Onward Blog 2016

BOSTON ONWARD ISRAEL 2016
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MEALS WITH FRIENDS

August 10, 2016

This weekend was our last in Israel. On Friday, my roommates and I hosted a Shabbat in which about 25 kids from our program came for dinner. I now have a newfound respect for cooks and those who always prepare family meals. It took us all of Friday morning and afternoon to get ready for Shabbos; we had to shop for and cook the food, clean our apartment and do many other miscellaneous, time-consuming tasks like trying to locate and fit 25 chairs and arrange them comfortably in 1 small dining room. However, all this work was well worth it when it culminated in our final Shabbos here in Israel. We decided to differ from the Shabbat norm, as we did a taco and burrito night for dinner. This decision was mainly due to the fact that my roommates and I have had numerous conversations on how we really missed Mexican food and that Chipotle would be one of our first meals when we got back to America. It was truly an amazing sight to watch everyone eating and bonding, as we celebrated one last Shabbos together.

On Saturday, my coworkers and I went to our bosses’ house for a barbecue/work party to celebrate a great summer. My boss, Moty, introduced us to his kids, who were around our age, and we all instantly connected. We swam in the pool, cooked meat and chicken for lunch and played with their cats and dogs. Having never been to a work-based social event like that before, it was really an interesting experience to bond with my boss and coworkers alike, in a more informal environment. As sad as it is to be leaving Israel, as I look back at my time on the Onward program, I know I have had a wonderful and unforgettable experience. I will miss being able to go to the beach any day of the week, only needing to walk 10 steps from my apartment to have delicious schwarma and schnitzel, and the beautiful landscapes and weather that Israel has to offer. But mainly I will miss the people and culture; from the students I have grown close with through my program, to my bosses, coworkers and the Israeli storeowners that I have befriended and connected with: they will all hold a special spot in my memory.

Jordan Angel, UConn '18, traveled to Israel with his school's Birthright Israel trip, and is interning this summer with Dynamic Shipping as a Boston Onward Israel Haifa 2016 participant.

WRAPPING UP A GOOD TIME

August 9, 2016

It’s mind boggling to me that my time here in Israel is coming to an end. This past week has been a good period of conclusion and reflection. I made the final presentation of my work at my internship, an experience that not everyone got to have but that my supervisors wanted to expose me to. I stood in front of the entire lab, my professor, and the PhD student who has been working with me. While I was a little nervous at first, I felt that it was a really good learning experience, as I am planning on going into a field where presentations are crucial. I appreciated immensely the direct and honest feedback from everyone, and I felt that I was able to grow both personally and professionally.

Later in the week we met with the director of Onward Israel where we reflected on the program. I decided to take it as a time to reflect on my time here in Israel. I made some great friends, I learned a lot at my internship, I got to see many different places in Israel, and I got to live in beautiful Haifa and experience what it is really like to be immersed into the Israeli culture. I'm coming out of this program a better advocate for Israel, and one who wants to take initiative and bring this new dialogue back to campus. At dinner it was wonderful to sit among a large group of people who only two months ago I didn’t know, now feeling they're a part of my family. This program built such a strong community and I hope I will be able to influence people to come on this trip in the future.

Lotem Nativ, UMass Amherst '18, traveled to Israel with her school's Birthright Israel trip, and is interning this summer at the Technion Israel Institute of Technology as a Boston Onward Israel 2016 Haifa participant.

LEAVING ISRAEL STRONGER

August 8, 2016

I can't believe that we're already spent two months in Israel. Parts of me believe that I just got in yesterday, whereas other parts of me feel like I have been here for years. Like any program, it is always tough to say goodbye to some things. Sure, it feels amazing to say goodbye to the terrible bus system in Jerusalem, but it will be harder to say goodbye to the Old City, the great friends that I made on this program, or even the fact that I won't be surrounded be Hebrew all of the time. I will miss having a huge Shabbat every Friday evening, as experienced this past Friday by the final One Table Shabbat. I will also miss the Shuk, which has become almost like a village to me at this point. Always the same friendly faces at the Shuk. Always.

However, there is also a lot to look forward as the trip slowly winds to an end. After this amazing trip, I know that I will be more involved in Jewish life on campus. I can play Israeli music, dance the silly Israeli dance, and explain and defend Israel like never before. I know to have a stronger opinion for things I care about, just like Israelis do. What I am trying to say is, although I may be leaving, there will always be a part of me that remains in Israel.

Rex Elardo, Northeastern University '18, traveled to Israel with his school's Birthright Israel trip, and is interning this summer with Ayyeka Technologies as a Boston Onward Israel Jerusalem 2016 participant.

FIRSTS AND LASTS

August 7, 2016

This week was full of many exciting firsts and a few sad lasts. It started with my very last shift for Magen David Adom. Coincidentally, it was an extra special shift since Avital and I got to work on the Intensive Care ambulance typically assigned to experienced volunteers and paramedics. There were seemingly magical potions and medical equipment that we had never seen until we stepped foot into the back of the ambulance -- like a solution that decreases the patients blood pressure when spritzed under their tongue. MDA was a life changing experience, and I can't wait to tell my friends, family, and strangers about all the vital things I learned this summer. It's sad to say goodbye to the friends I made on the shifts, but I'm glad I even had the chance to meet them and do the once in a lifetime things I had the chance to do, like driving on the other side of the highway onto oncoming traffic-- legally, of course!

