(no subject)
Daniel has a course this week on organic agriculture in Tel Aviv, thus this Hadas and I will be exploring the mercaz, any suggestions of places to see welcomed.
A day in my life off the shvil
I had one of those wonderful days, just me alone with the rest of the world to keep me company (Hadas was of course there too). I'm glad we decided to go through Tel Aviv as sposed to taking the 'dati' route through the Shomron. As with Jerusalem, Tel Aviv is an important part of Israel and a part I need to get to know better.
Last night we walked all night from Netanya to Herzaliya learning a lot about the tide en route. By 6am we stood at the Techana Mercazit in Tel Aviv watching local kids walk past the druggies and the hookers on their way to nursery and wondered where I should go, Daniel and Gabe were going to a course on organic agriculture in Bet Dagan, but what about me, I had Hadas, a backpack and a night of no sleep. By 7 I was inside the Haganat Hateva library nearby reading up on the shvil, snakes and clouds. I spent the day there, sleeping in a classroom, talking to the board of shvil yisrael about their work. They were very encouraging about taking Hadas with, discussing with me the part of the shvil we have left and showing me how they edit the maps with all the changed that Israel has. Our maps are only 5 years old but you should see how out of dates some bits are - in particular Modiin! The train line doesn't even show on the map never mind the growth of the city.
Finally I left and wandered through the inner city of Tel Aviv reminding myself why I'm studying social work… the area is as I mentioned full of druggies, stoned anorexic prostitutes and bored Ethiopian kids.
A sign caught my eye and interested me - "Bina, Yeshiva Chilonit". Timidly I approached wondering if they would mind a religious kid like me walking in. Turned out a friendly group of secular Israelis study there, both pre and post army age, combining their studies with volunteering in the area. In answer to my questions "what do you learn and why are a group of secular kids interested?" they explained that they learn everything from Tanach, Gamara and Chassidut to S.Y. Agnon and Shpinoza. They're interested because life in Israel is based o Jewish tradition and Jewish tradition comes from these books. They wanted understand their culture and traditions to a greater depth. In fact they are there to deepen their understanding and belief of their secularity.
A day in my life off the shvil
I had one of those wonderful days, just me alone with the rest of the world to keep me company (Hadas was of course there too). I'm glad we decided to go through Tel Aviv as sposed to taking the 'dati' route through the Shomron. As with Jerusalem, Tel Aviv is an important part of Israel and a part I need to get to know better.
Last night we walked all night from Netanya to Herzaliya learning a lot about the tide en route. By 6am we stood at the Techana Mercazit in Tel Aviv watching local kids walk past the druggies and the hookers on their way to nursery and wondered where I should go, Daniel and Gabe were going to a course on organic agriculture in Bet Dagan, but what about me, I had Hadas, a backpack and a night of no sleep. By 7 I was inside the Haganat Hateva library nearby reading up on the shvil, snakes and clouds. I spent the day there, sleeping in a classroom, talking to the board of shvil yisrael about their work. They were very encouraging about taking Hadas with, discussing with me the part of the shvil we have left and showing me how they edit the maps with all the changed that Israel has. Our maps are only 5 years old but you should see how out of dates some bits are - in particular Modiin! The train line doesn't even show on the map never mind the growth of the city.
Finally I left and wandered through the inner city of Tel Aviv reminding myself why I'm studying social work… the area is as I mentioned full of druggies, stoned anorexic prostitutes and bored Ethiopian kids.
A sign caught my eye and interested me - "Bina, Yeshiva Chilonit". Timidly I approached wondering if they would mind a religious kid like me walking in. Turned out a friendly group of secular Israelis study there, both pre and post army age, combining their studies with volunteering in the area. In answer to my questions "what do you learn and why are a group of secular kids interested?" they explained that they learn everything from Tanach, Gamara and Chassidut to S.Y. Agnon and Shpinoza. They're interested because life in Israel is based o Jewish tradition and Jewish tradition comes from these books. They wanted understand their culture and traditions to a greater depth. In fact they are there to deepen their understanding and belief of their secularity.