Signing off of a great trip to Bat Yam

Our last week in Bat Yam was very exciting, both at the Kadima Centre and at our apartment.

All of last week the older children left the Kadima Center to take a leadership training course. While the children were away with some of the staff, the Canadian volunteers had the opportunity to run a couple of fun programs, including a game of soccer and some arts and crafts.

On Thursday, when the children returned, we were privy to a unique ceremony which awarded them for completing the course. The ceremony was an incredibly interesting experience, and both the younger and older children were really taken by it.

We decided to spend the last Shabbat that we were in Bat Yam for as a group. We had a big shabbat dinner, and spent the entire night together hanging out in the apartment, and walking on the beach after. All in all it was a nice night and a great way to have a last shabbat in Bat Yam.

Tonight we will all be going into Tel Aviv to see the movie Zerubavel which is an acclaimed film by an Ethiopian director. A nice way to begin the end of our six and a half week journey through Kadima and the Ethiopian culture that exists in Bat Yam.

Thank you to everyone who has read the blog, and we will see you all soon.

Signing Off,

The Bat Yam Group 2009

Cuba, El Salvador, Toronto, and Yemin Orde

Last week we recieved a visit to the Kadima centre by a Birthright Group from Toronto, Cuba, and El Salvador. It was a great opportunity for the kids to meet jews from all over the world, and for the birthright group to give back for the wonderful 10 day gift that they had recieved. The leaders of the kadima centre explained to the birthright group how life in Israel differs from life everywhere else.

Making specific reference to Gilad Shalit, the leaders explained to their group that life here is effected by many different events and actions. Afterwards they got the opportunity to build gift care baskets for Soldiers with the birthright group. The kids really enjoyed the activity and our group also had fun building these baskets with the group.

Then on Sunday we had the unique opportunity of visiting a youth village in the north, called Yemin Orde.

As we arrived there we met Racheli, who gave us a tour around the beautiful village. Yemin Orde is home to more the 500 disadvantaged, homeless or at-risk youngsters from twenty-two different countries. As we toured around the village, we learned about the many students who called Yemin Orde their home.

The collection of cultures brought by individual students from various different parts of the world made Yemin Orde a very interesting and important place to visit.

While we were there we took time to learn about the Ethiopian culture, and to see some unique cultural props which we might not have seen anywhere else.

All in all it was a great day!

Thats all for now,

The Bat Yam Group 2009

Field trip, Fun, and Visitors

The last week has been a very busy one in Bat Yam!

We went on two very exciting field trips: first to the pool, and second to the North.

On Monday, the pool was great. We got a chance to play with the kids in the water, and a good time was had by all.

After we finished at the pool we had the unique opportunity of checking out a kosher Ethiopian restaurant in the heart of downtown Tel Aviv. It was an exciting experience as we sampled different meat and vegtable dishes with injera - an interesting spongy breadlike food.

As if that wasn't fun enough, the next day we got an opportunity to head up to the North with the kids. We went for a small hike, and swam a bit more. Following this we went to an outdoor barbeque on a kibbutz at the home of one of the israeli volunteers! All in all, a jam packed day.

Excepting the field trips the students have been working with the kids on their end of the year play. Two of the girls have been teaching the kids extended dance numbers. The kids seem to be enjoying this, and are working hard and diligently on their dances.

On Friday, we split up for a couple of days. Some of the students stayed at the house, and a couple of student volunteers from the Israel-India trip joined them. The rest of the students (and Matt) went to visit Haifa and Tiberias.

Everyone had amazing weekends. The students who went to Haifa and Tiberias toured the Bahai gardens and went to the body world exhibit at the Madatak (science museum). The students who stayed in Bat Yam enjoyed a shabbat with new students.

Keep checking in to see the latest on whats going on with the Bat Yam group :)

Thats it for now!

The Bat Yam 2009 Group

Robots, Safari, and Canada Day FUN!

Hello again,

It been about a week since the last time anything was posted here, so I thought I would give a brief update as to what we have been up to so far.