Next, Onward organized a conference about building your personal careers in terms of marketing yourself and being your own self made entrepreneur. It was a good event to reunite with the participants we had met this summer on the other programs, and I was happy it took place in Tel Aviv because we had access to the city and I was able to say my goodbye to the most amazing city in the world. Once I got back to Haifa a day later, I made it my prerogative to take advantage of every single fleeting second in this beautiful land before I leave. It began with a first: embarrassingly falling off a jetski while it was still parked on the shore. Take note how Lian (the speaker that I befriended after hearing her visit us) and her friend Ria and I are upright and smiling in the picture, if it was snapped five seconds later, I would be laid out on the sand, head down legs up, and Lian and Ria would be scrambling to help me up...on that note I wrapped up my last week in Israel, upside down-- and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Veronica Kovalcik, Williams College '19, traveled to Israel with her school's Birthright Israel trip, and is interning this summer with Magen David Adom as a Boston Onward Israel 2016 Haifa participant.

EXPLORING NAZARETH

August 4, 2016

Last weekend I went on my breakout seminar to the Galil in northern Israel. This is a special weekend that every Onward participant goes on during the summer. There are various options such as a weekend in the Negev, Political seminars in Jerusalem and my choice, the Northern Experience. The weekend is shared with other Onward programs that are spread throughout Israel. It was a great opportunity to meet new people, making connections around Israel, the States, and even met participants from the Onward France program.

During the weekend, I had the opportunity to explore Nazareth, a mostly Arab city known as the “hometown” of Jesus. It is also an important place in the Christian religion. Nazareth is a beautiful city with historical sites throughout. I explored the market and tried Knafeh at a local bakery. Knafeh is a decadent cheese based pastry. It was easily the tastiest thing I’ve tried during my entire time in Israel. I had a great experience at my shabbaton, and I’m looking forward to seeing my new friends again.

Jonathan Cohen, UMass Amherst '17, traveled to Israel with his school's Birthright Israel trip, and is interning this summer with solar energy company Sun Benefit as a Boston Onward Israel 2016 participant.

A SPECIAL TRIP UP NORTH

August 3, 2016

I can’t believe how close we have come to the end of the program. So much has happened! This week I had the privilege to take part in the Northern Discovery Breakout Seminar. There were many types of options for Seminars to participate in, including Desert Experience, Security and Diplomacy in Israel, and many more all over the country. I have always been interested in the Israeli Syrian conflict and the history of the region of the Golan, so I decided the Northern Discovery was perfect for me. I couldn’t have been more right! The trip started with many different options for traveling around the Golan and experiencing different aspects of life in the region. I went on a geopolitical tour, where we learned about the history of Israel’s relationship with Jordan and about the importance of the Golan Heights. A beautiful water hike then followed the trip, where many of us from different Onward programs got to have a nice bonding session. The rest of the weekend consisted of many different opportunities to talk about different issues all over Israel. I personally attended two organized conversations: one about minorities in Israel and the other about the Golan Heights. Both conversations gave me that much broader of a perspective about the issues that Israel faces every day.

The following Monday my group from Onward Boston Haifa got a really special opportunity to visit a Druze village and learn a little bit about the lives of the Druze. We learned about the Druze religion, a religion based on Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and others. We learned about the lives of the Israeli Druze people and about their unwavering support for the States of Israel. I was even surprised to learn that Druze men are a part of the draft into the Israeli army! After an interesting talk, we got the absolute privilege to try some authentic Druze cuisine. This was honestly one of the more delicious meals I’ve had since coming to Israel! This has been a truly eye opening week and has opened by eyes to new places and people.

EXPLORING DRUZE HOSPITALITY

August 2, 2016

This week we had the awesome opportunity to go to a Druze village in Haifa. Throughout my time in Israel I had heard the Druze mentioned frequently but I never really got to learn about their culture or tradition. I found the Druze culture to be extremely fascinating. For example, one woman from the Druze community explained that the Druze people only decide at age 15 whether they wanted to live a secular or religious lifestyle.

In addition, they still have the opportunity to switch "sides" from secular to religious or visa versa throughout their lives based on personal preference. I think this is beneficial that you can’t only make one decision and then be forced to stick with that choice for the rest of your life because as one grows older their desire to the extent that they practice their religion may differ from when they were 15.

Another way in which the Druze culture is different than anything I am used to is their devout loyalty to the land. While there is also a strong focus on family bonds, in most cases they are actually more loyal to their land. This situation presents itself commonly as Druze men who's roots trace to Israel before the 1967 Six-Day War are required to serve in the IDF. The Druze people, being an Arabic people often have family in the places the IDF must fight against, such as Syria.

As for the hospitality aspect of the trip, the Druze people were extremely polite and pleasant. They brought us platters upon platters of their food, which included meat, couscous, rice and much more and for desert they served cookies and tea. I could tell it was really important for them to act cordial and welcoming to us, their guests and it was really a warming gesture to see.

Jordan Angel, UConn '18, traveled to Israel with his school's Birthright Israel trip, and is interning this summer with Dynamic Shipping as a Boston Onward Israel Haifa 2016 participant.

DEEP IN JERUSALEM

August 1, 2016

I would have never imagined when I first started the kinds of friends that I would be making on this trip. They got my back, and we have gone on countless adventures together.

After the "connections" conference we attended, I really understand how Jerusalem has changed so dramatically over the past 5 years. Five years ago, the Light Rail did not even exist! Also, the new artist movement and general night life in the Shuk every night. Some people are even choosing Jerusalem over Tel Aviv for their startup offices! So I understood that Jerusalem has come a long way, and will only be getting better as time goes on.

It's pretty crazy to think that I only have one more Shabbas left in Israel. Surprisingly, most people traveled this weekend, either to Eilat or Tel Aviv. I think that this may be because we all want to be in the Holy City for our last Shabbas, meaning that this weekend is the last weekend that we are able to travel freely. I, however; stayed right in Jerusalem. I went to the places that I did not go to.

