Dan L. checks in from Ramle, Israel where he’s serving with UMass-Amherst Hillel and JDC Short-Term Service.

Only success like that achieved today could have eclipsed the satisfaction felt by the whole group after a hard day’s painting, followed by the toasting of gelatin-free marshmallows at night.  If yesterday was successful, today’s activities truly began to shed light on the true nature of our mission, and our ability to create change here in Ramla.

My day began with the planting of coffee and lemon trees along with various other smaller plants outside the Taveja center-our home base in the city- with my comrade Daniel Dovev, while the others did the same close by while engaging in a short-lived singing of Disney Princess songs (with an unfortunate emphasis on the Little Mermaid).  At the end of 3 hour’s work our group of 16 volunteers had cleared immense amounts of trash from the property around the apartment building painted the previous day.  In its place we planted somewhere around 40 trees and bushes.  The result was dramatic! In addition to the satisfaction earned as the result of a job well done we could gaze upon the newly beautified plot of land with pride.

Lunch: chicken, hummus, olives, hummus.  Delicious.

Next came a sort of romp:  Our team split off into two groups, one going to play dodge ball with a group of young teenaged students while the other went to participate in an after-school theater class comprised primarily of 8-year olds.  Here, the significance of the language barrier all but evaporated, as the main form of communication manifested itself in universal facial expressions and hand motions: Mainly smiles and waving.  There were also translators.  Even the student’s 10 minutes rendition of Cinderella recited entirely in Hebrew was easy to follow as the result of the kid’s impressive commitment to expressive movement.

The end of the day featured probably one of the most important experiences I’ve had in Israel to date.  The team walked through the thunder and rain to the mediation center in Ramla where we met a group of Arab and Jewish Israelis to learn first hand how they have been working together to address the social and cultural issues facing the city.

Coming to Israel as a foreigner, it was refreshing to see a group of people composed of two factions notorious for intolerance toward one another, coming together to achieve a common goal through discussion of important issues. Assuming that Ramle is a pioneer in such intercultural cooperation as seen in mediation programs like this, it is ironic to think that a city with such a “stigma” attached to it –according to Jasmine, the 19 year old Arab mediation committee member- should very well be serving as an example for the rest of Israel.

I think the group has a reasonable sense of accomplishment so far, as well as a more holistic understanding as to the context of our service here.  We have a greater comprehension of the challenges facing Ramla today and how we are able to help.  Most importantly, however, I think we have a grip on what more there is to learn about the community.

Check out some pictures from our time here so far below.

We would like to fill you in on some of our activities from the past few days.

On Thursday, we split into groups. While some of us painted the multipurpose room of Beit Shalom, others of us went down two floors to play with the children in day care. We taught the kids how to play Duck Duck Goose, or in Bulgarian “patte patte gusgo.”  Then, they taught us their own game called “Gernay,” which involved the protection of human “pots” and running around the circle. Later that day, we had a reflection session on Jewish people-hood and the highlights of the trip so far, followed by chill time at the hotel and a quiz game night at the JCC.

On Friday, we returned to Beit Shalom JCC to complete our paint-job of the multipurpose room. Before we painted the room, there were cracks in the walls and the paint was chipping off. Now, the room looks brand new with pristine white walls. While we completed the job, some of us went downstairs to play with the children again. It was heart warming to see that they remembered us and wanted to play more games with us. They even invited us to make challah with them. Our day ended early, as we had to return to our hotel to prepare for Shabbat. We attended services at Sofia Synagogue, the third largest synagogue in Europe, designed in the Sephardi style, modeled after a Vienna synagogue. It was GORGEOUS. I couldn’t take my eyes off the paintings and architecture inside the building. Afterwards, we crossed the street to Beit Shalom, where we had dinner, listened to a sermon from the chief rabbi of Sofia about the history of the Jews of Sofia and their struggles to keep Judaism alive in their community, followed by a fun Oneg with local peers. That night, we went clubbing with the local peers to a hip-hop joint and had a blast!

