Becoming a Soldier

So this one is kinda out of order, but here goes:

So a week ago, we went to "Bakum" which is a part of the army base Tel Ha'shomer in Tel Aviv, where people are inlisted and are released from their mandatory army service in Israel. Last monday we went there to "become soldiers" even though were not going into basic training for another month.

While there, there was basically a bunch of different stations, we gave our bank account so they can deposit our paycheck, we had a blood test done, we got our picture taken for our army id, our finger prints taken, vaccinations, and finally we got our uniforms. Of course when getting the uniforms we had to try them on to make sure we didnt get anything too out of proportion, make sure the boots fit, and of course to see how we look in them. The day before we went to do this was my birthday, so i thought even though it wasnt mandatory at that point, that i was going to buzz my hair so i would look like a soldier for real in all of the pictures for the army. Anyways, we also got our preliminary army IDs and our dog tags of course, and now with our amy ID we can travel on any Egged bus in Israel for a maximum of 9.60 sheckels. (of course once were in the army, we will go for free). When we got back to the kibbutz after this long day, we had to pack up our uniforms and be done with them until we actually going to go in the army. Right now all of our statuses are "soldiers" we are no longer civilians, and any offenses we commit will be tried in an army court.

Here is a picture of me with some friends in Uniform:


(notice were in my room, you can see the texas flag above my bed...)

Yom Kippur in the Old city of Jerusalem

So this Yom Kippur wasn't like others that i have had in my life. 

First of all it was spent in Jerusalem, which i have only done once in my life, when i was in Israel two years ago on Year Course. Second of all, this one i got to spend two of the three services inside the walls of the old city. 

I stayed with Yemmima, a good friend of Yaels and one of the scouts who worked at Camp Tel Yehudah when i was a camper there...It was especially nice, because i didn't make my plans until a few days before i actually went, so it was really nice of them to take me last minute. 

Friday afternoon the fast started pretty early, because here in Israel, we have already changed our clocks back for daylight savings time. (just for those who are curious, im 7 hours later than central US time now) We had a nice meal at Yemimma's house, then drove to the old city parked the car right outside, and went into the Shul. It was a sepharadi portuguese shul, but there were many people there who were neither portuguese nor sepharadi. It was pretty hard to find my place, because of the pace of the service, and the fact that they don't read out page numbers there like they do in the states. It was a good experience overall, and i would return to the same shul the next night for ne'ila to finish off the holiday, at which time i had began adjusting much better to the pace and tunes of the service.  After the service we walked back to Yemima's appartment (half way across Jerusalem) which took us about an hour or so. Then we got in, and i went right to bed, having woken up at 6 that morning, and after a day of traveling from the north to Tel Aviv, and then Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The next morning i woke up at about quarter to ten, and i got up, and we went to a different shul, a little closer to their house, only a 30 minute walk. That shul was more similar to the tunes and style we have back home, although not exact. After that service which went until about 2 in the afternoon, I ended up running into two different Judaeans, and walked back to the old city for ne'ila (the ending prayers of Yom Kippur). We got there in the middle of the reading of the story of Jonah, and stayed for about 3 hours until the fast ended. Overall i would have thought that fasting and walking as much as i did would have been really hard, but in the end, it wasn't too hot in Jerusalem, and it wasn't nearly as bad as i had expected. Overall the experience was pretty cool, being in the Old city of Jerusalem, where so many people had done the same thing for thousands of years. Also doing the priestly blessing in the shul inside the walls of the old city was very moving, because it was the closest i have felt to my ancestry possibly ever. Hope everyone who fasted had an easy fast and Chag Sameach, and Shanah tovah (happy new year) to everyone!

I got called to tryout for the airforce!

So this past couple of weeks have been a lot of fun, they have been generall pretty routine, ulpan three times a week, and activities about the army, and learing more and more about the army every day.

One really big thing that i found out 3 or 4 days ago, is that I have been asked to go for the first round of testing for the air force, that i qualified for the preliminary testing for pilots course, which for those of you who dont know, is a pretty big deal in Israel. So, that was really exciting, and a really big honor that i even qualified. So Monday im going to Tiberious, with four other guys in my gareen who qualified, and were going to take a series of tests for a few hours, and see if we qualify to go to the next round.

The other night i went to a basketball game, Israel vs. Bosnia, and it was a game that all of the people on year course this year were at, and so i got in through their overpurchassing of tickets. Basically i took a 4 hour bus ride from the north go get to tel aviv, and then took a bus back the next day. It was really nice though, because I got to see lots of friends, ,meet some people, and see my cousin who is on year course this year. Then after i met Daniel Gottesman for dinner, who for those of you who dont know him, is a family friend, and an officer in the Israeli air force. Then after dinner i went back to Holon where i slept for the night, and then my friend Roy came and picked me up, and we went out for a bit. It was really good to see him, because i hadn't seen him since we worked together at camp this summer.