The best part was definitely going to the Western Wall at 4am. There was still life there, I think that the wall never stops living after that experience. as I was standing at the kotel, I could hear christian prayer songs coming from churches next door, shortly followed by some Muslim prayer songs coming from the Mosques, maybe from the Temple Mount. This music passing through the Kotel did not stop the people from singing Jewish prayers the whole time, jumping in circles and singing "ay yay ya", smiling the whole time. Then, one of the students at the Kotel made me do Tefilla; where you need at least 10 jewish men to pray in unison. It was very powerful to get the insight from these students, as I now feel more of the true power of the wall than ever before. I don't want to say that going to the Kotel at 4am was a life-changing experience, but it showed me why this wall was so important, so sacred, and helped me deepen my understanding of Judaism, all while strengthening my Jewish identity.

PERSONAL GROWTH

July 31, 2016

My second to last week in Israel included an eventful two-day trip to Jerusalem and a chill weekend seminar in the historic Golan Heights of the North. Onward programing took us down to Jerusalem for a conference that expanded on topics such as religion and the rhetoric journalists use to write about Israel in social media. There were some really well-spoken lecturers, and some good points brought up in counter to both sides of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Interestingly enough, the speaker I was most looking forward, Knesset member and former Israeli Ambassador to the US, Michael B. Oren, had few words to say about anything other than his life story since he was practically running out the door for a talk show he was to be a guest on that day. Besides that, the conference was informative and helped pave over the cracks that remained in my knowledge about the territorial and ideological disputes that have led up to Israel's current situation.

I stayed in Jerusalem the next day to attend the closing ceremonies of my MDA internship. The event was a twenty-five year celebration of the International Overseas Volunteer Program and was a time to collect our certificates, take pictures, and say goodbye to the other volunteers. As short as one month of volunteering was, I would argue I had learned more in that time than in the nine months that I had been away at school.

After coming back from Jerusalem, I was up and traveling again to the North for my weekend seminar. One of the activities included visiting Nazareth, the hometown of Jesus Christ, so I visited the grand orthodox and reform churches that were in the small town and walked through the small shuk that was hidden between some homes. Overall, it was a week full of adventure and getting to know the history of Israeli politics and religion, and on top of that, there wasn't a cooler group of people that I could have spent my weekend seminar with in the North.

ONWARD LEARNING

July 29, 2016

A TRIP TO EILAT

July 28, 2016

This past weekend I traveled with some of my fellow Onward participants on a mini vacation to Eilat, the southernmost point of Israel. It is a city full of hotel resorts, beaches and many tourists visiting in hopes of enjoying the (extremely) hot weather, amazing water sports and exciting nightlife. Unfortunately for us, the fun would not start until after a brutally long 6 hour bus ride. Our first morning in Eilat, we rented snorkels from our hostel and went to Coral Beach, where we ended up snorkeling for over 3 hours. It being my first time ever going snorkeling, it was truly an unforgettable experience. I had never seen all the fish and reefs with such clear vision besides on TV. I even saw a couple of the fish that looked like Dory from Finding Nemo. Even though I saw that movie over 10 years ago, it was still amazing to see a Dory fish in real life (unfortunately I didn’t see any that looked like Nemo). We finished eating and decided to grab lunch from a restaurant right on the beach. For me, there is no meal better than watermelon on the beach!

Surprisingly enough, this vacation was the first time I felt homesick while in Israel. I had always been so used to going on family vacations to the beach with my mom, dad and older brother and it just didn’t feel right without them. As we were snorkeling, I was thinking how my family all enjoys the beach very differently. My brother would have loved to go snorkeling with me while my mom would probably be afraid of the fish and instead choose to read a magazine on the shoreline or watch us from a far. At this point my dad would be face down in a towel, fast asleep, baking in the hot sun with no sunscreen and no sign of waking up until one of us (my mom) were to nudge him awake. Although I felt a bit sad without them there, going to Eilat with my friends was a great experience and I had a ton of fun!

Jordan Angel, UConn '18, traveled to Israel with his school's Birthright Israel trip, and is interning this summer with Dynamic Shipping as a Boston Onward Israel Haifa 2016 participant.

PERSPECTIVES

July 27, 2016

Our group traveled to Gush Etzion, a Jewish settlement in the West Bank, only 20 minutes outside of Jerusalem. There, we learned the history of the area; its cultural and historical significance, and what it represents today. To my surprise, the settlement was very well developed and quite beautiful. Although it only represents a tiny sliver of a much larger area, it was interesting to see it for ourselves. During the trip, we had an incredible speaker. An ex-commander of Hamas shared his story of how he became involved with a peace organization and how he realized how Hamas impregnated evil and hate its followers. We had the opportunity to ask him very personal questions in an intimate setting. He risked his own safety to come and speak to us, and was a true proponent of peace in the region. I feel that this (translated) quote from his talk is an important message to hear: “I believe that anyone who does not know who they are fighting is a terrorist.” Although it may not be so eloquently worded, given the context of where it was said and who spoke these words, it should be considered before taking action in any conflict. Hearing what this man had to say was a learning experience that I will not soon forget.

This past weekend, a few friends and I traveled south to Eilat. The desert city is bordered by the crystal clear Red Sea to the south surrounded by beautiful sandstone mountains from every other angle. While there, I logged my 50th scuba dive among thousands of colorful fish and coral reefs. Together, we hiked Mt. Tzfachot earning beautiful panoramic views at the summit. From the overlook we could see deep into Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. A very unique view to say the least. When we weren’t hiking we spent the rest of our weekend swimming in the sea- it was truly the only way to cope with the immense heat. Despite the temperature, the trip was well worth it, and I would suggest a visit to anyone who has the chance.

