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Summer 2014

Chessed, Donkey Riding, Boat Rides, and More!

 

Our jam packed day was filled with chessed, ancient times, and boat rides. The beginning of our adventure started right outside our hotel in Tzfat. The girls gathered together in their chaburahs and painted individual signs. When all the groups got together we took a huge group photo with the signs spelling out, “Our hearts are with you.” This was our chance to show NCSY GIVE’s support to our brothers out in the battlefield. We hope to have every girl post this picture on their own social media accounts, so that it can reach more a wide range of people. We believe that one way to make a statement is through social media, so by incorporating this, the NCSY GIVE family decided to take a stand. GIVE then made their way to Kfar Kedem. The girls had a chance to dress as they did in the ancient world, eat lunch like they did, and even ride donkeys to see how people used animals as transportation. We ended off our experience with pita making on an iron grill. Afterwards, We headed towards the Kineret for the end of our day. As the girls boarded to boat on the Kineret we were privileged to have a family from the south join us. NCSY GIVE invited a family from Ashkelon to take a break from all the trauma they go through daily. The girls had a chance to get to know the family, where they came from, and even dance with them. I’m sure this experience gave the family happiness as well as gave the girls the privilege to share their special opportunity of being on a summer program. We headed to dinner and afterwards the girls had some time to walk around the board walk and shop around. The day had many elements to it, and we know not only was it a fun and informative day, but a meaningful one as well. We should only know of peace in Israel, and all our brothers fighting should come home safely.

Shabbos in Tzfat

We had a wonderful and uplifting Shabbos in Tzfat with our GIVE family. We enjoyed beautiful singing, dancing, learning, and making more memories together. One of the most memorable moments for the girls this Shabbos our special havdallah. We walked together with linked arms to a beautifully light cave. Each girl took the person next to her and slowly walked down into the cave, which mad our voices raise to the heavens. We made one of the most memorable havdallahs that NCSY GIVE has ever seen. Afterwards, we had a Melava Malka with pizza, and the girls were allowed to shop around Tzfat’s main center. Another successful shabbos on NCSY GIVE and we are looking forward to the great week ahead.

De Karina and Tzfat Art Gallery

Friday before we went to Tzfat for Shabbos we stopped off at the yummy De Karina Chocolate Factory. The girls had an opportunity to learn about the history and creation of chocolate. Afterwards, each girl was able to make there own chocolate bar! Then they enjoyed the beautiful Tzfat Art Gallery, which homes the shops of all different artists in Tzfat. Each girl was given thirty shek to buy their own lunch, while they had the privilege to shop around the ancient city of Tzfat. We have just arrived at our destination for Shabbos and looking forward to a spiritual and uplifting Shabbos together! Shabbat Shalom

Guest Blogger: Matana Zwiren

This summer has already been incredible. Not only is it my first time in Israel since I was one and a half, but it is just a blessing to be able to come to Israel to do Chessed. The first part of the day was so incredible. We went to a museum that honored Gush Katif. The museum was all about the  planting that took place on the kibbutz that got bombed almost daily. The people of Gush Katif were FORCED out of their homes by the Israeli Government at that time. It’s crazy to think of how many miracles that have happened there. I was so inspired by their strength, that they kept going each day, even if one had a piece of a bullet in their leg or terrible nightmares. They kept going because their faith in Hashem made them believe they would be okay.

Afterwards,  had the opportunity to plant trees in Israel. I remember at the time of my Bat Mitzvah, many people planted tree’s in Israel in honor of my Bat Mitzvah. I was so confused, “What so special about planting tree’s in Israel,” I would always think to myself. Now, I see what so special about it. I’m like the tree, I was put into this world and I have lots of branches that spread in different directions, and in order to make the right choices I have to go the wrong way sometimes. I’ll always find my way or the right branch. Also the tree’s we planted in Israel hopefully one day when I  come back and look at how my tree has grown I will see me strengths and weakness. I’ll be so thankful I was able to plant such a strong tree that I like to think represents me. You can tell it’s my first time in Israel because Im inspired by each and every little thing. We went to a beach and  the view was so gorgeous. How can something be so beautiful? Because Hashem made it so magnificent.

After the beach we went to daven at Rabbi Meir’s Kever. Most people that go to Israel aren’t able to have such an amazing opportunity like the ones I’ve had so far. This has already been a summer of a lifetime and I cant wait for more to come.

