End of Jerusalem, Yom Habonim, Masada, Bedouins, Shabbat, and Kibbutz/Kvutza time!

Ready for a large MBI update? Here it is...

Last Tuesday MBI headed out to a trail close to their accommodations in the Judean Hills, called the Sataf. The trail is made of up several man made terraces which provide stunning panoramic views of the entire area. The beautiful site is especially interesting since it focuses on reviving the ancient methods of terrace farming. It is fascinating to watch water from 2 springs being channeled to different crops planted on these terraced fields. This was a nice easy hike to start off the day.

Then MBI went to the Knesset, Israel's parliament building. Though they didn't go in (it wasn't open), each kvutza sat in the park outside and had a peula learning about different Israeli political parties and the Israeli political system. Afterwards, they had time to walk around and shop on Ben Yehudah st., one of the main tourist shopping sights in Israel. In the evening they had another peula about their historical connections to Israel. For each kvutza the discussion went really well and then they had some kvutza time in the evening to relax.

Wednesday, everyone was at the beach for Yom Habonim Dror. This day is a relaxing, fun and exciting day where the MBI-ers have a chance to cool down in the water and meet their Habonim peers from around the world. The chanichim enjoyed some delicious food, a water slide, water trampoline, DJ dance party, and t-shirt swaps. They did all this with their counterparts from Habonim in England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, and Mexico. It was truly a mix of accents, languages, and fun, all built around our shared identity as members of Habonim Dror in Israel.

Thursday, MBI boarded the buses for the drive down south to Ein Gedi. They went straight to Nahal David. This is a hike in a beautiful nature reserve which leads to several pools of water as well as a stunning waterfall. It was a refreshing refuge on another very hot day in Israel. During the hike along with many different plants and trees the MBIers were likely to see local animals such as ibex and small furry hyrex.

Later the MBIers got a chance to see some more animals up and close. After arriving to the Bedouin Hospitality where they slept that night, they took a little trek through the desert on camels and donkeys. This was a new and exciting experience for all. It is exhilarating when the camel stands up and all of a sudden you are lifted into the air and can see out into the expanse of the empty desert. (NOTE: Pictures of camel and donkey rides coming soon!)

When they returned to the hospitality site the MBIers were treated to a huge Bedouin meal for dinner, as well as given an insight into Bedouin culture. They were also treated to some delicious sweet Bedouin tea, and spent some time together as the whole of MBI hanging out under the starry desert sky. That night, they slept in a big tent, ala bedouin style, before setting off to the historic site of Masada in the wee hours of the next morning.

Friday morning the MBIers woke up before the sun rose, and hopped on the buses to make their way to one of the most amazing and historical sites in Israel - Masada. After taking the shorter way to the top the MBIers were given time to walk around the site, and the madrichim also put on some role plays as some of the most famous historical personalities linked to Masada. One was Josephus Flavius, a first century Jewish historian, who gave an overview of the history of Masada, setting the scene. The second act was 2 women who lived on Masada who talked about what life was like. The third was Elazar Ben Yair, the leader of the Rebel Zealots against the Romans at Masada in 73 AD, who talked about what lead the group to commit suicide. Each group then had a short discussion about the choices made by those on Masada and how one makes choices in general. Masada is one of the most unique and remarkable architectural structures in the world - sitting atop a mountain that, at it's highest points, reaches almost 400 meters above the floor below. Masada has the ruins of Herod's temple, as well as all the signs of Jewish communal life, from the synagogue, to the mikvah, to the houses.

The MBIers then headed down from Masada by the winding snake path from which they had a spectacular view of the Dead Sea. After enjoying a hearty and well-earned breakfast at the Masada Youth Hostel they went to the Dead Sea, both the lowest and the saltiest area on the earth's surface. Here they relaxed at the beach and enjoyed floating around in the salty water.

The afternoon was spent travelling through the large machtesh in the desert, a huge naturally formed crater right in the middle of the Negev Desert. The machtesh is a universally studied phenomenon, as it is one of the few in the world that was not created by a meteor or impact of a large object, but rather by the movement of the land underneath it. It is an overwhelming experience to look over the cliffs of the machtesh and see the splendor of the huge sunken area. There, the group got to mix different colored sands into jars and create beautiful, entirely natural works of art.

