Weekend in Jerusalem

Friday 1/30/15

    Early start on the bus to Jerusalem.  We stopped first to tour Herodium park.. Thpe fortress and palace of  King Herod, crowned bt the Romans as King of Judea. In the third decade BCE he began the building  complex. 62.5 acres on a huge man made mountain. For tourists to view the excavation sites: Lots of steps and steep hills to climb.    In addition we explored the elaborate tunnel system  which hold 4 cisterns.   It was incredibly windy and we were outdoors for about 2 hrs, so it was a high energy day.  

     After we checked into our hotel, which is across from King david hotel, and next to an extraordinary building which houses the YMCA.   If I did not email you photos , be sure to google this YMCA.  It is an amazing piece of architecture .

    Late afternoon we walked over to the Wailing Wall.  I had been there in 1972 and again with our family in 1998.  This time I was amazed  at his many orthodox boys and men were participating.  Their clothing and style of prayer are so foreign to me.  That combined with the continued practice of segregating women, who must pray separately in screened off area is quite disturbing....

   The day ended with Shabbat dinner in hotel dining room.

Stepping back in history 1939 - 1948

      This afternoon several of us visited an Immigrant Detention Camp: the Atlit Detention Camp.
As Jews attempted to enter Palestine during the Biritish Mandate period, their entrance into the country was restricted.  Tens of thousands of detainees, many who have survived the camps, found them self in yet another camp, watiing to be released when the British opened up a certain number of spots on the quota system.  Some where held in Haifa and other camps were set up in Cyprus (52,000) About 3000 Jews lost their lives in the struggle with the British. 
     Once the state of Israel was established in 1948, the camps served as waiting facilities to help new immigrants transition to life in Israel. At these centers, language lessons and job training were offered and Jewish social agencies worked with these new Israelis to find them housing and jobs.
  After years of neglect,  in 1986 the camp was restored as a national museum.  Some of the original dormatory buildings and a recreated ship (similar to the Exodus) are on display.  The creative use of film and small stages sets of scenes with animated figures on board the ship help to recreate the difficult environmment experienced by thousands, as they made the crossing to Haifa   From the deck of the ship you can see the port of Haifa. 
    It was quite emotional to see and once again  reminded me how fortunate I am to have been born in
a free country.   A young woman guide, doing her 2 year national service, was our tour guide. There is great respect for their country's history and the efforts early pioneers who endured such hardship to start a new life and a new country.

Day #9 and Haifa is beginning to feel a little familiar

Wednesday 1/28/15
       Another excellent day with 8th and 12th graders.  It is just a novelty for me to spend time with teenagers. These kids have captured my heart.  Fortunately in one school, I have been assigned the advanced students, so communication is easy and they have so much to discuss!  We are given assignments  by the teachers, but they are  usually flexible, so if the kids prefer to practice conversation and not stick to the lesson plan, that is ok.
      Today, I spent an hour with 2 young men who are anticipating their military service within the year. They have already gone with classmates for a one week introduction experience and see their service as a time to learn new skills, gain maturity and contribute to their country.  Not all will be in active military services. Some are sent to other settings (schools, hospitals etc...) depending on their abilities and the needs......  One young man  mentioned that he has promised himself to read a book a week, so that when away in the military the " books in my head" will be with me.
        Later today I met for coffee with my friend Dorene's colleague, Nir, who is the person who helped me arrange for transport from Tel Aviv to Hiafa.  We had communicated by mail and phone and today finally met. So gracious to take the time from his busy schedule to meet with me.
       Temperature is getting a bit cooler but still clear and sunny most of the time.  Thinking about everyone on the East coast and hope that the temperature will soon rise and melt all that snow away!

Perhaps today was too busy?

Tuesday
1/26/15
    In their enthusiasm to ensure we are not missing anything in Haifa, our leaders planned an afternoon tour of the Tecnion, an impressive 300 acre campus with fabulous educational programs on an undergrad and graduate level as well as a preadmission program to cultivate talented youth to qualify for admission after their military service.  So after a full morning  of tutoring in classrooms, a quick lunch and then extensive tour of the Technion, we had time for bowl of soup at hotel and then bus ride to concert hall on outskirts of city for an 8:30 performance.  It was a lively concert so no one fell asleep... We are in agreement that tomorrow's pace should be more relaxed!