GREAT EXPERIENCES

July 26, 2016

This past week has been one of the most exciting weeks we experienced so far. In the beginning of the week we went on a tiyul to Jerusalem and experienced aspects of the city that many of us had not previously been able to on Birthright. Our day started with a tour of the City of David, where we were able to see some of the most groundbreaking excavations from the period when King David ruled over Jerusalem. We then got to go underground and see ancient methods of transferring water from outside the Jerusalem walls into David’s Kingdom. The walk through the underground tunnels was wet and humbling. Thousands of years before us our people, the Jews, walked in our very steps and drank from the same water that ran between our feet. It was amazing to feel the history on our fingertips as we gently stroked the walls of the tunnels. We then spoke with Jerusalem residents who are helping young entrepreneurs and artists. This project lifting the youth and providing these kinds of opportunities made me hopeful for the next generation in Israel. From there we met up with our beloved tour guide Eytan Rund who showed us where the Green Line is and we spoke about the hardships which the people of Israel faced every day while the West Bank was ruled by Jordan before the Six-Day War in 1967. It was amazing and inspiring to then go out and see the hills of Jerusalem and know that Israelis are significantly safer today than they were before then.

A week later, we had a unique opportunity to expand on everything we've learned throughout our time here. Many different Onward groups came together to hear from a handful of incredible speakers, including Sarit Zehavi, a major in the IDF who spoke about the different groups who threaten Israel’s existence today, Aryeh Green, who spoke about fighting against anti-Semitic rhetoric, David Horovitz , the founding editor of the Times of Israel who gave a non-partisan perspective on different solutions and the challenges that come with them, and Michael Oren, a Knesset member and former Israeli Ambassador to the US. Hearing all of these perspectives made me excited to bring my experience in Haifa back to campus!

THE LEBANESE BORDER

July 25, 2016

GUSH ETZION

July 24, 2016

Wow, this past week was absolutely crazy. Jerusalem was vibrant in a way that I have never experienced before. There was so much happening, I could barely keep up with it. We had a craft beer festival in the old train station, which lasted two days. Some live bands were playing, and most of them were good. There was also the Gay Pride march in Jerusalem. I assisted a gay couple getting married during the festival, as well as music and a couple of crazy costumes being displayed. We were quite a large group taking the movement to the streets, it was quite fun. I then embarked on a journey to Tomorrowland: Unite concert. I just had no idea that Jerusalem could be this vibrant in the summer, it felt like a completely different city than what one expects.

Our trip to Gush Etzion was also inspiring. It is in the center of the country and has a lot of history for the Jewish people. Some wineries cultivate their grapes in the same way as our ancestors 4,000 years ago. It is all about preservation of culture, while also improving the land and quality of life of the citizens at the same time. The view is amazing. Yes, indeed it is a Jewish settlement, so it is protected and fenced up, and after hearing some guest speakers indeed living there comes with challenges, some which can be violent. We heard stories which were terrifying, some which affected the lives of actual participants of our trip, because they were summer camp friends with one of the people who was murdered in Gush Etzion. But the people stay strong, and try their best to continue living their lives and be the best people that they can be. We heard from both Jewish and Arab guest speakers, telling their story and how they were constantly fighting each other. But now they understood that the fighting was simply not worth it, all that they want to do is simply try to be good neighbors and live in peace. Both people wanted the same peace between Jews and Arabs as what can be seen in Haifa, where both communities live together peacefully. The trip was intense, but necessary. It is so close to Jerusalem that it is important that we know about these settlements, about their situation. I learned a lot from Gush Etzion, and I hope to carry my knowledge with me wherever I go after these two months in Israel.

INSPIRATIONAL PEOPLE

July 22, 2016

The things that I experienced this past week validate why I chose to live in Haifa for the summer. There has been so much time for me to be a tourist that I finally got the chance to act like a local and casually chat over coffee or go to the mall to grab a burger with a handful of Haifa locals. Oddly enough, I think not being from Haifa or having my family in the same country as me has opened me up to people who want to be here for me despite the lack of a connection I have to this city. First off, after hearing Lian Najami speak to us about her experience as a Muslim Arab Israeli I capitalized on this amazing opportunity to meet such an accomplished woman and went to get coffee with her at a cafe on the top of mountain with a magnificent view of downtown Haifa. Later in the week, the driver I had worked with during my Magen David Adom shift invited me to the mall to spend time with her two daughters. It was so nice of her especially because she took me to a McDonald's in Israel, which was oh so much better quality than in the states, and she kindly offered to contact me again if she ever needs a babysitter in the future while I'm still in Israel. Moral of the story is, I was overwhelmed by the kindness I received from people I had just been lucky to cross paths with while being here.

Additionally, we as a program have been exploring some innovative, promising places that have impacted Israel in a really positive way. We traveled to Jerusalem last week and heard from an American-born Israeli who is in charge of an artists workshop community situated in a building right near the Jerusalem Shuk, which is home to the most expensive real estate in the world. The organization helps promote the creativity of artists and give them a chance at recognition and success. In addition to our inspirational trip to Jerusalem, I was able to try Israeli chocolate milk for the first time, and I was obviously being judged by my ambulance teammate when I stuck a straw into the nozzle of the milk carton. He proceeded to insist it was very American of me, and from that day on, I have agreed I will limit my patriotism by ditching the straw the next time I approach my second carton of chocolate milk!

