On our way to Kennes- WIE 2014 Cohort 17

After saying a final goodbye to our Israeli partners and the Upper Galilee, we loaded all of our luggage onto the bus and headed down to Sde Boker for the North American Kennes. After briefly meeting the other North American Dillers at the Mega Evening in Tel Aviv, we were all extremely excited to reconnect with them and make some new friends. 

The evening started with an opening ceremony where David Ben-Gurion himself gave an introduction to the Kennes and got us all pumped for a jam-packed one and a half days of programming, socializing, and exploring North American Jewry (or maybe it was a junior counselor dressed up as David Ben-Gurion, it was hard to tell). We then broke out into our different color groups where we did some ice breakers to reintroduce ourselves to the other North American Fellows that we met  at the Mega Evening. Next on the schedule was a really interesting lecture from Liat Cohen about the history of the Jewish people and how the Jewish communities all around the world came to be. We closed our first day of Kennes with an emotional Maagal Lilah where we reflected upon our fifteen months since starting Diller. The first day of Kennes was filled with interesting discussions and new friends, and I can't wait for what tomorrow has to offer.

High School and beyond- Last day of community week, WIE 2014 Cohort 17

The theme of the last day of community week was Israeli adolescence. We examined what the late teens and early 20s look like in Israel. So naturally We all hopped on the bus and went to har vagai, the regional high school. Many of the Israeli fellows attend the school and showed us around. It highlighted some of the cultural differences that exist between American and Israeli teens. I wish I could have a major in high school!

Next we went to an Army base where we talked to a lone soldier and a reservist about their army experiences. Afterwards we walked in Park Hazahav, translated to the Golden Park modeled after our own Golden Gate Park. The park was endowed by San Franciscans. We got a tour of the shacks in which Jewish immigrants lived when they settled Kiryat Shmona. 

We then went to mitzpe liran, a vista point that overlooks Kiryat Shmona. Liran was a soldier who died in the second Lebanon war, and the outlook is in his honor. His father came to speak with us about his son's legacy. Liran was an incredibly kind soul and devoted individual and learning about him was a reminder of how amazing we can be. Afterwards we met with a local youth group that Liran was active in. We talked through desert island scenarios. Through which about making difficult decisions and compromise. Then, as a closing activity, we each picked a picture of us as out partner that symbolized out friendship. We talked about the meaningful community we had built throughout the course of the week. Afterwards we met our host parents for our closing ceremony that included thank yous, reflection, and a slideshow. It was a lovely summation to an unforgettable week.

Those who sacrificed for Israel- Past and present, WIE 2014, Cohort 17

Today, we started with a tour of the historic Tel Hai yard. Our tour guide explained to us that this fort had been built so the early settlers could live closer to their farms during the week. They would then go home on the weekends. Eventually, it was abandoned due to violent neighboring Arabs. It was later re- settled by pioneers prepared to face the harsh reality of the surrounding communities. Joseph Trumpeldor, a Jewish settler who had served as an officer in the Russian army went to teach these new settlers how to fight. While he was there, the Tel Hai yard was surrounded by 400 Arabs. Shortly after, fighting started. Seventeen Jewish settler defended themselves against this enormous army, yet they were able to make the Arabs to leave. The cost of this battle was eight Jewish lives, including Joseph's. He famously said, "Never mind, it is worth giving my life for the State of Israel." This phrase was used by the early Jewish authority to inspire young pioneers to settle the North And is known to most Israelis today. They abandoned the fort for some years until Israel became a state and it was turned into a museum. As we toured the yard, we took a moment to close our eyes to try and feel what it was like to be in Tel Hai at the time; able to bear the daily struggle of life through an undying hope that one day, Israel would have a state of its own. We discussed the importance of sacrifice in its many forms and what we, as young Jewish leaders can do to better Israel and the world. 

From the Tel Hai yard, we drove through the rain to the Kiryat Shmona Community Center where we played some games, ate a 'make your own' falafel lunch and listened to a presentation on Mutav Yachdav (or "Better Together"); a community project in Kiryat Shmona. This project is a large scale effort to get residents to play a role in their community by planning and leading events. We discussed similar organizations we saw in our own communities and similarities we saw in Diller. Some teen's Impact Projects target their local communities and it was inspiring to see a program similar to the ones we were planning which had experienced successes. 

We then took a break in which we played some team building games and had an impromptu game of beach ball volleyball. This was followed by a Diller Alumni program. We all created a piece of art that represented Tikkun Olam (fixing the world) and discussed our pieces. We were then able to talk to the Alumni about how Diller had affected Tikkun Olam in their lives and how we hoped it would affect ours. The Junior Counselors and Staff then led two programs which were part of a series Diller has been doing. Previous lessons included Language, Covenant and Family. 

