initially, all of the fellows were hesitant to move over to the tables were the campers were sitting. This is partly because they were all getting up to wash their hands. When we all finally sat down, the fun began. One girl began telling me the backstory of all her dragons. Some of the boys began throwing airplanes at Jack.

Soon the campers had devoured their lunches, so Ophir began leading some games. We played Sharks and Minions, and Chain Tag. The kids loved it. We all ran around smiling having and blast. Too soon it was time to leave; all of the kids looked really sad when we had to leave. It was so much fun connecting and playing with wonderful kids.


We, the fellows, ended the day with a pizza lunch from Amici’s and CREAM and T-Pumps for dessert.

-Katie Wysong 

Sunday, August 3, 2014

TOSS 2014- "Hamotzi" Volunterring day Cohort 17

 

The fellows arrived at Sherith Israel by 11:30, and after some initial chatting, made their way to the kitchen to start working. We sanitized, put on aprons, and split into task forces before confronting our mission for the day - food preparation. 





I was in the group responsible for slicing and dicing, and we followed Gabe and Gabi's lead as we cut our way through various vegetables, and eventually, a ball of turkey. The cutting process was completed without any injuries or mishaps, although the onions left some of us feeling very emotional. The food was then prepared and cooked, and fellows who found themselves with free time set about cleaning up. Once the food was ready, it was time to package everything for distribution. 



Soup had to be ladled, chickens were placed, and oniony side dishes were allocated appropriately. While making food may not seem overly extraordinary at first glance, our experience was eye-opening in a very comforting way. Not only did we have the opportunity to give food to people in need, we got to see for ourselves that at least in this synagogue, those involved with this process make a powerful effort to produce healthy, delicious food and seem to find real value in what they are doing. Furthermore, we as a group were able to do good anonymously, which was considered by Maimonides to be one of the highest form of mitzvot.

-Jay Varhula