Everyday last week we volunteered in the Kadima centre after school program. We read stories to the kids, played board games, and participated in programs. We also had a couple of great visitors - we had a nurse and the K-9 Unit from the army. We also had the bomb squad speak about their important role, in the safety and security of the Israeli people. The kids found this particularily interesting, especially since the bomb squad brought their massive robot with them which the kids could play with.

This past Tuesday we went on a fun exciting field trip to the safari. The safari was in Ramat Gan, which is not too far from Bat Yam. We divided into two groups, and each of the volunteers got a chance to check out the animals with our israeli friends. We saw many different animals, and the kids even got a chance to get up close and personal with Kangaroos and Emus. All in all it was a fun and exciting day.

Today we will be running our own program for the kids. It is a Canada day program with many fun different activities. We have planned an obstacle course, and some other fun and exciting programs. Of course, the day would not be complete without some hockey, and we have brought sticks and pucks to teach all the kids how to play.

We hope to plan many more exciting programs for the kids, and should be able to teach them many new things.

Thats it for now, keep checking for more updates.

Matt (and the Bat Yam group)

The Second Group is Here (Most of Us :))

I've been here now since Tuesday afternoon, and gradually our trip is becoming full! As I sit typing this, everyone is here except Adam, who will be joining us next week. So far the trip has been very fun and exciting. We have explored bat yam, and started our volunteering at the Kadima Centre. We have met many of the cool kids that the last group described, and the great staff who are here in Israel. We have also explored the beach, and made our way into tel aviv.

On Friday night we had our first group shabbat dinner. It was fun and interesting, as we all got an opportunity to say the kiddush, and enjoy each others company over some shnitzel and kiddish wine. It was a nice break from the ordinary.

Then today, we really got an opportunity to meet with the kids, and play games with them. The kids at kadima are really great, and we had some brief experience with running activities. Some of the kids painted their fingernails, while others drew and beaded. All in all it was a fun day.

Tommorow a couple of the girls will be going in the morning to a school with some younger kids, for a different experience. Afterwhich we will be off to Kadima again.

Keep checking with us as we post all of our experiences on the blog!

Matt

Our Last Day

Yesterday was our last day at Kadima Centre, and it was a bitter-sweet experience for everyone. We were really happy to have the opportunity to facilitate one last fun programme for the kids. We started by showing a slide show with pictures of the kids from every activity that we have led over the past month. The kids and staff cheered as they watched their smiling faces come across the screen, and danced to some of their favourite songs.

After the slide show, we played a game of trivia with the kids. All of the trivia questions were about us, the volunteers. Many of the questions were about our lives in Canada, our connection to Eretz Yisrael, and funny things that have happened throughout our stay in Bat Yam. To reward their hilarious efforts, the kids received candy and other Canadian prizes.

When we finished with our activity, the kids and staff at Kadima gave us certificates of appreciation, and thank you cards. We were truly touched by the cards that were made by each of the children. While gratitude from the children was completely unnecessary, I know that their heartfelt notes will be kept when we return to Canada, as a reminder of the incredible connection that has been built here.

As we left the Kadima Centre after many hugs and goodbyes, a few of us mentioned how sad we were that we would not be returning the next day. As we walked back to our apartment however, we decided that this did not have to be the end of our experience in Bat Yam. The consensus was that we all want to keep in touch with the kids at Kadima through emails, letters, and other updates. As well, we all hope to be able to advocate for this amazing community in any way that we can, upon our return to Toronto. Later this week we will all be far away from Bat Yam. I am positive however, that we will remember the kindness of the children, and the warmth of this community for years to come.

Lost in Translation

Ever since our arrival at the Kadima centre, the children have pointed out our insufficient knowledge of Hebrew slang. On the first day, we were welcomed with the question “Etz o Pali” which is equivalent to asking “heads or tails.” However, we quickly learned that this was not just an innocent game of heads or tails as either response led to whispering followed by lots of giggling. We’re still not exactly sure what they were giggling about but the children have moved on to another question: “yesh li po ma-ader?” as they point to their heads. This literally means “do I have a shovel here?” When we answer no, they respond “az lama ata chofer?” (then why are you digging). Despite understanding this phrase, they still ask us daily. So we started asking them. It has turned into an inside joke that we can all laugh about.