Volunteer teaching 101

Monday  Jan.26
    I am reading worrisome blizzard predictions and thinking about everyone back home and along the east coast.  Hoping you stay safe and warm and do not lose power.
     Today was a remarkable day.  Walked over to Chugin school, where the teachers Met us and accompanied us to our first classrooms. They had the four volunteers meet with the class in one large group for first session.  About 32 kinds per class.  After today we will work in smaller groups , 4-5 students with each volunteer.  3 of my classes were 10 th graders and one was a 7 th grade.  Classes are 45 minutes. With 15 minute breaks in between.   The kids had numerous question about life in America,  our feeling about Israel's role in the world,  inquiring if we felt safe in the US etc.   the teachers are very positive and grateful for the time we are contributing.      Wednesday's assignment in the 10th grade classes will be reading about and discussing Martin Luther King.   Tomorrow I am at a different High School where the kids are researchin Greek Mythology.
      after a quick lunch, I took a long walk down hill to an area called Hadar.    (i went with a couple who has been on the trip 5 times, so their knowledge  of the area and Hebrew was very helpful!)  An immigrant neighborhood along the side if the mountain. Small shops and cafes.  It is on cable car line, finicular, Which we took back up to  hotel.   4 pm was our first Hebrew language class.   Many of the participants are quite advanced, so she will separate us into 2 groups.  I  found it painful to feel so unprepared.  Teacher will bring some more elementary teaching materials next time and we will see how Wednesday class goes...
   This evening we had a fabulous speaker. He is principal of an elementary school  for at risk kids.  Very creative and high energy.  The Boston Haifa connection contributes funds to support some special Ed programs there.  No volunteers from our program are assigned there , yet, but we may go on a tour if our schedule allows.

Apology

sorry about typos in previous entry.  I must be tired!

First Sunday in Haifa

1/25/15
     Every day feels like Sunday. I am hoping once our teaching schedule begins tomorrow, some order will return to my week!  Today we visited 3 schools and met with students and staff for a full day of orientation.  Fortunately 2 of the schools are the ones I am assigned to, so I got. a good preview of the school and a general idea of how to walk there.   Staff from the CJP Boston Haifa program accompanied us throughou the day and will go with us tomorrow to ensure we get to where we are supposed to be on time.
       The first school, Chugim, is a public high school.  We are working with sophomores.  We had a very structured program.  15 volunteers in a circle. 15 students in a second circle around us.  We faced each other, the leader offered a question for discussion and we had individual dialogues with our student for about 10 minutes, followed by some large group discussion.   Then the students moved one seat to the right, another topic was introduced and another dialogue began. We repeated this with 5 students.  Some were Native to Israel, others were immigrants.  Their English is pretty good and they were enthusiastic participants.  My favorite question was how did they get their name? Most of the Americans, followed the custom of being named after a deceased ancestor.   Most of the Israelis had names with meaning representing a holiday or wish or feeling etc.  there was a creativity to the way these children were named that reflected the creative energy of this young nation.
      The next school was an elementary school.  One of the first in modern Israel.  Senior volunteers go have donated numerous artifacts from the agricultural beginning of this nation, and have created historic displays showing the life of the pioneers on the grounds and within the school bulding.  Our guide was a retired teacher, who has worded for 15 years to create this display.  We also saw a secret room, hidden behind bookshelves where arms were stored during the British mandate period when they fought for independence.
    Finally the third school, Reali, was our longest visit.  It is huge, several buildings and a petting zoo.  It is a private elementary and middle  school focusing on science.  We will be working with the middle school age children.  We met with the principal and teachers, were given folders with bane sap and ages of our students and assignments for week #1.  This school utilizes project based learning and apse are expected to help students utilize computer as the research teir projects.   Added to the challenge are the 70 concrete sets along side of the mountain we climb down to get to the school campus.  Almost 1000 students at http this schoo!
   This may be more info than you are inrpterms tend in, so I will sign off.   The adventure continues...