Guest Blogger: Alli Skorski

 

Today we went to the Ethiopian Absorption Center. While we were their we had the privilege of doing arts and crafts and playing sports with the kids. I felt for the kids and I decided to take initiative and crocheted the Ethiopian girls headbands. When I was younger I sold headbands, and when I saw  how excited the little kids got about them, I decided to bring a bunch for the little girls. Seeing the smiles on each of their faces made it all worth it, and I’m happy I had the opportunity to do it.

Ethiopian Absorption Center, Shvail Hapisga, and Rashbi’s Kever

Today was packed with chessed, hiking, and holy sites. NCSY GIVE  started off the day with an incredible chessed that the girls had been looking forward too. We arrived at the Tzfat Ethiopian Absorption Center where the girls were taken to sit around small tables with young Ethiopian children. They did art projects, sand and danced with them. You saw the children’s eyes light up when they were given the upmost attention by our GIVE girls. Not only did the GIVE girls make these kids days, but they learned about a special community that is growing in Israel. Afterwards we had lunch at Shvil HaPisga right before we hiked up the mountain. The hike had gorgeous views of the north that couldn’t even be captured on camera. The girls enjoyed talking, bonding, and laughing as the hiked up to the top of the mountain. Then we went to our last stop of the day, Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochei’s Kever in Meron. The girls learned some history, and had the privilege to daven mincha in Rashbi’s Kever. After the long, but fun packed day we headed back to our campus for dinner and night activity. Everyone felt happy and accomplished  when looking back on our day!

Week One Recap Video: NCSY GIVE

Shiva Asar B’Tamuz

 

Today was a very meaningful day for the girls and all of the staff on GIVE. We started our day off with late wake up, followed with davening. Afterwards, Miriam Borenstein, our Assistant Director, created a program for the girls to create their own cheesed projects to bring back to their home town. They split up into groups and discussed what is a major problem among teens that they could help change. Each group was create and innovative, and we were all impressed with their original ideas. The program will hopefully have a Facebook page so that the girls can keep up with each other, and see how productive they were at implementing  their own ideas. Then the girls had a few hours off to rest, up until close to the end of the fast. The girls had a very special opportunity to here from Elaine Choter, an inspirational speaker, that lost her son in the Intifada. She gave us words of encouragement and  chizuk for Am Yisrael at this time. To end off our evening our Israeli madrichot showed a video and spoke about their experience as teenagers living in Israel. The GIVE girls were encouraged in the discussion and were inspired to hear our madrichot’s perspective of life in israel. We had a kumzitz, break fast, and then night activity to end off our very special day.

Bonding while Building Rafts and Bonding with Am Yisrael

Today was filled with bonding with each other and Am Yisrael. GIVE first traveled to a beach by the Kineret, where each girl was assigned a group to build rafts out of bamboo sticks, barrels, wood, and ropes. The competition was heated as each group tied together all of their materials to make their raft float. By the end the bonding experience the girls were able to work together in great speed, all while feeling accomplished by the end. They enjoyed time in the water and sun as they ate their lunch that was delivered to us on the beach. Afterwards, the girls were introduced to our cheesed activity that started out on the beach. They wrote letters to soldiers thanking them for all their dedication and work towards our country. Then we went to a supermarket to purchase snacks to give out with our letters. When we came back to our campus we had dinner and then went off to thank our amazing soldiers! The girls loved singing, dancing, and handing out their package they made especially for the soldiers. By the end of the night the chayalim announced to the girls that they truly had made their night and were so appreciative of them taking their time to show their support. NCSY GIVE sends out our warmest wishes that the soldiers should stay safe and see peaceful times.

Guest Blogger: Chaya Ross

Yesterday at Medical Clowning training was funny and informative. A man came to teach us the ins-and-outs of bringing joy into a hospital. We started off by getting out of our comfort zone by forcing loud laughter and learning how to walk with character. He taught us that awkwardness is normal and it should be embraced. The idea of medial clowning is not to change who we are to make people laugh but to just exaggerate our personalities. If someone is awkward about dressing up in clown gear, they can take that feeling and but it into their gate to make it look funny.

We went through different exercises to get us prepared for going into hospitals to cheer up children. An activity that stood up the most to me was breathing. He had us thing of something that made us mad and put on a furious face and then try to breathe. The breathing did not come easily. He then had us smile and try to breathe and the difference was amazing. Breathing was much more easy while smiling. This taught us that medical clowning was not only to release stress but to actually make the patients health better, if only for a moment.

 

We were told to find a partner and mimic their moves. Our only rule was to keep eye contact with our partner. A simple thing like eye contact made a silly activity a bonding experience. What I loved about Medical Clowning training was that it taught me that happiness is a language that is universal. You don’t need to crack jokes to make someone happy, something simple like a smile or laughing together can be the sweetest conversation.