Zdrasti from Sofia, Bulgaria! It’s crazy to think we’ve been here for two nights, and this is the first time we’ve been able to sit down and reflect about our expereinces. Here’s a recap of our whirlwind adventure thus far:

Tuesday Night: We arrived after a 14 hour indirect flight into Sofia. Some of our comrades met us after flying in from New York, and we all bused over to the Trachia Hotel in downtown Sofia. Some of us were wiped from all that traveling and went straight to bed, while others surveyed the local nightlife or did a walking tour of the city by night with our adopted JDC student leader (and friendly Bulgarian), Ina.

Wednesday: Woke up to a scrumptious array of mushrooms, tomatoes, cheeses, eggs, fruit, pastries, potato croquettes and juice- who thought Bulgarian breakfast would be such a feast?! We walked over from our hotel along snow-laden streets, dressed in warm winter coats and excited to meet the Jewish community. We were greeted by our JDC hosts  and learned about Jewish history in Bulgaria, and the community in Sofia today.

Following the presentation, we went downstairs to mingle and talk with some elderly members of the community, some of whom were Holocaust survivors. They were so warm and happy to meet us, and opened up about their Sephardic heritage, Ladino roots, growing up under Nazi then Communist governments, and how important the JDC and the community is to them today. After departing hugs and smiles, we broke up into three groups. The design group surveyed painting spaces, while the movers group helped renovate rooms, and the cooking group served lunch to the elderly. We came together again for a lunch of stuff bell-peppers, soup, and buttered squash… for dessert!

While we digested, we were treated to a four song performance by Allegro, the elderly Ladino choir accompanied by an accordian player. It quickly turned into a cultural exchange through music as we taught them Journey’s classic “Don’t Stop Believing” and all came together to sing and dance Hava Negila.

As the room settled down, we met a new group of English speaking Bulgarians peers. They took us to the homes of different community members who shared their stories and hobbies with us. One in particular recalled her days as a top Jewish Bulgarian model under Communism in the 50s. All these personal narratives and amazing insights wore us out and we headed back to the hotel before dinner. We had a traditional Sepharidic dinner, learned about Ladino culture and fashion, and sang with the glamorous former Bulgarian pop-star Lika. As the night went on, we sang karaoke- belting out Bulgarian classics like “The Macarena” and “Like a Virgin.” Some students went out again while others turned in early. See pictures below to check out all these wild times!

Until the next post, Ciao!

…oh and fun Bulgarian fact, locals nod when they mean “No” and shake their head when they mean “Yes”- That’s the opposite of America!

-Ben (Bear) Brint

(from top left: Singing with Allegro; Singing with Sam; A Bulgarian trolley; Ben at work on the blog at the JDC Bulgaria office; David sampling the local mineral water fountains)

After a long flight, during which we experienced turbulence, 4 AM davening, and delicious airline chicken, the exhausted, yet excited group arrived at Kibbutz Nachshonim. We were greeted by friendly kibbutznikim and homemade falafel accompanied by fresh vegetables and the hummus of heaven’s doorstep. After that we sat down in a circle, reflected on our feelings thus far and discussed JDC and the Mishol program. For those folks out there who do not know what  Mishol is, the word means path, but there is also a deeper meaning, which we would realize the following morning. We all agreed that the air in Israel tasted and smelt sweet and special. Giddy on the emotions of the day, we went to bed in anticipation of the morning.

Several students woke up well before the sunrise, maybe due to jet lag, maybe due to excitement. We walked into the vibrant sky as the sun rose, gazing out upon Tel Aviv’s night lights, as Kibbutz dogs sauntered by. After a breakfast of more veggies, hummus, eggs, toast, cereal and more we jumped aboard our bus, overalls in hand and headed to Ramle. The group met with Givte, Eyal, Moshe, and other leaders of the Mishol program (see JDC’s website for more info) who gave us an itinerary of the week and then directed us to our work sites.