A VISIT TO HAIFA

July 21, 2016

We have been in Israel for more than a month now -- we could almost be called Israelis! We are used to the constant bus delays, the shuk is still going strong every night (except on Shabbat), the same familiar faces appear every day at work, and when we all get back home in Katamon there is a true sense of community. We are almost one big family, with all of the upsides and downsides that a family can have. We have done countless excursions and trips together, from breakout seminars to the desert to the north to guest speakers and the Knesset.

And yet, there is still so much more to learn and love about Israel. This past weekend I went to Haifa, in order to meet some kids doing the Onward Haifa program. It was great, we climbed the hill in order to see the amazing view. The view is absolutely breathtaking, and the reward after the hike is a breeze cooling us down after all of that effort. The view is a plus, especially with the Baha'i Gardens. We also randomly stumbled into a protest, where both Jews and Arabs were defending animals, protesting in order to try and stop animal cruelty. It was amazing, as the crowd was chanting in both Hebrew and Arabic. This shows that the communities in Haifa, even the large Russian community, get along very well with each other. This is a sight that is a bit more rare to see in Jerusalem, although not impossible either. The medic on my Birthright trip, who lives in Haifa, invited me to Shabbat dinner with his family. I had not seen him in two years, so it was great to catch up with him and meet his lovely girlfriend. We then went out to Library Bar, where Russians, Jews and Arabs were dancing alongside one another. This shows that, as much as I think that I know Israel, there is always more to see and learn and do. This country will ever cease to amaze me.

JERUSALEM 3000

July 20, 2016

This past weekend I got a chance to catch up with some old friends. When I was 16 years old, my friend Josh and I (another Onward participant) came to Israel with Youth to Israel, a Birthright-like experience for younger teens. We had a group of Israeli high school students who joined us during our trip, and over the past six years, I’ve kept in touch with a few. Josh and I had an amazing opportunity to reconnect with some old friends and join their families during Shabbat. We shared the shabbas meal at their houses in Petah Tikva, near Tel Aviv. Taking part in their shabbat gave a lot of insight into Israeli culture and their family dynamic. It was an entirely new part of Israel that I hadn’t experienced yet.

Last night, we had a group activity in the Old City of Jerusalem. The group attended a light show at the Tower of David. The show explored the history of Jerusalem highlighting all of the different nations that made their way through Israel over the last 3,000 years. It was a really cool show, especially the mixture of modern technology superimposed over the ancient Jerusalem Stone walls of the tower. After the show, a couple of us stayed and explored the ramparts of the Old City wall. We walked about half the perimeter of the city, viewing Jerusalem, old and new, from an entirely new perspective. There is something new to discover every day, and I am excited for what I’ll find next!

TEL AVIV VISIT

July 19, 2016

This past weekend I rented an Airbnb with a group of friends from the program on the Tel Aviv coast. It was a small vacation within the eight-week vacation that this program has felt like. My favorite part of going to Tel Aviv was definitely the Shuk (marketplace). The Shuk was filled to the brim with wide-eyed customers, loud salesmen and a mix of every smell imaginable. In the Shuk there is no such thing as receipts, returns, or copyright policies. My friends and I couldn't help but laugh as we questioned the sound quality of Deets By Dre headphones which were selling for only 100 Shekels (an obvious playoff of Beets By Dre, which cost between 800-1200 Shekels). Although I walked into the Shuk with plans to only buy food, I was quickly tempted by all the fascinating things I saw. I walked outwith a lighter wallet but grinning ear to ear. It was not solely that I was excited about my recent purchases which included a bright pink Hawaiian t-shirt and a "Euro" bathing suit (it was hardly longer than my underwear); it was the thrill of bargaining with storeowners over prices and the sensation of walking into a store and knowing you are going to see a piece of clothing or silly toy that you have never seen before - those are this things that make going to the Shuk so interesting and enjoyable.

During the night, we went to Shelvata, a nightclub located right next to the ocean. It was amazing to look one way and see a huge party happening and then turn the other way and see waves from the sea crashing into the wall. After Shelvata (at 4:30 in the morning!), we went to Benedicts, a famous 24-hour breakfast restaurant, located right in the heart of Tel Aviv. There I had Oreo pancakes - although the pancakes are so sweet and heavy that they make you practically immobile for hours, they are my new favorite food and I will certainly be going back to Benedict’s to have them again. As we were walking home from Benedict’s, one thing that amazed me is how lively Tel Aviv was at 5 in the morning! There were people everywhere both walking the streets and eating in one of the numerous open restaurants, laughing and having a good time. They all seemed completely careless to the fact that the sun was going to rise in less than an hour. Tel Aviv is truly “the city that never sleeps”!

Jordan Angel, UConn '18, traveled to Israel with his school's Birthright Israel trip, and is interning this summer with Dynamic Shipping as a Boston Onward Israel Haifa 2016 participant.

HAIFA VIEWPOINTS

July 18, 2016

Many of us took some serious time this week to explore the city we have been living in for over a month - there is a lot to do in Haifa! From walking around Carmel Center to restaurant-hopping in the German colony, the life in Haifa is more vibrant than we could have ever imagined. It is unbelievable to see the views of the sea from almost anywhere in Haifa. The beaches are gorgeous and the food is to die for. We have been taking the time to try the authentic Mediterranean cuisine and are surprised every time how delicious everything is.

We also had an amazing opportunity to hear from a young Arab-Israeli woman who recently finished her bachelor’s at Haifa University studying international affairs. Lian Nayami spoke to us about the struggles of identifying as Israeli while living in a community and going to school with people who often see Israel as their enemy. While there were a good amount of things I didn’t agree with, I found it extremely interesting to hear the perspective of someone living with a different viewpoint than mine. One of my favorite things about the talk was that half her time was devoted to questions. This is just one of the amazing opportunities that this program has provided us; giving us a broader understanding of the Arab-Israeli conflict by allowing us to speak to people of all sides of the issue.