Another thing i forgot, Sunday after our free weekend last weekend, we stayed in Tel aviv, and our program brought all of these different speakers to talk to us about the middle east, and about the Israeli-Palesinian conflict, and about the army and everything. It was really nice, although everyone was exausted from going out during our free weekend. Then that night we drove south, to the negev and stayed the night in a bedouin tent which was really nice, just to be able to go and sleep out in nature for one night. The next day we drove about twenty minutes further south and arrived at a Shirion (tanks) base where we got to see an all out exerceise of many different branches of the army. There were tanks, people from engineering, field intellegence, all the different infantry units, and artillery. I wouldnt say it was fun, but it was really interesting, and a new experience seeing how the different parts of the army would theoretically work together in the field. Then we had a talk with a few officers from the tanks, and they tried to convince us why tanks are the best place to be in the army. It worked pretty well, but i still dont think im going to go to the tanks. Then afterwards, we had to get back on our bus and drive from the south of Israel to the north, which seemed to take forever.

Life on the kibbutz is still nice, its very theraputic. Noone on the kibbutz normally has any use for money, becasue in teh dining room and in the kibbutz store everyone has a number for their account, so you dont have to worry about the constraints of money ever. Even though its kinda socialist in that respect its really nice and peaceful.

Rosh Ha'shanah is coming up really soon, and im planning on going with my kibbutz host family to Tel Aviv and meet their extended family.

By the way, i forgot to add earlier that Israel won the Basketball game that they played against Bosnia.

Tonight there is a big end of summer party on the kibbutz at the pool, so im really excited about that. Thats all for now, ill keep you all posted. for those of you who didnt sign up to get notifications... heres the link again.

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Pictures from Kibbutz Shamir

This is the view we have out of our window in the guys building...

This is the view we had at our sunrise hike two days ago...
A view of the side south of the Kibbutz....

More pictures will be coming soon, and they will be accompanied by a new post as well.

Army information/testing week

So this week was filled with information about the army, and ill give you an overview of what we did. This past weekend was a free weekend, meaning almost everyone was in Tel Aviv, partying and having lots of fun. (As was I).

Sunday we all (All of Garin Tzabar) met at the Central Bus Station in Tel Aviv, and from there we took buses to one of the biggest army bases in Israel, Tel Ha'shomer, in which we had a fun day filled with many different things. Basically the way it was set up, was many different trailers, each representing a different part of the army. We went through and heard about Tzanchanim (Paratroopers), Medical Corps, Artillery, Search and Rescue, Combat Engineering, Education corps, Tanks, a new battalion called 'kfir', and at each one, there were representatives from that unit, telling you why you should join that part of the army, passing out information, showing movies, weapons, or tools used in that unit, and so forth. Basically it was a day of lots of information, and a little bit of confusion, since each person can only pick one place they want to go... This really didn't help me make any sort of decision. Then at around 2 or 3pm we set out on our way back to the kibbutz. The ride isn't too bad by Texas standards, its probably about 4 hours from Tel Aviv, if there isn't traffic and if you don't stop on the way. Anyways, we stopped about an hour away from our kibbutz to get some food at this Arab restaurant, which was really good.

Basically, they kept bringing out more and more types of salads, and falafel, and soda, and pita, and once we were all just about full, they came around and took orders from each person of what kind of meat they wanted. It was amazing. Anyways, we finally got back to the kibbutz, and were pretty tired. At this day we had two days until the infamous Tzav Rishon ('first order' from the army, where everyone goes through a doctor's visit, the standard stuff, blood pressure, weight, height, checking back and feet, and basically a general check for any problems. Then comes, "Imut netunim" which is basically, a personal interview, where they not only check what you have been doing for the last few years, but also your Hebrew level, get personal information about your family, and other stuff too. Anyways, the other stuff is pretty standard, they had to know everything i have been up to since i graduated from high school, and that seemed to be enough. Then came the Hebrew test. This specific round of testing is infamous for being hard even for most Israelis, and there are a few different parts. The hardest parts are where they give you a sentence, which you have to read, (most of the words of which you have never heard, and have no idea what they mean). They tell you to try and guess what the words mean, or what the sentence means as a whole, seeming to forget that you cant even give her the meaning of single words in the sentence. Then the best part about it, is that you get to do it another two or maybe three times. The next part is Hebrew words, the interviewer says a word and you have to tell her what it means, or try and figure it out if you don't know. Then the instructor person gives you a pencil and piece of paper, and tells you to copy down the sentence she reads (also about at the same level as others, where you have never heard of the words before). Through all of this i at least managed to make some small talk with the two soldiers who were interviewing me, and one of them had even heard of Young Judaea, and was in the scouts.