The children have also come up with some nicknames. For example, Rachelle has become Marshmallow and Monica has become Economica (which is bleach in Hebrew). This is their way of getting our attention and creating a bond between ‘the Canadians’ and ‘the Israelis’.

Also, during one of our educational programs on hygiene, one of the boys took it upon himself to schmere shaving cream on Yael’s face, getting it in her hair and on her sunglasses. It became a game between them as the next day he put ice cubes down her back. It was all in fun but after the shaving cream incident he helped her get it out of her hair and off of her sunglasses.

Even though most of our communication is gestures and body language, we are still able to understand each other and strengthen our bond. It has taken a couple of weeks to really get to know the children, but we are definitely sensing a deeper connection and a great interactive environment.

By: Yael Hart and Rachelle Marmur

Hygiene Day!

Yesterday was Hygiene Day at the Kadima Centre. Once per week we have the opportunity to plan and facilitate a fun, educational program for the whole Centre. Yesterday, we decided to focus on every-day personal health. Topics included: hand washing, dental hygiene, deodourant, and shaving.

The children were divided into three teams, and had to complete certain tasks in order to acquire pieces to a puzzle. At the dental hygiene station, the kids learned about proper flossing. To reinforce new knowledge, the kids were challenged to push a ping-pong ball down the length of the room using only their breath.

Next, the kids reviewed proper hand washing techniques. To show that they understood, teams had to race to wash mud from their hands. On a hot Bat Yam afternoon, the cool water was welcomed by all.

By far the funniest part of the day was the shaving station. While none of the kids actually needed to know how to shave, we thought it would be fun to get creative with shaving cream in the court yard at the Centre. Hilarity ensued. Many laughs were shared as kids and staff were covered in foam. After cleaning up, everyone returned inside to complete a hygiene puzzle, and to answer trivia questions, to try to win toothbrush prizes.

It's hard to believe that we only have one week left at the Kadima Centre. In a short time, a connection has been built here between the children, staff and Canadian volunteers that I know will be remembered for many years to come. As we begin to reflect upon our volunteering in Bat Yam, it is important for us to think about the ways in which we can bring our experiences back to Canada. Throughout our discussions in the coming days, we will bew sure to inform you, our loyal readers, of our developing ideas.

A big heart for a little kitten

One day, we were frolicking to Kadima, and began to enter our 'special' entrance - a hole in the fence, when one of the young boys, Maor, began to gesture and point out into the distance.  We quickly used our fancy communication skills of hand gestures and body movements and understood there was something he wanted to show us.  We ran with him to see a small kitten laying under a shaded bench. We did not need to 'sign' to understand that Maor was deeply affected by this abandoned little kitten and did not want to leave him, as Maor knew he needed help.  We decided to find some food suitable for his little body and some form of a water dish.  I brought over a shnitzel, and Maor followed behind holding and eating his tuna lunch.  Breaking up the kittens dinner and laying it out in front of him, Maor and I saw that he had no interest in the fancy meal, so without hesitation, Maor pulled apart his own lunch and fed it to the cat.  After waiting for some time, watching the recovering kitten inhale his much needed meal, Maor expressed a sense of relief.  I told him he did a nice thing and the kitten would be ok, so we headed back inside.  We all found it so touching and amazing that this little boy felt such a concern for a helpless animal, and would sacrifice some of his own meal for one of many hungry, abandoned kittens.  We can all learn something from him.  

By Lexy Feinstein

Mesibat Bar Mitzvah (Bar Mitzvah Party)

On Tuesday, we had the opportunity to share in a Bar/Bat Mitzvah party with the 12 year old girls and 13 year old boys at the Kadima Centre. The children prepared for several days for the Tekes (ceremony) part of the afternoon. The beginning of the afternoon was spent decorating the Kadima Centre, assembling chairs and setting up the AV equipment. When it was time to begin, the children, parents, staff, volunteers and special guests enjoyed a slide show honouring the B'nai Mitzvot. The honourees then spoke about what it means to become Bar/Bat Mitzvah and their experiences. We then heard from a Rabbi, who presented gifts to the B'nai Mitzvot. We finished the Tekes with speeches from the Deputy Mayor, and the founders of the Kadima Centre. After the ceremony, we enjoyed a delicious dinner in the courtyard, served by the oldest children at Kadima.