We split into three groups to paint the interior hallways of four-story apartment buildings in the city of Ramle. Ramle is a low income, but culturally thriving center of immigrant life. As we painted the walls a vivid white, we worked alongside locals who taught us proper painting techniques. A couple of groups were even invited into their guides’ apartment, met their families, and took a break for tea and cakes.

After 3 hours of painting, and a good dousing of ourselves in paint splatter, we headed to a delicious lunch of schnitzel, grilled chicken, veggie salads galore, potatoes, rice, and (you guessed it) more hummus. Over lunch we got to know each other a bit more, discussing everything from movies to past Israel experiences. We thought about the idea that in many of our past trips to Israel we felt like we were taking in Eretz Israel and all its splendor without giving back, as this JDC trip does.

We then moved on to the second activity of the day. Half the group worked outside painting two murals in a small commercial area with children. We worked as the sun set behind us, painting a bright blue sky with a dove soaring through it on one wall, and a budding field of fruits and vegetables on the other. These paintings represent the optimism we hope to bring to the community of Ramle.

The other group created colorful tile mosaics which will be hung as entrance signs for the apartment buildings in the area. The children grew giddy as they made the signs to their own homes, gaining a palpable sense of ownership and pride for their community. We  communicated in a mix of Hebrew, English, and song. Teaching each other words such as team “tzevet” and friends “chaverim”. One girl said “I will never forget you” as she invited a JDC team member to skip off with her to check out the other teams work.

After a long day’s work, we boarded the bus for Nachshonim. During a delicious spaghetti dinner (hummus still included) we discussed the pervasiveness of technology in todays culture, plans for after graduation, and ways to spice up our lives on campus at Hillel and with other organizations. Though the group is from all class years, disciplines, and backgrounds, we never fail to find a deep conversation to delve into.

The fun continued as we made s’mores over the grill, ate chocolate with pop rocks, played with the Kibbutz pets, and sang songs in Hebrew and English as a few of the more musically inclined led us with the guitar. Conversations lingered on well into the night as we gazed at the stars, but our beds beckoned with the call of tomorrow’s volunteer work and fun.

Aviad Tamir is the 2011-2012 JDC Ralph I. Goldman (RIG) Fellow in International Jewish Service. Aviad is originally from Israel, earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and completed his Master’s degree in Public Policy at the Lauder School of Government, Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya. Prior to his role as a RIG Fellow, Aviad worked in Israel’s office of the Prime Minister as an Advisor to the Director General in the Ministry for Senior Citizens. He is currently based in Warsaw, Poland.

Havdalah ceremony at weekend leadership seminar for JDC volunteers (Photo: Aviad Tamir)

The Ralph I. Goldman (RIG) Fellowship in International Jewish Service is an experience like no other. I am JDC’s 27th RIG Fellow, and if you look back at the experiences of the last 26 RIG Fellows, no two years are the same. Each fellow works with JDC staff to identify and design their placements which are also shaped by timely and critical situations identified by JDC and in consideration of the special qualifications of the individual fellow.

I moved from Israel to New York for my initial Fellowship Orientation period. I had suitcases of clothing for different climates, open-mindedness about new people, culture and foods, and was ready for whatever my next steps would be – or at least I thought so. During my orientation period, I met with a variety of staff and past Fellows, and read as much as I could about JDC’s programs overseas. I even had the chance to travel to Ethiopia with a JDC Next Gen Young Professional’s service trip and gain exposure to JDC’s non-sectarian programs, as well as a deeper understanding of the Next Gen Initiative, which my placement is a part of. You can imagine just how eager I was to venture to my first identified assignment as a RIG Fellow.

I arrived in Poland two months ago for my first placement, and I am currently conducting research for the local JDC office in Warsaw about Jewish life in smaller communities across Poland, and developing plans for additional outreach and young adult programming. Never did I expect to end up in Poland – a country that means a great deal to me personally, as my grandparents were born there. Growing up in Israel, I was mainly exposed to the image of Poland in the context of Holocaust history and Anti-Semitism. Today, I see a place that is making a come-back as a center of Jewish life.