SUMMER ADVENTURES

July 17, 2016

There's been so much time to explore and re-explore the most beautiful landmarks in Haifa during our adventures this summer and discover the hidden gems of the city. One activity I’ve recently discovered is a free zumba class at the beach by sunset. A group of us went to try it out and ended up enjoying an extremely fun and energetic class full of modern dance moves. It was a great workout, and on top of that, an awesome way to meet new people who like to workout outside the gym. That’s a huge dealmaker for me about Haifa - I love how active most people are in terms of the food they eat and the lifestyle they live. Just after the zumba class, a local Israeli woman offered if we wanted her to lead us in a killer ab circuit - and of course we said yes! It was so typical of something that could only happen in a big-hearted place like Israel.

Another example of Israel’s random friendliness is when a few of us Onward participants also signed up for a Russian-English speed dating workshop for fun. It was overall a good story to bring back to the States with us, but we also met a couple really cool locals who spoke English pretty well. We went a little off the syllabus for typical Onward activities, but it was one of the best ways to really get a feel of the people in Haifa. To put the cherry on top of this week, after a brief stop in Tel Aviv for a night, a group of us went to the zoo at the top of the Baha’i Gardens.

ONWARD VIDEO

July 14, 2016

ENEMY FLAGS OVER THE BORDER

July 13, 2016

This week was pretty amazing, as usual when one is in Israel. Our two-day trip to the North was quite astonishing -- we could see the Lebanese border from the hill that were sitting on! Even crazier, our guide passed us some binoculars, and if we looked at the right spot we could see a Hezbollah flag! Luckily we were on the Israeli side, full of watchtowers, so we were definitely safe when we visited. We volunteered a bit on the fields, which felt great because we knew that later the work we made may help the olives in that region grow better. The trip to the winery was also a lot of fun. They actually make great wine in the Golan region, and they showed us how they do their best to make amazing wine. All the wines are kosher, which is nice, and some of the wines ferment in French oak barrels, a true touch of authenticity which gives the wine more depth of flavor. The wine tasting was amusing, as they trusted a bunch of American college students to know their wine! We pretended to be "conoisseurs", sniffing in the glass and trying to feel the different notes present in the wine. It was definitely a lot of fun. Finally, the rafting down the Jordan river was also great. This is one of the only places in Israel where we can enjoy water sports, so it was good to see how the country makes full use of all of its available resources.

The best part of the week, however, was definitely Shabbat. We did an Open Table Shabbat, where Onward helps us buy enough food for the guests that we invite. We had the Shabbat dinner in the downstairs classroom of our building, which after eating turned immediately into a dance hall. Outstanding. Finally, the Euro Cup 2016 Finals France vs. Portugal was a blast in the city, as everyone tuned in to watch. Although I am disappointed that France lost, I can be ready for a French win at the World Cup in 2018!

A TRUE SHABBAT

July 12, 2016

This week I spent a Shabbat with my ultraorthodox cousins in Telstone, a small gated community just outside Jerusalem. My aunt, uncle and nine lively cousins live without the technologies I have come to depend on. Besides the oldest two children who are both married and live in different apartments down the street, the whole family lives in a small two-bedroom apartment. Many of them share not just rooms but individual beds, and my one cousin Netanel recently decided to pitch a tent on their roof and has been sleeping up there for the past month. It always amazes me how they make do with so many people in such little space.

I am used to Shabbat meaning a night for a family dinner, and a quick version of prayers. However, I generally go out with my friends after the dinner and break many of the traditional rules of Shabbat such as driving or working out during it. In contrast, Shabbat is truly a time of rest for my cousins. For example, they do not work, drive, turn on or off lights or even break off toilet paper during Shabbat (I was in charge of ripping it before the sun came down on Friday night!) On the surface, it may seem like I would be bored at my cousins’ house with so many restrictions. However, I had such a great time because of these restrictions. My cousins and I had the ability to communicate and bond with each other in a way that is almost impossible when there are so many distractions going on around. Rather than looking at Snapchat or watching TV together, we played board games such as Backgammon and Checkers. My two younger cousins taught me Five Stones, a game which revolves around throwing small stones up in the air while simultaneously trying to pick up other small stones from the floor before the original stone drops. I had such an enjoyable time simply playing these childish games and spending time and talking with my family members. While I do not think I will stick to every rule of Shabbat like my cousins do , I am certainly going to advocate for a Shabbat and more days in general in which my family and I spend time together without so many distractions (like phone, email, and work).

Jordan Angel, UConn '18, traveled to Israel with his school's Birthright Israel trip, and is interning this summer with Dynamic Shipping as a Boston Onward Israel Haifa 2016 participant.

A TRIP UP NORTH

July 11, 2016

This past week we went on our second group overnight trip - this time to the upper Galilee. The north of Israel is very different than the South. Though it is not a desert, the temperatures in the Jordan Valley are comparable, but the sights make baking in the heat well worth it. The first day we visited the Lebanese and Jordanian borders, and stood literally 100 feet from the dividing line. It was a privilege to travel to these places, because many times they are not safe to travel to. We are fortunate enough to be in Israel at a time of peace, that will hopefully last a long time. We also had the opportunity to repel off of the granite cliff sides, and go rafting on the Jordan River.