The evening was bittersweet, as defined by a conversation we had with the founder of Kadima over dinner. She told us that she had originally opened a number of soup kitchens and noticed that many of her clients were children. As such, the idea of an after-school youth centre was born. In order to be elgible to attend Kadima, the children must be considered "at-risk" and come from the lowest socioeconomic bracket. Kadima is designed to feel like home for the children - a place where they get a hot meal (often, their only meal of the day) and interact with positive role models. Were they not to attend Kadima, many of the children would end up in foster homes. This conversation definitely gave us a new perspective on our work with the kids at Kadima.

Despite this sobering conversation, we all agreed that it was so special to be able to share in the celebration of the B'nai Mitzvot. For the majority of the new adults, this was the only celebration they would have to honour this new chapter in their lives. It was truly a privilege to be able to share in honouring our new friends.

20 Pictures, 40 Words

We start each day at Kadima by tutoring the kids one-on-one and helping them with their English homework. Over the past few weeks we have established regular tutoring partners. This enables us to see the progress that the child has made with their English and also allows us to build friendships with them. One of my regular tutoring partners is a 13 year old girl named Linoy. Today during our session we were going through a worksheet that contained 20 pictures of random objects. The worksheet required her to write the name of each object in English in order to improve her vocabulary. We went through each picture slowly and I taught her how to say the name of each objectin English. After I told her how to say it, she taught me how to say it in Hebrew. She would write the Hebrew translation beside the English and told me to repeat each word after her. Soon enough we had completed the worksheet with the name of each object written in both English and Hebrew. Linoy then put her fingers over the text and asked me "Ma Zeh?" (meaning "What is it?") while pointing at the picture of an icecream cone. She was testing me on the 20 Hebrew words that she had just taught me! We began to go back and forth, testing each other in English and in Hebrew on the 20 pictures from the worksheet. We made a little game out of it and played until we both remembered how to say the name of each object in both English and Hebrew. It was tons of fun and she told me that she wanted to teach me more words tomorrow during our tutoring session! So we agreed that tomorrow we would go over the 20 new words and teach each other 10 more!

Universe of Obligation

In addition to our volunteering, we have educational sessions as a group every Sunday morning. These sessions give us time to contexualise the work we are doing, and examine it through a Jewish lens. This week, we discussed the concept of a "Universe of Obligation," that is, who are the people to whom we are obligated? Every day we encounter numerous requests for help from people with different types and degrees of need, people with whom we have very different relationships. For example, we may receive an e-mail from a friend asking to sponsor her participation in a race to support cancer research, walk past a homeless person on the street asking for money and receive a mail solicitation from an international anti-poverty organization. The goal of the session was to help us explore the nature of our obligations to other people and our decision-making process for how and when to help. The unit was taken from American Jewish World Services' Curriculum (www.ajws.org).

We've attached 2 of the texts we discussed, as well as some discussion questions. Please share your thoughts in the "comments" section of this blog.

BaBylonian Talmud
Bava meTzia 71a
R. Yosef taught: “If you lend money to any of
my people that are poor with you” (Exodus
22:24): [This teaches, that if the choice lies
between] a Jew and a non-Jew, the Jew has
preference; the poor or the rich the poor takes
precedence; your poor [i.e. your relatives] and
the [general] poor of your town, your poor
come first; the poor of your city and the poor
of another town the poor of your own town
have prior rights.
Talmud
Bava Metzia 71a

1 The text lays out four binaries, four pairs of people who might be seeking economic
aid. What are the four binaries and, in each case, which of the two people does
the text privilege?

2 The text seems to provide a very clear set of rules for determining who should
be helped first in any given circumstance. What significant omission makes it less
clear? [HINT: How would the text suggest you should decide between a Jewish
out-of-towner and a non-Jewish neighbor, all else being equal?]

