20 Wishes for $1.35 US Dollars (5 Shekels) at the Baba Sali Grave

Baba Sali, aka Rabbi Israel Abuhazera, was one of the prominent leaders in the Moroccan Aliyah movement as well a scion of a leading rabbinical family in Morocco.  Over 600,000 visitors pay respect to his grave located in Netivot with 100,00 people flocking on the anniversary of his death, which took place this past Monday. To put that in perspective there is a total of 28,000 residents in the Negev Town of Netivot.

Rumor has it that every year it rains during the Baba Sali Festivities and this year was no different. The Jerusalem Post noted that the rainstorm’s “total precipitation in the central Negev will exceed the entire amount that fell in the past 10 years”. Despite the messy weather, Derek, Shaina, Rachel, Gabby and I headed to the grave for a night of praying and entertainment. With the smells of kebabs wafting through the air, we headed down the muddy walkway lined with ample vendors. I bought a HUGE cotton candy for 5 shekels.

Gabby bought corn on the cob for the same price. Other food choices included candy apples, fresh popped popcorn, pizza, and lots of beef. Other stalls were selling hamsas, Israeli music, house supplies, scarves, and Baba Sali water also known as the popular Israeli liquor, Arak.

For 5 Shekels, you could purchase a box of 20 candles at the gravesite. These candles were not to be used in the traditional way, but rather thrown into a large furnace located near the tomb. People were chucking prelit candles over people’s heads into the fire pit. Each candle signified a wish that hopefully would come true once it was consumed by the fire. Due to my lack of coordination, not all of my candles made it into the fire. Rachel said the Baba is forgiving and that the close to the grave is good enough(…I hope so!)

After hurling our candles into the fire, we walked through the stalls one more time before heading on the 15 minute walk back to the apartment. Never in my life have I experienced anything like tonight and probably won’t again. Here’s to wishing to health and happiness…

Israeli Transportation

Many people fear Israeli transport due to the terrorist attacks in previous years. For volunteers such as myself buses, trains, and taxis are truly the only way to get around the country. I can say with certainty that each Otzmanikim has had at least one odd, if not extremely frustrating, experience while traveling through the country. I have become more confident with the process of inter and intracity travel but still experience a hiccup now and then.

One of my best friends from the States was visiting Israel for two weeks earlier this month. Her family lives in Haifa which is a pretty far from the Negev region. Being the more experienced traveler, I made the trek up North and back to the Soth over the span of 4 days. Let me sum up my return journey…Train from Haifa to Beer Sheva…Got off at the wrong station…Taxi to the correct station…Sheruit (shared taxi) to Netivot…Sheruit got pulled over for a seatbelt check…Arrive in Netivot 15 minutes before beginning my 8hr shift of volunteering after traveling for over 4 hours.

I think sheruits may be the issue. Most times they don’t leave the station unless they are full. I have spent up to 40 minutes waiting for the sheruit to fill up. In addition, they can stop on a highway make you get off and get into another sheruit. This can happen two or three times throughout your journey. The one benefit of this mode of transportation: if you are the last person in the sheruit and you don’t get stuck on the side of the ride, your total journey time can be cut in HALF! My word of advice on Israeli transportation: always leave extra time and if you are late, don’t worry because so is the rest of the country.

Look out Annie Oakley – Self Defense Training for Otzmanikim

On a cool Wednesday morning, 5 Otzmanikim traveled to Ashdod for some self-defense training. The three girls and two boys were getting prepped for their volunteer work with Ofek beginning the following January.

The morning began with the boys working on one on one contact sparing while the girls learned punching and kicking techniques from the instructor.  All of the Otzmanikim learned how to apprehend suspects who had knives, batons, and guns.

After lunch, we headed to a shooting range. This was the first time most of us Otzmanikim had ever shot a gun. Nervous and excited, we were ready for the challenge. First each of us learned the proper stance and how to load the gun. This was followed by each of taking turns slow shooting and later fast shooting. When all was said and done, the girls were better sharp shooters than some of the boys.

I was impressed that all of my targets wound up on the page and were located near each other. Shana was the best sharp shooter. Look out Annie Oakley!

