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Dear Parents,
Shalom!
It has been five weeks since the beginning of Nativ and the mini-semester is already behind us. The first few weeks on Nativ were extremely intense, as the transition from high school to college was internalized by the students. The Hebrew University students took a total of seven credits; half the group took intensive Ulpan classes, while the rest took courses on Israeli Society, as well as a Jewish text based course. Both the Israel and text courses were immensely beneficial to the Nativers and helped to prepare them for spending a year in Israel on a Conservative Jewish program. The courses on Israeli society taught the students to understand both the historical underpinnings of the State of Israel and how those underpinnings have shaped the way contemporary Israeli society is structured, while the text course introduced the students to the type of critical, Jewish thinking which is an integral aspect of the Conservative Jewish outlook. The students truly gained immensely from both courses.
Simultaneously, our Conservative Yeshiva students have been participating in a unique curriculum structured around studying rabbinic texts pertaining to the High Holiday season. The Talmud classes have been focusing on tractates which deal with the holidays of Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and Sukkot, while the halakha (Jewish law) classes have been studying rabbinic law codes-both medieval and contemporary-which elucidate the corresponding customs and practices for these holidays. Consequently, not only were the Yeshiva students able to have a much richer Rosh Hashana experience than they have likely ever had before, but they were also in a unique position to educate their peers about the rabbinic roots of the holiday. If the mini-semester classes served as any indication, the students have a very exciting and rewarding semester to look forward to at the Conservative Yeshiva.
After an intensive mini-semester, our Ulpan students are in the full swing of Hebrew language learning and are in the process of starting their volunteering. By volunteering at Israeli organization with native Hebrew speakers, they will be able to practically reinforce what they have been learning in the classroom. Although they are only using their Hebrew somewhat in Anglo-Jerusalem, the skills they are attaining in their Ulpan courses now will help them immeasurably during the second semester, when they will truly be immersed in Israeli society.
Furthermore, all Nativers had the opportunity to take a class about the historical geography of Jerusalem, in which they learned about the city's history through a combination of classroom lectures and fieldtrips. Throughout the course of this class, the Nativers visited museums, sites and places of historical significance that brought what they were learning in the classroom to life. It is an incredible thing to have the opportunity to learn about Judaism's most significant city while walking through its streets, and the Nativers rose to the occasion. By the time the course concluded, they had become true Jerusalemites.
In addition to engaging in classroom studies, the Nativers have had several evening programs which have been both meaningful and exciting for them. Amongst these programs was a special evening commemorating the 10th anniversary of 9/11, an Israel update session with Ari Appelbaum, the Israel director of the David Project, and a session with Jonathan Kessler, who is responsible for the strategic development and oversight of AIPAC's leadership development program. This is only the beginning of many evening sessions that will help the Nativers put everything that they learning on the program into perspective.
Additionally, the staff have been offering a number of special programs for the Nativers in the evenings. Every night of the week, the students get to choose between such interesting activities as Café Ivrit (where a group goes to a coffee shop and speaks only in Hebrew), watching a classic American film (this week we will be screening "The Graduate"), or playing in the Nativ Basketball Association (among several other options). Many of the Nativers actively participate in these programs, and those who do have been enjoying them very much. This week, we will also be beginning to offer a Jewish educator training course and a course offered by the David project. Many Nativers have already signed up for these courses and it looks like they will be extremely successful.
During the shabbatot, the Nativers took advantage of a few special Shabbatonim that were offered. On the weekend of Sept. 9- 10, all the Nativ Yeshiva students joined the Yeshiva for a Shabbat in Ma'ayan Harod. On the weekend of Sept. 23-24, 21 Nativers came together with participants of Gap Year programs run by the Masorti movement from South America, England and Israel for a Shabbat of learning about the similarities and differences among different branches of the Conservative movement worldwide. It was a great opportunity for new friendships and connections to be made and the Nativers learned an incredible amount about what it means to be a Conservative Jew outside of the United States.
By September 27, everyone had finished their final exams and it was time for a fun, relaxing day. The entire group spent the day at the Holon water park, and in the afternoon we had the unique opportunity to be in the audience for the taping of the Israeli version of the famous show "The Voice" (essentially, an American Idol spin-off). Of course, most of the songs were performed in Hebrew and the mentors (judges) are all famous Israeli singers, but it was a very exciting afternoon for all of us. The show is expected to air in Israel in December.
The Holidays in Israel are a big event; you can feel them everywhere you go. In the week leading up to Rosh Hashanah the buses read - Shanah Tovah - on their front. We too got into the spirit of the holidays with study sessions that took place before Rosh Hashanah. The Nativers had the option of choosing 2-3 sessions out of 7 that were offered on a variety of topics relating to the holiday.
On the first night of Rosh Hashanah, the entire Nativ community came together for tefillot. It was a beautiful service and there was an electricity of excitement in the air during the service. After services, we all sat down for a festive holiday meal. Before we began the meal we held aRosh Hashanah seder. It was prepared by the Nativers and it included blessings on different foods that are symbolic to elements of the New Year holiday. We had the traditional apples and honey, dates, carrots, pomegranates and even fish heads. The Nativers prepared a wonderful presentation on the different symbols and meanings and after the many appetizers,we had a delicious (even they said so...) meal
During the two days of Rosh Hashanah each group was hosted for one of the days by different congregations in south Jerusalem for tefillot and for a home cooked meal at the homes of the congregants. Everyone had positive davening experiences at synagogues in the Baaka and Talpiyot areas and they were very happy to enjoy a good, home cooked yom tov meal.
Now that Rosh Hashana is over, we are in the midst of the Ten Days of Repentance and everyone is back in school (at least for the time being). However, the excitement is far from over, as we have not only Yom Kippur and Sukkot to look forward to, but we also have our tiyul in the negev looming on the horizon. I will keep you updated as these dates approach. For now, all is well here in Jerusalem.
Shana Tovah u Metukah and Gmar Chatimah Tovah.
Sincerely,
Yossi Garr
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