3 How does this text define or shape the universe of obligation?

4 How can this text be reconciled with the text from Gittin 61a (see below), if at all?



BaBylonian Talmud
GiTTin 61a
Our Rabbis taught: We sustain the non-Jewish poor
with1 the Jewish poor, visit the non-Jewish sick with
the Jewish sick, and bury the non-Jewish dead with
the Jewish dead, for the sake of peace.
The word “with” in this text is ambiguous and open to interpretation.
It could mean that we sustain and care for non-Jews together with
Jews; in other words, at the same time and place, and in the same
manner. Or, it could mean that we provide the care and sustenance
separately but do so for both groups of people. The fact that Jewish
law mandates the burial of Jews and non-Jews in separate cemeteries
supports the reading that “with” means that we provide for both
groups but in different ways or in separate places and times.

1. How does this text define or shape the universe of obligation?

2 What might “for the sake of peace” mean?

3 How can this text be reconciled with the text from Bava Metzia 71a (previous),
if at all?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!!

Backpacking up North

This past weekend we planned a weekend getaway up north to Akko and Haifa/Carmel. We took the train on Friday and started our backpacking adventure in the Old City of Akko. We visited the ancient Turkish Baths, the old fortress of Akko, and did some shopping in the markets.

After a full day in Akko, we hopped in a sheirut (shuttle) and were on our way to our luxury hostel in Haifa…or so we thought. We ended up in a hostel in Mount Carmel that was far from luxurious. After we got settled, we headed down to the beach. We expected it to take 20 minutes but instead we found ourselves walking aimlessly for 40 minutes. After building an appetite, we ate dinner on the beach and returned to the hostel as we were exhausted and ready for a good night’s sleep on our rock solid mattresses and ripped sheets.

Somehow we were still able to get nine hours of sleep and were ready for our adventure to continue. We packed up and began the day with a trip to Ein Hod. Ein Hod is an artist village just outside Carmel, basically in the middle of nowhere. We enjoyed seeing different art galleries, homemade beer and pizza, and seeing the beautiful views from the village.

After a great morning in Ein Hod, we headed down the mountain to find ourselves a sheirut to the Baha’i Gardens. Even though they were closed, we were still able to get some great pictures and enjoy the beautiful scenery. After that, we went back to Carmel to relax on the beach.

On our way to dinner we got sidetracked by Israeli rikudia (dancing) in the main square. There were tons of people of all shapes and sizes and we decided to join in. We picked up some of the dances and had a great time!
After that we ate dinner at the beach and then headed to the train station. After a great weekend away we appreciated being back in our clean and comfortable home in Bat Yam.

Written By: Yael Hart and Rachelle Marmur

Winter Day

The past few days have been very busy in Bat Yam. At the Kadima Centre, we are facilitating Chugim (hobby group activities) for the children. The children have experienced programming on English vocabulary, aerobics, music, art, computers and cosmetics, and we hope to add to this list of activities as we progress in our volunteer session. The level of excitement rises at Kadima when it is time for Chugim, as the children are given the opportunity to make choices, acquire new skills and have fun.


Yesterday afternoon was Winter Day at Kadima. The objectives of this program focused on teaching the children about winter in Canada, through avariety of fun activities. The kids at the Centre were split into three groups that rotated to the different activity stations. First, the children watched a slideshow illustrating different animals, sports, clothing and activities associated with winter in Canada. Then, the kids played a game of memory using a list of Hebrew and English winter words. Next, everyone had the chance to create and decorate snowflakes made out of construction paper. Finally, all of the children were invited to decorate snowball cookies, using whipped cream and sprinkles. The program was a huge success. The opportunity for us to teach about Canada has given us the ability to strengthen the connection that we are beginning to build with the children.

In addition to our time at Kadima every afternoon, we have started to volunteer elsewhere in the community in the mornings. While the logistics of these volunteer activities are still to be fine tuned, we hope to be able to lead activities at local schools, a centre for elderly residents, a nursery and the community garden. More to come on these activities in our next post, but for now, we’re off to enjoy the 40 degree weather!