The North is a unique region of Israel for many reasons. Small cities and towns are common here, unlike central Israel where you find big cities like Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Haifa. It has a very different feel than the Negev as well. There are breathtaking views of the rolling hills and mountains in every directions. Pine forests and farms litter the land, and vineyards and wineries can be found around every corner. This was my favorite outing yet - I’m excited to return soon hopefully.

GUSH ETZION AND THE DESERT

July 10, 2016

I can’t believe how life changing these past couple of weeks have been. While the internships have been a huge highlight for many of us, this week the overnight trip really stood out. We started our adventure in Gush Etzion, where we were able to dive deeper into the history and the realities surrounding the Arab-Israeli conflict. Locals from the area came to talk to us about their experiences living in a place where the conflict can be felt firsthand. It was extremely eye opening to hear about some of their struggles as they personally reflected on their work as leaders in peace movements. I was very interested to hear about how people who used to hate each other are now working together to try to come to some type of resolution for the ongoing conflicts. What truly fascinated me was that they believed that the most important weapon we have is our voice, and I couldn’t agree more. I have been inspired to take the knowledge I acquired back with me to the States to educate my fellow peers on my college campus.

That night we slept at Mitzpe Ramon, which is in the Negev Desert overlooking the Ramon Crater, the largest makhtesh in the Negev. Before bed, a small group of us got together to star-gaze in the makhtesh. Many beautiful heart-to-heart conversations were held about the conflicts in the Middle East, our understanding of them, and different solutions we had considered. What really stood out to me was that this was not a counselor or tour guide facilitated conversation; it was a bunch of college students sitting together and taking the time to explore our thoughts and feelings about what we had learned that previous day. It really showed that many of my fellow Onward participants have been thinking and reflecting just as I have. The next day we got to experience the Israeli desert through walking tours, wine tastings, and community programing, which made us take a step back and be able to enjoy the beauty of the land of Israel. What a great week!

A WEEK IN THE DESERT

July 7, 2016

We went to the Negev Desert twice this week! Once with our Onward-Boston group, the other one with our "breakout" seminars with people from other Onward programs. We were told this was the first time that the breakout seminars were done this way, and I must say that it was overall a success. The trip was mainly geared towards issues of the desert, such as the Bedouins and different communities that live in the desert. It is truly insane how Israel managed to develop this land, which was basically nothing, and turn it into something meaningful. They now have life in the desert, and even though this life is not surrounded by much, one can definitely say there is life in the desert - around Ben Gurion's southern home, in Be'ersheva, and in Beit Shanti. They can grow wine in the desert, and it's not half bad! Maybe not as good as a decent bottle of Bordeaux, but still, their Cabernet Sauvignon (especially their Kosher Cabernet) has nothing to compare it to. The grapes are so small and sweet; because they are grown in the desert. It is so cool.

Nitzana, a small village on the border of Egypt, was great as well. The outdoor cooking session, where we foraged some desert plants and then used them for cooking, was also very useful. I may be able to survive a day in the desert alone, granted that I have water and sunscreen! I chose the "outdoor cooking" session, but other sessions were available, like outdoor biking. We also spoke to some Eritrean refugees, who made us feel very lucky to not live in a country where they force everyone to do the army for 17 years at a minimum. All in all, I do not know if I would want to live in the desert full time, as it does get very hot during the day, but visiting the desert is wonderful, especially when there's a pool!

A DESERT OASIS

July 6, 2016

This past weekend I was lucky enough to go on a breakout seminar in the Negev Desert with participants from many of the different Onward programs. I even got to meet up with my cousin Jess, who is doing the Onward program with students from the Cleveland area, who are living in Tel Aviv. After a dinner in a large cafeteria-esque room that reminded me of Birthright, we spent the first night around a bonfire, getting to know one another. It was really interesting to hear about the different program and experiences participants were doing through Onward. The 2nd day, we went on a group bike ride, traversing the desert. It allowed us to get a good grasp of debilitating heat and bare landscape. The desert is exactly as portrayed in movies, filled with very little besides sand dunes and the occasional grouping of small rocks.

My favorite part of the seminar was the Oneg Shabbat portion, which we spent outside under stars. The seminar leaders used laser pointers to point out the different stars such as the Big and Little Dipper and the North Star and explain the stories behind them. We then went as a group to see scorpions, which can be seen easily under a black light. It was a great bonding moment for everyone because in the desert there is not much going on besides the task at hand. There were no lights besides the stars and no sounds except those provided by nature (which in the desert are far and few between). Although I would not want to live permanently in a rural or desert area, it was really relaxing and peaceful to be able to get away from all the noise and distractions you normally deal with on an everyday basis without even realizing it. It gave me a better perspective as to why many people prefer living in quiet, rural areas even if not as advanced as cities.

Jordan Angel, UConn '18, traveled to Israel with his school's Birthright Israel trip, and is interning this summer with Dynamic Shipping as a Boston Onward Israel Haifa 2016 participant.

LEARNING AND HAVING FUN

July 5, 2016

This past weekend a group of friends and I headed to Tel Aviv for one of the biggest cultural events of the year. Layla Lavan, or White Night (named for Tel Aviv's famous architecture) is a celebration of UNESCO declaring Tel Aviv’s historic urban area a World Heritage site. Every year the entire city is filled with free events including live music, dancing, silent discos in the street and thousands come from all over the country to partake in the festivities. The party goes throughout the night, and we stayed out celebrating until sunrise the next morning. It was an incredible experience!

This week we had a special guest speaker, Moshe Arens. Mr. Arens served three times as the Minister of Defense, Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as the Israeli Ambassador to the United States. He shared his inspiring story with the Onward students, and gave some background on his book, Flags Over The Warsaw Ghetto. The lecture was especially eye opening for me, as I had not known much about the events of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. His book describes the true stories of what happened - something that was not well known up until this point in time. It was an honor to have the chance to meet him, as he is one of the most prominent historical figures in Israeli history.