On Thursday, we headed to the Ofek headquarters in Netivot for some more training. Most of the day was spent acting out likely scenarios.  It is imperative that Ofek employees respond accurately and quickly. Throughout the training session, everyone spoke Hebrew. Thankfully, Adina was there to translate for those with basic Hebrew skills like myself. Volunteering in Netivot this January will definitely test my Hebrew as well as improve my vocabulary and grammar. Overall, I can say confidently that all of us are looking forward to making Netivot a little safer while volunteering at Ofek.

0.5 miles from the Border: A look into Gaza City and the surrounding Kibbutzim

When many individuals think of Israel, the word Gaza also comes to mind. Never in a million years would I think I would get within 0.5 miles from the border to the Gaza Strip. Our day began with all six of us Otzmanikim, Adina (our Partnership 2000 coordinator), and Rafi (who is on the security council for the Sdot Negev Region), packing into Rafi’s car. Our first stop was Kibbutz Alumim, which is one of the few kibbutzim whose economy still relies on agriculture. The kibbutz has 140 members and began in 1966 as a settlement town. Once arriving at the Kibbutz, we were given the tour of a day care built to withstand rockets and bombs. How does one move numerous babies in 15 seconds? The  strong protective metal mushroom awning is the answer to that question. Next stop on our trip was to Rafi’s house. One of Rafi’s responsibilities is to collect rockets that land in the Sdot Negev Region. At his home he has transformed some of the qasam rockets into wind chimes and outdoor pieces of art.

A beginning of many firsts that would occur today: touching a qasam rocket!

Following this we headed to the border…well as close as one can get without being in the line of fire. We were unable to stop the car for any period of time until we reached the IDF tank where we could look at the view while staying safe. From the border we could see air balloons jacked up with cameras, towers with drone machine guns, and a little bullet-proof digging machine that is constantly on the lookout for tunnels. We could even see the refuge camps were people still reside. UNBELIEVABLE! It was incredible to be standing in beautiful and fruitful agricultural fields, with lots of open space, staring at a tract of land that is the most densely populated urban area in the world and among the most dangerous.

After our quick peek into Gaza, we headed for an impromptu snack in the carrot patch. Talk about straight from the land. We got out of the car and watched the machine pick the carrots from the patch and then drop them at our feet. I also learned that one of the benefits to being a Jewish man is that the clip that keeps your kippah on your head can also serve as a very adequate carrot peeler! The carrots were delicious J Nearby was a nature reserve we got to drive through where we found a turtle, some funky birds, a few red flowers, and the promise that in a month we can go back when the entire area will be covered in red poppies!

Home Sweet Home: First Day in Netivot

Netivot Group: Mike, Rachel, me, Shaina, Gaby, Derek

Fresh off the plane from winter break in the USA, I headed straight to orientation in Jerusalem. Less than 24 hours later, I was shipped off on a bus with other Otzmanikim to my new home for the next three months, Netivot. I had been to Netivot a few times each month since my arrival in Israel in September. Within minutes of descending on Netivot, I knew I was in for three months packed with never-ending hospitality and kindness beginning with an apartment pre-stocked with everything from pita to 6 different types of cereal courtesy of the Partnership.

There are six of us living in the apartment. Two of us are from the Philadelphia area (me and Gabby); Shaina is from Los Angeles and will be moving to Philadelphia for graduate school in the fall; Mike resides in the Washington DC area and Rachel hails from North Carolina. We are also the only apartment to have the Otzma resident Canadian, Derek. We range in age from 21-25 and have varied Hebrew skills and Jewish backgrounds.

Each of us have been graciously taken in by a family in town.  I have personally spent various holidays and numerous Shabbats at my family’s house as well as their extended family’s home. Oddly enough within minutes of entering Netivot, my status changed from lone Otzmanikim to local celebrity. At the shuk, I saw my adopted family’s cousin and then later in the day at the supermarket I saw more extended family. I felt proud of all the connections that I made and that they remembered me from the few holiday celebrations I attended.

Sadly, my first day in Netivot is coming to a close and alas I still have not unpacked my countless suitcases and duffels, which have been dragged up three floors. You would think after traveling around the world, I would have packing and unpacking down to a science. Laila Tov!