The next part of the rigorous day was waiting, i haven't mentioned it yet, but between each of these things that I'm explaining, there is a minimum wait of 30-45 minutes. The next step was the "ra'ayon ishi'' (personal interview), which was interesting, i was put in a type of interrogation style room where i sit opposite a relatively cute soldier, who tells me that i can feel at ease, its not a formal meeting, and that i can relax. Then she begins by asking me a little about what i already told the other interviewers, about what i have been doing my last few years of my life. Then she asks me what a good friend is to me, and about any experiences i have had with professors in college, if i have ever gotten in an argument, or clash with any, and why and what happened. She follows up all of her questions with more questions, and just tries to get to know me, and why I'm there and why I'm going into the army, and what i want to do in the army, and what i would do if i was put somewhere where i didn't want to be, and more questions of the like. It was relatively painless, just took me an hour and a half or so. Then back outside to wait for the "psychotechni" tests (basically some sort of IQ tests). Eventually i went in and took two short tests, one in 15 minutes and the other in 12 minutes, and they were either picture patterns, which i had to pick which was the next in the pattern, or it was analogies of patterns, and i had to pick the correct answer. The first test was really hard, because it started with really easy questions and got harder and harder and so by the middle, i thought i was doing well on time, but then they got really hard, and each question took more time to solve, but it was OK in the end. The second test was much easier. Then i was done. It was a good feeling, but then we went outside where everyone was, and we had to wait some more until everyone was done. It was a really exhausting day overall, and it was an important day too, because that day my physical and intellectual profiles were determined, which are the two numbers that will stay with me through my army service. I also got a score for my Hebrew level which i will be able to test and improve, but the fact that i got a personal interview means that my Hebrew is good enough to start the army with the level I'm at.

Yesterday was very relaxed, in Ulpan, we watched a movie, and did some fun games too. Then in the afternoon they brought a couple of members of the kibbutz to talk to us who were members of either the Palmach or the Haganah, the freedom fighting groups that eventually transformed into the IDF when the state was established. They told us all about how things were, and it was really interesting hearing their perspectives because i dont think i have ever heard that perspective before.

Today is Friday, and we had a late wake up, we cleaned out building and pretty much were free for most of the day, we went to the pool, hung out, and took naps. Now I'm back after having shabbat dinner, I'm going to go to the Kibbutz pub in a bit, and there's another all kibbutz activity that i wanted to see before that. I know it was a long post, it has been a long week. Shabbat Shalom.

The second/third week... (gadna)

So my second/ third weeks included many fun things:

First of all I got a ride to Bar's house on thursday, right before the weekend, for the third wedding (party) of Yael and Bar. It was a really fun party and I saw many people that i care about in Israel, including not the most recent, but the two different Israeli families that worked at my summer camp in Texas. Of course many other friends of my sister who live in Israel like Mollie, and Nina, who its always a pleasure to see them. We watched the slideshow that I made for their wedding, and watched a slideshow of pictures from the actual wedding, and also the video that Bar's friends made to send to the actual wedding, and of course at this party they were all there, and they were really fun. Anyways, there wasnt really a meal, it was just many appetisers which was just as much food as a meal, and they were really good. Of course we had many lechayims and danced a lot, and it was just a really happy atmosphere. All of the family made speeches, and my dad made his speech in Hebrew, which i was really impressed, since he hasnt been in Israel for more than a couple of weeks in 30 years at least. He seemed to use and pick up his Hebrew really fast and was able to communicate with minimal problems. We had more dancing, lifted Yael and Bar up in Chairs and did a hora and the night was complete. Afterwards I went out for coffe/snack with my sister, Bar and his friends which was pretty cool.

Then i had a free weekend off the kibbutz, which was perfect becasue i could then spend more time with my parents. Also in the course of the weekend I got to see one of my really good friends from camp this past summer Itay, and we went for coffe and cheesecake. It was really good catching up with him, and seeing him. Then saturday night we went to a preformance called juntos (means "together" in Spanish) which was a preformance of Mayumana (basically an Israeli version of Stomp), with David Broza (an Israeli musician who lived many years in spain, and is amazing on the guitar spanish style and otherwise). It was the second time I had seen the preformance but it was my parents' first times, and they really enjoyed it.