Today, we went over the units of Israel and Memory. In the Israel unit, we briefly discussed our opinions on what relationships to Israel should look like for Jews in and outside of Israel. The Memory unit focused on the importance of memory in Judaism; as an individual, as a leadership program and as a nation of Jews. The night ended with one of our Ma'agals which consisted of feedback for the previous two days. Overall, the day was jam packed, interesting, educational and fun!

Shabbat with Families and Evening of fun- WIE 2014, Cohort 17

After starting the day with an enormous and delicious breakfast (in true Israeli fashion), Hila, Shachar, Claire and I headed out the door at 10:30 and made our way down to the Hula Lake nature reserve. Our free day was packed with activities, the first of which being a bike ride around the lake with a group of other Dillers. It was a beautiful day, by far the warmest since we had arrived in the Upper Galilee. As we rode, we made stops along the way for bird watching, snacks, and of course, taking selfies. At 1:00, we went our separate ways and drove to Niv Zinger's house for lunch, and were treated to an afternoon of Israeli bbq and card games. 

I thought the day up until that point had been exciting enough, but the next activity in store put the rest to shame -- three rounds of paintball, Israelis vs. Americans. With our limited experience, we were shaking in our boots (and masks and padded vests) just walking into the arena. Needless to say, we were beat pretty badly, but hopefully the memories will last longer than the bruises we sustained. Last on the schedule for the day was a gathering of all the teens for an evening of food, music, and games. No, I didn't exactly expect to watch people eating various American and Israeli snack foods while blindfolded, but when it comes to Community Week, I have learned that it's best to just accept, not expect.

Samara cohort 17 

Let Community week Begin! WIE 2014, Cohort 17

Home-stays have arrived! After driving for about three hours, we were greeted by warm hugs and smiling faces. Our night began with an interactive program led by a joint Israeli and American committee. 

As diller teens and Israeli families we’re split into groups they were asked a few questions about traveling, where they have visited, where they want to visit in the future and questions pertaining geographical differences/similarities. 

Our night was concluded with a fellow-led overview of our community week. Finally we said our goodbyes and headed home for the evening. Each American fellow was warmly welcomed into an Israeli fellow’s household, whether it be with candy, food, or beautiful signs. 

The following day we drove up to Yiftah a little kibbutz and had Kabbalat Shabbat with the local children. It was a little tough at first because the kids don’t speak English, but we had a few activities to demonstrate how easy it can be to pass a language barrier just by communicating through art meditation and games. 

Next, we were taken to a Circassian Museum in Rechania. We had a speaker explain the traditions and a little bit about their day to day lives. We ended the lecture up with a Q and A session. Each day we’ve had in Israel has been jam packed with new experiences and life lasting memories. We can’t wait to see what more Israel has to offer!

From Tel Aviv- Up North WIE 2014! Cohort 17

Today we woke up early to check out of our hotel in Bat Yam. We drove to the Children's Museum in Holon, where we participated in an exhibit called Invitation to Silence. 

In Invitation to Silence, we wore headphones to eliminate our sense of hearing, simulating deafness. A deaf guide led us through a series of challenges, and we had to communicate without using speech or hearing. After we made it through the challenges, our guide answered questions about living with deafness.

After leaving the museum, we drove north to the Upper Galilee. On the bus we played games and tasted "shoko" (chocolate milk from a bag!)

Our host families welcomed us after we arrived, and we enjoyed an opening ceremony, highlighting exciting plans for the week ahead. Finally, we dispersed to our host families.

Paul Cohort 17

A day in Jerusalem-WIE 2014 Cohort 17

Today, we spent time in Jerusalem. We first went to a contemporary museum on what used to be the border between Israel and Jordan whose exhibitions portray the challenges in leadership and global issues. 

The Diller Teen Fellows had incorporated the art from this museum into a workshop, so it was a nice way to understand and see first hand how the museum works. The exhibit was a combination of paintings, videos and multimedia displays about failures in leadership of catering to and serving the people. After going through the exhibit, we met with the curator who was very lively and excited to answer questions and inspire the younger generations about the faults in government and other aspects of leadership. He said that the goal was not to force an opinion onto the public, but to spark debate and to provide an understanding about what type of leaders the younger generations aspire to be. It was a very interesting experience, especially for the Americans because it was not a typical thing for tourists to do when visiting Jerusalem.

We then toured around the old city and went to the Kotel Where fellows had the opportunity to put notes in the wall and to touch it. My favorite part was to watch the sea of people so absorbed in praying. We then went to Ben Yehuda street where we had a few hours of free time to shop and eat. The day was a nice way to see both the touristy and non- touristy parts of Jerusalem. I came out with a better understanding of how Jerusalem plays a huge role in multiple religions and how it's a connecting factor for many different types of people.

-Sydney cohort 17