Anti-Nazi graffiti in Poland (Photo: Aviad Tamir)

The Jewish studies departments in universities are packed. In fact, a large portion of the world’s students in Yiddish Studies study in Poland. Visitors come from all over the world to explore their past and participate in cultural events, including the biggest Jewish cultural festival in Europe which takes place in Krakow, attracting thousands every year.

Moreover, while in some communities around Europe the numbers are declining and the leadership is facing significant challenges regarding how to accommodate the next generation, the Jewish community here is a thriving and growing community. The community still faces some identity issues and the memories of their complicated past, yet, as my friend Jonathan Ornstein, the Director of the Krakow JCC, likes to say, “The world today should learn from Poland, as Poland has much to show the rest of the Jewish world in terms of focusing on the future while dealing with a difficult past.”

JDC has responded to the growing Jewish community with a number of different points of focus. JDC works on the national level here, creating educational and cultural events in big communities; providing basic assistance for those in need, including food, socialization and medicine; and creating programs that focus on development and leadership for young adults.

However, JDC understands the importance of expanding its activities and reaching out to Jews wherever they are in Poland, not just large cities. In my research, I’m addressing this issue, examining the challenges of operating within smaller, more isolated Polish Jewish communities. Therefore, my research requires extensive traveling around the country and meeting with community leaders, supporters and professionals who serve in these local Jewish communities.

While traveling around Poland and meeting wonderful people, I have found Poland to be a fascinating country with a rich culture and Jewish history. Although I’ve only been in here for a short time, I already feel that my perspective and the image of Poland I arrived with have changed dramatically.

Havdalah ceremony at weekend leadership seminar for JDC volunteers (Photo: Aviad Tamir)

One of my greatest experiences so far, which emphasizes the importance of JDC’s effort to connect with the small communities was through the JDC “Chanukah Caravan”. I spent a day on the road in a small mini-van with 10 madrichim, stopping in various small communities to prepare Chanukah events.  For most of these communities, these events are the only time where they can gather around and practice their Judaism publicly as they are far from the big cities and don’t have synagogues or other Jewish institutions around.

I joined the Caravan and visited Czestochowa, a city in south Poland. I must admit that even my cynical Israeli character, who is usually too cool to get emotional around holiday time, was caught in the holiday spirit as I sat together with the crowd made up of all ages, spinning dreidels and singing Chanukah songs. Excited by what I just participated in, I commented to a JDC staff person who accompanied us that it’s amazing to see the existence of Jewish life in such a small community of only a few dozen, where even the elderly are so enthusiastic. She responded that while we believe that we are doing Chanukah for them,  the elderly actually think that they are doing it for us, and they are excited to welcome 10 young Jewish Madrichim to their small community, as this symbolizes Jewish revival for them, and the future of Jewish life in Poland. Whatever the reason was for having the community members participate in the event, it was clear that we all needed each other, young and old,  a combination of history and a renewed spirit and commitment to Jewish life.

As I proceed in my research over the next few weeks, I’m looking forward to exploring the culture, tasting the local food, and continuing to struggle with learning the Polish language in my ongoing search of today’s Poland. Whether it was fate, or simply because my skills matched the needs here in Poland which brought me here, in many ways I have returned home to my family’s roots, to the thriving Jewish center that once existed for my ancestors, and I hope to discover more about my personal history, while helping the JDC to grow their scope of programming over the remaining weeks that I am here.  Coming back to Poland more than 70 years after my family was forced to leave, and helping to revive the Jewish community feels like victory.

Us!

We’re getting ready to head to Ethiopia! Here’s a group pic of the Montrealers at orientation. We’ll post lots of pics from the ground.

We are all so excited to arrive in Sofia, Bulgaria to start our service! On January 2, we will fly out of San Francisco and arrive in Sofia on January 3. We are looking forward to the service, the food, the music, the culture, the people, the nightlife, and the overall experience. BULGARIA, HERE WE COME!

Alex Kats checks in from Mumbai to provide an update on the first-ever JDC-Australia Jewish Young Professionals Service and Leadership Trip to India. Alex lives in Melbourne, Australia.