The next morning, i had to catch the train to Tel Aviv to meet back up with my group and we had a big week to come. From there we took the bus to an army base called ג'וארה (jew-are-ahh) its a special base in the army for education. Basically to explain to those of you who dont know what it is, its called gadna, and most Israelis go through it in 11th grade, its a five day program "simulation" of basic training in the army, where you learn all different kinds of things in the army, and about weapons, and physically running, crawling, and stuff. At the end of the week, they take us to a shooting range and we get a chance to shoot M-16 (long) assault rifles. Anyways, it was an interesting week, since everyone who was there was about to go to the real army in two months. It was a good week overall, with many discussions about all of the dillemas that exist in the army, regarding all kinds of things. talking about the honor code in the army, and with regard to guns. I know I really need to post pictures, and dont be too surprised by the pictures of gadna, yes im in a uniform, but not im not in the army yet. This week sunday were having a talk about different positions in the army, which im still really unsure what I want to do, because there are different options, and possibilities of things I can do, I need to figure out what is most interesting, and how im going to feel my service will be most meaningful to me. Other than that we have our major interviews with the army this week on wednesday, physical, intellectual, psychological, and im sure other tests included, so im kinda nervous/anticipating that. Anyways, thats about all for now, hope to hear from everyone soon and keep in touch. Also I finally have a phone, so those of you who want to buy a calling card and call me, feel free. If you want my number please email me, or message me somehow, and i will give it to you.--Elan

The First Week... (Part du)

So after the opening ceremony, we drove north to the kibbutz, which because of rush hour traffic ended up taking about 5 hours. (at least an hour longer than it normally would have) During these 5 hours i ended up sitting next to this girl Ella, who started Garin Tzabar last year on a different kibbutz, and so a convenient person to ask all sorts of questions about how the program works, what she reccomended, and so forth. We got to the kibbutz at around 8 o'clock, and proceeded to unpacking the bus with all of our many suitcases, (which almost didnt all fit in the bus with us) and we ate dinner which had been prepared for us. We got our keys, moved into our rooms, (which to my dismay, me and my roommate have the smallest room, much smaller than everyone elses) and got settled in. It was a really nice view of many different towns or cities, of who's lights we saw from our dormitories on the kibbutz. Soon enough we got ourselves to sleep, and rested some, since we were pretty much all still getting over our jet lag.

I woke up in the morning, in my small room, and got dressed, got my sunglasses on, only to go outside and see one of the most awesome views that i have ever seen in Israel. (ill post it soon i promise) Anyways, i forgot to mention that our first night some of us were wandering around the kibbutz to see it, and met the head of security on the Kibbutz, which turns our was born in Europe, but spend some twenty years in Texas, living in Houston, and i was glad i had someone who also knew was good mexican food, and Country music sounds like. (Not to mention speaks enlgish like a texan)

So the first full day on the Kibbutz, i had the opportunity to meet our three soldiers that are going to help us in many aspects of the drafting process, from figuring out where in the army is best for us, to helping with hebrew, and knowing what to expect. Their names are Adi, Shira, and Anya, and are all really cool each with her own story. (not to mention that they are cute in their uniforms)

The next few days we did many things from opening Israeli Bank Accounts for each of us, signing cell phone contracts, taking a test to place us in Ulpan, and such, in addition to fun stuff, such as taking a hike to the "hot spring" near shamir, which might be better described as a puddle of hot muddy water, and not the good mud they sell from the dead sea, just plain old mud. Another more fun thing we got to do was meet with the president of the Kibbutz who answered our many questions from, how many people live on our kibbutz(~600) to asking why we dont eat the beef from the cows that are slaughtered on the kibbutz.(because arabs will pay more money for the high quality beef, and we eat frozen beef from argentina). We also had a scavenger hunt on the kibbutz to learn more about its history, and to meet some interesting people who live on it.

So two days ago my parents came to visit the kibbutz with Bar, Yael, Miri, and Zeev. It was really fun showing them around, and my half sized room. I showed them the really nice pool, the view from where my building where im living, and from the other side of the Kibbutz, and the dining room, and the Coal-Boa (the little market where we buy pretty much any food or supplies we need).

This morning we had to get up, and get all of our paperwork with regards to making aliyah, or living here. We took a trip to Tiberious, which took us about an hour-ish to get there. There i got my Teudat Zehut (Official Israeli ID card) and I assigned for all of the money that the government of Israel is giving me for the next 7 months to be deposited in my new Israeli bank account. Then on the way back, we stopped at Kiriat Shmoneh (the closest city to our Kibbutz) and we stopped at this small mall for about an hour and a half to get lunch, and to shop for whatever we needed. At the mall we ran into a group of Birthright (oranim) which was kind of funny only because we were in the food court with them, and a couple of the guys asked if anyone spoke english. Of course i answered him, "yea, whats up?" and then recieved a complement of how good my american accent was in English. These are things im going to have to get used to, being a dual citizen. For now they just crack me up. Anyways, now were back on the kibbutz and we have our first Ulpan (hebrew classes) tomorrow morning. I really hope they are at my level and challenging. Anyways, ill post again soon, hope you all enjoyed, and cant wait to read your comments.