Community Service & Civic Engagement
During the 2010 spring break at Muhlenberg College, many of our students are participating in Alternative Spring Break programs. Throughout their trip, students will be updating these pages with news, photos and videos of their experiences.
Our students are also engaged in a service project in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Catherine Scwartz '11 will be sending news from Israel.
March 14, 2010
Early Thursday morning we boarded the bus and said goodbye to our Hostel in Yerucham, which has been our home since the beginning of the trip. We then drove north to do our one service project of the day before heading in Jerusalem. Table to Table is an organization in Israel that provides food to Food Shelters, pantries and those who are hungry around the country. Our task for the day was to pick beets from the field that would be donated.
Though it was hot and we were in the middle of an open field, everyone gave 100% throughout the morning. Everyone walked away with beet stained hands, but despite the dirt it was an enjoyable experience. We exceeded the expectations that they had for us and ended up picking over 5,000 lbs worth of beets!
After trying to clean our hands up, we made our way through the hills to Jerusalem. We were given our room assignments, had the chance to shower, eat lunch, some group reflection in a nearby park, and then were taken to Ben Yehudah Street for some free time and shopping. It was nice to have free time on the street where there are so many shops and great restaurants. Many people met up with friends and family in Israel, and a good time was had by all. The JNF rented out a local bar/club for us that night where many danced the night away before it was time to head back to the hotel as a group.
We began Friday with a trip to do a service project in the hills on Jerusalem. This winter there was an unprecedented amount of rain in Jerusalem and began to wash away the stones. Our job was to pass the stones down in a line in order for them to put back together as a reinforced way. While the task was kind of tedious, most made it enjoyable through exercise, song and more.
This project is the last project that we will work together on as a group, and it is amazing to see how our bus of 42 students has really grown and learned how to work together no matter what the job may be. From the project we got a chance to go to the Shuk, or market place. Since it was right before Shabbat the place was booming with people running to get everything that they needed for the Sabbath. From delicious foods to great clothes, the Shuk provided us with an experience not to be forgotten.
Since it was almost time for Shabbat, we ran back to the hotel to shower and get dressed to go to the Western Wall. We prayed and got a chance to experience bringing in Shabbat with so many other Jews from around the world. After prayers concluded on our part, we departed for an hour long walk back to the hotel, where we enjoyed a delicious Shabbat dinner and desserts.
Saturday was our first day where we got a chance to sleep in, relax and really focus on what Shabbat is meant to be. We had a bit of discussion to start off the day, and then were allowed some free time. A bunch of us walked to the park where we began our time in Jerusalem. There we were able to relax, get some sun, talk and really appreciate the present moment.
Being our last day of the trip it was so important for us to have time to reflect on our experiences in Israel. Once Shabbat was over and we enjoyed a fun Havdallah service in the parking lot of the hotel, we met together once more as a whole group for a talk. They broke us up into 5 groups, and each group was assigned a day of the trip and had to put together a sketch/song of what happened that day. It was hysterical and touching to watch our memories of the past week be performed right in front of our eyes.
Despite the long day of travel that followed and the jet lag that is setting in I can honestly say that this trip to Israel is a trip that I will never forget. I have made new friends from other schools and Muhlenberg, and have gotten to know some of my best friends in an even better way. This trip was like no other that I have ever experienced. We got a chance to see Israel in a whole new light and really focus on paying everything forward.
March 10, 2010
Tuesday morning we got up and drove to the captial of the Negev, Beer Sheva. Our project for today was to work with Earth's Promise. They work with the local Ethiopian absortion center to grant the newest immigrants to Israel land for them to grow their own crops on.
Most of us worked throughout the day with mud for their garden and firepit. It was messy, but a lot of fun and completely refreshing in the desert heat. There were different groups working on different projects and I truly think that everyone had a great day. One of the group favorites was when the Ethiopian children came out and wanted to play with us and even tried to get on the bus when we had to say goodbye. Hearing the amazing stories of many of the immigrants was so inspiring and kept the motivation going despite the heat.
From beer sheva we made our way to Sederot where we saw one of the JNFs newest and most amazing projects. Just finished this past year is a complete indoor playground for the children of Sederot complete with bomb shelters. Sederot has been the most heavily attacked city in Israel over the past 10 years.
Until very recently they would recieve rockets daily and have only 15 seconds once an alarm sounds to find saftey. This playground is equipped with everything from a soccerfield to a bouncy castle for the children to enjoy and release energy in a safe environment. It is a complete safehaven for these children who have grown up only knowing a life of fear. Being there and getting a chance to play in the playground was not only so much fun, but also moving to know that after all of these years there is finally somewhere safe for the kids.
Wednesday is our last full day in the Negev before heading to Jerusalem. Today we went to Mitzpeh Ramon, which is another development town in the Negev.We worked today with Amidar, which helps and houses families in need. We painted the building both inside and out, planted a garden and just helped to beautify the place. We got a chance to talk with some of the residents and they were just so greatful for all of our work. Afterwards we went to lunch overlooking the machtesh, which is a completely beautiful view. There the Rabbi of mitzpeh Ramon spoke to us and personally thanked us for helping out.
The afternoon consisted of about an hour long hike through some of the canyons in the Negev. It was beautiful and a great opportunity for everyone to reflect personally on this trip. From there we made our way over to Ben Gurion's grave. Ben Gurion was the first Prime Minister of Israel and promised to make the desert bloom. A lot of our trip has been focused around this same promise and it was so important to look out at the place where he lived and chose to be buried.
Following dinner and showers (for most) we went to a local Bedouin tent for socializing with Israelis and karaoke galore.
Now here I am sitting at the local playground for our last night in Yerucham before departing for the next part of our amazing journey to Jerusalem. It's been an amazing few days and I know that there are so many more wonderful things to come.
March 8, 2010
Well it's been a long day. Today we started off with breakfast at 7am, followed by a 7:45 departure to Hugei Sarayut. There we worked all morning and afternoon painting, spackleing, cleaning and helping to make the buildings, both inside and out beautiful and enjoyable.
We worked with a few Israelis who are taking their service year, which is a year some opt to take after High School before joining the army. It was great working hand in hand with them to make sure an important difference.
Afterwards we went with them to the Hirbat Madras caves, where they taught us the history behind the caves and we got a chance to explore.
We then boarded the bus for another 2 hour drive back to Yerucham, where we wrapped up the night with another great dinner, some ice breakers and group reflection. Overall the trip has been amazing so far, and we are looking forward to so much more to come!
March 7, 2010
So we've finally arrived in Yerucham in Israel!
After leaving Muhlenberg at 3pm on Saturday, we arrived at the airport in Tel-Aviv at 5pm Sunday. What a trip! At the airport we met up with the rest of the 32 Muhlenberg students, the other students on our bus (who are from all over) and the participants on Bus 1. Final total: 80 college students in JFK Airport. Ice breakers were attempted and most did not succeed, but it was a great experience getting to see familiar faces, and also meeting new people who are embarking on this week adventure through Israel with us.
After landing, finding bags, and being embarrassed in the middle of the airport by jumping up and down screaming with 120 students, we began our journey to the Desert, or Negev. Two hours later we arrived in Yerucham where we enjoyed a delicious dinner, danced with some high school students, talked and had a brief orientation with our bus.
It's up and early tomorrow morning to begin our first "real" day where step by step we will make a difference in Israel.