Hello from India!

For the past week, I have been privileged to be part of the inaugural JDC-Australia Jewish Young Professionals Service and Leadership Trip to India. For me, like many of the other participants from Melbourne and Sydney, this has already been an international adventure like no other. We are based in Mumbai, a fascinating and colorful city, and have spent most of our time devoted to learning about JDC and its work in India, and to seeing the Jewish attractions and learning about the Jewish history and life of the city. One of the rare non-Jewish attractions that we have seen thus far was the Mumbai residence of Mahatma Ghandi. He was and remains a mythological figure in Indian society respected by the people, who spent most of his life completely devoted and dedicated to his cause. In many ways he is symbolic of the Jewish community of this country. Like Ghandi, Jews are respected in an almost mythological way, despite their almost negligible percentage of the population. The leaders of the community are also dedicated to ensuring the survival of Judaism and preserving it as a viable outlet for however many Jews there may be.

A prime example of the Jewish community’s perseverance is the Sassoon High School, founded and initially funded by the philanthropic and highly respected Sassoon family of Pune, just outside of Mumbai. When first started, the school was entirely for the Jewish community, where Jewish students could attend without paying, and learned about Jewish religion, culture and the Hebrew language, according to the school’s charter. Today the school has 547 students from all over Indian society. Of these, only 17 are Jewish, but as has always been the case and in keeping with the founding principles, they don’t pay to receive an education and also partake in many other benefits, like free transport, after school Jewish studies classes, and special foods. Moreover, despite the now 90% of students who are Muslim and others who are Christian, the school closes on all Jewish festivals and maintains an underlying Jewish persona, which adds to the mythology of Jews in India.

Not far from the school as well as in other parts of the city are a number of old synagogues that despite their historic façades, are still very much in use today. Unlike synagogues that we might be used to at home, many of them are more than just prayer halls. They are the focal points of their communities, with large halls and a full calendar of events, providing a sense of communal security and stability. They also infuse the community with a sense of Jewishness that might otherwise be lacking. For many of us, this notion inspired us, but nothing moved us more than a visit with two elderly citizens of the community. Both now in their 80s live in a communal housing estate around the corner from one of the old synagogues. For a few moments in the early afternoon, both invited us into their small but practical apartments, infused with Jewish artifacts. Shimon Joseph used to be an accountant who after officially retiring from private practice, worked for 10 years for the JDC, where he didn’t even use a calculator, let alone a computer. Sophie Solomon Babrikar worked in life insurance for a government firm for many years and told us how she had to get permission from the firm when she wanted to visit Israel for a month about 20 years ago. Both Shimon and Sophie are recipients of JDC’s Meals-on-Wheels program that are delivered to elderly or underprivileged clients once a day, with a special delivery on Fridays before Shabbat.

For our group, meeting these two community members, along with many other Jewish Indians, and hearing about the work of the JDC and the rest of the organized Jewish community has been the most rewarding and fascinating element of our trip so far. The Jewish community in this country numbers less than 5,000 in a sea of multitudes, but with Ghandi-like dedication to ensure their continuity and active involvement, we know they are in good hands. And with more than a week of our program still to go, I’m sure we will be further enlightened and inspired.

Want to travel with JDC? Learn more about our trips in 2012 here.

UMass Amherst Hillel will be traveling to Israel in January 2012! The students and staff will be starting the New Years out with some community service in Ramle, located outside of  the metropolis of Tel Aviv, with the JDC Mishol/Path Program. We will be learning and living together while helping Israeli immigrants from Ethiopia and Russia. We’ll help to build and beautify their physical environment through projects such as painting, and gardening. We will also help to enrich their (and our) social structure by interacting with children and young adults. In addition to working hard, we will relax in the evenings and share meals at Kibbutz Nashonim. We’re also planning interdenominational Shabbat festivities, and a trip to culture-ladden Jerusalem! Stay posted for more details of our adventures!

The group at our second orientation. Lookin’ good!