The group then went to Kibbutz Sde Boker where they spent this past weekend, to rest and prepare for Shabbat. The Sde Boker youth hostel has an amazing promenade where the chanichim can see the valleys and mountains of the desert. It is really a calming and beautiful place for Shabbat. After everyone had cleaned up a bit, they had mishpachot. This is a time where participants from each camp get together with the rest of their "home" kvutza. In the evening they had an oneg, or a short play, and then rikkud.

Unfortunately, over these last 3 days, a few MBI-ers have become sunburned. Most are not that serious and there is plenty of aloe and sunscreen going around. Three participants who were more seriously burned saw a doctor and now have prescription strength burn cream to help the skin heal. All should be fine in a few days.

Shabbat was very relaxing this week. The MBI-ers ran shabbat chugim (interest groups) for themselves and then started planning a few activities to run for themselves this week while on Kibbutz/Kvutza time. In the evening they had a very cool experience where they went out into the desert at night with black-lights looking for SCORPIONS! When the black-light hits the scorpion's outer shell, they glow bright white against the black of the night. Very cool indeed.

Sunday morning the group headed out to explore more of the wonderous desert. They went on a hike in Ein Avdat, which goes through the Avdat ruins. Avdat is an ancient desert city, which was inhabited by a Nabbatean tribe roughly 2,500 years ago. The city was a major stop on the trade routes, and the ruins exist there until today. Today the hiking trail takes you through the canyon which is a really cool experience to be so low and surrounded by the mountains.

After an exciting weekend the group said goodbye and headed off for "kvutzah time" Over Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday they will be split up by their small bus group with just their own madrichim. This is going to be used as a time to rest a bit and bond with each other. Part of the reason to have buses and kvutzot is to foster deep relationships and to give the summer a machaneh feel even though they are traveling so much. These 3 days are meant to give the space for this to happen. Each bus will be on a different kibbutz in the north and will be participating in a variety of group bonding and fun activities on and off the kibbutz.

Bus 1 is staying at Kibbutz Misgav Am.

Bus 2 is staying at Kibbutz Malkia.

Bus 3 is staying at Kibbutz Manara.

------

Today, Monday, was the first full day of "Kvutza Time". During this time, the MBIers will spend time bonding with their kvutzah. During the 3 day period, each Bus will do a different order of the following activities each day.

One of the days is spent at the kibbutz they are staying. This day is when the bulk of the peulot are run and the chanichim also have a chance to hang out and cool off at the kibbutz pool. There is also a significant amount of time given to the MBI-ers to plan activities for themselves on this day.

Another day is spent rafting down the Jordan river. The picturesque scenery makes for a very relaxing and refreshing activity. The Jordan valley is one of the hottest places in Israel so I am sure being in the water will provide some relief from the heat. After reaching the end of the river, the group then has an opportunity to go on the ropes course run by the rafting company. A ropes course is a really good way to build trust amongst each other as the activities usually revolve around helping each other overcome fears or nervousness surrounding the course. They then get some more time to hang out on the grassy banks of the river and will have an all you can eat make your pizza party. A nice break from schnitzel, the chanichim get a unique experience to make their own fire grilled pizza and experience "Israeli pizza" toppings. Some chanichim were bold enough to try corn on their pizza and are never going back.

The third day is spent learning about the kibbutz movement and Habonim's role within it historically and today. The group visits Kibbutz Kfar Hanassi, founded in 1948 and named for Chaim Weitzman, Israel's first president. Here the day will be run by 2 Habonim graduates, Denshem from Australia and Shani from our very own Machaneh Galil (and the previous HDNA Programs Director). They begin with a peulah about the kibbutz movement, its founding, what their vision was for Israel and the contributions made throughout its history. They also discuss the changes kibbutzim have been experiencing in recent decades. They have a tour of the kibbutz and a chance to speak with a kibbutz member. They also will enjoy lunch at the kibbutz.

Overall this will be a relaxing few days and hopefully bring the group closer together. These few days are meant to help prepare the group for the coming weekend which will be challenging and fun.

Pictures coming soon. I promise.

Ari