EXPERIENCES APLETNY

July 4, 2016

Everyone has been getting into the swing of things, from commuting to work to cooking dinner each night, but this week felt different. Elie Weisel’s passing took us all by surprise and forced many of us to step back and think about where we are and why we are so lucky to have this kind of experience. This incredible man stood for community, justice, and freedom, all values we feel all around us here in Israel. His writings about his experience in the Holocaust reminded us to appreciate the gravity of where we are: a safe haven for the Jewish people, a place where Jews can live without fear. Many people in the States who only hear about Israel on the news are often under the impression that Israel is an unsafe place, but living here has opened our eyes to the fact that daily life in Israel is remarkably similar to daily life back home. Living in Haifa has truly opened our eyes to what it is really like here, rather than how the media portrays it.

In our internships, we are able to interact in a deeper way with the community here in Israel. One of my good friends Carly, who works at Tirat Carmel Mental Health Center, is working with a population of people with various levels of mental health issues. She has been able to communicate and connect with people in the community who she otherwise would have never been able to meet. The effects these people have had on Carly have given her a broader perspective on the different people living among us here in Haifa. Amazingly, this is only of the 65 participants having this type of eye-opening experience in their internship. As we continue to develop ourselves in our fields of study, we are also able to explore the many opportunities provided by Onward. This week, we had the privilege of celebrating America’s independence from the other side of the world. While it made some of us feel a little homesick, it was a great chance to bond with one another. In my group, we all met in one of the apartments and made authentic Israeli shakshuka with the help of our amazing madrich (counselor). It was really special creating a community here in Israel while celebrating our other home. I can’t wait to see what the rest of our Onward experience has to offer.

AN EMT CELEBRATING WITH FRIENDS

July 3, 2016

After this week I can officially say I am a certified EMT. I reached the end of my ten-day intensive training course. It wasn’t passing the exam that was the hard part, but rather enduring the long hours of class time and strict rules at the hostel we were stationed at in Jerusalem. For now, I’m back in Haifa. It’s good to be back. There was something about this port city in the North that I missed. It reminds me of Boston at times; the big universities are nearby and the port is right outside my door, and it brings me a little closer to home. The first night I came back to Haifa, I didn’t even stay for two hours before I went on the train to Tel Aviv for the annual Laila Lavan celebration. The gist of the event is that owners of the shops and bars in the city decided it was a great idea to keep their businesses open all night. This makes for a giant party in the city, and the country comes crowding in.

A group of friends on the program and I grabbed an unforgettable dinner in Dizengoff Square before we explored the themed parties scattered around Tel Aviv. I ordered my very first shakshuka, and when I say it was the best meal I have had in Israel, it’s not an exaggeration. This shakshuka couldn’t have been more gooey with feta cheese and blessed with eggplant even if Gordon Ramsey tried. My own daydreaming aside, Laila Lavan was spectacular. I sang Disney songs on the beach with my friends at 3 a.m. and got to see the sunrise in Haifa when I got off the train a few hours later. Later, after professing my newfound love for shakshuka, a group of friends and I sat down for a homemade dinner on Saturday night and made our very own, very similar in quality, shakshuka. We have since agreed to reunite and do it again later in the summer because everyone couldn’t stop spooning the leftovers from the pot. I’m headed into this week with my white, starchy MDA uniform dangling from a hanger in the closet and preparing for my first overnight shift. Here’s to pulling all nighters outside of the academic year!

JERUSALEM, TEL AVIV, AND BACK

July 1, 2016

I am finally getting settled into my home in the Katamon neighborhood of Jerusalem! My roommates are awesome, the food is amazing (the olives at the shuk are out of this world, so plump and juicy....), and I finally did some engineering work at the office! After the first week I was slightly skeptical about this internship, as the boss was out of town and I was assigned some marketing work, but now, as the Israelis would say, hakol tov, the boss is back in town and my work is getting challenging. Settling in has its challenges, but overall I am very happy with being in Jerusalem.

I went to Tel Aviv this weekend with a big crew of people (about 15 of us rented an airbnb), and although it was an expensive trip it was absolutely worth it. Only in Tel Aviv is there amazing Mexican food right next to an ultra kosher falafel place. Only in Tel Aviv is there a street full of French people, even with the vendors speaking French, but yet somehow still remains very Jewish in many cultural aspects. Only in Tel Aviv can I go out to a club, leave the club and because it is shabbat be offered food from some Indians, Eritreans, and Russians in the park next door. Only in Tel Aviv will I randomly bump into that same group of Russians a day later on Bogashov Street. Only in Tel Aviv is there a restaurant called "moon" that sells sushi burgers, and honestly their normal sushi rolls are also out of this world. The weekend in Tel Aviv was fun, but going back to Jersualem felt amazing because I was finally home with the whole group. The feeling home is truly special, it feels good to be back in Jerusalem.

COMMUNITY AND STRENGTH

June 30, 2016

Our second week in Haifa has been filled with countless amazing experiences: I got to try different foods like chicken liver and chicken heart, watch the sunset on the beach with the Onward group, and attend my first Krav Maga class. However, the two planned Onward activities are what have stuck out to me the most. It was really humbling to hear Kenny Sachs, an American who made Aliyah, speak about his experience as a soldier for the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces). Sachs was badly injured during his service and can no longer run, jump or do many simple daily activities. However, he emphasized that he would not do anything differently because of the person he has become as a result of joining the IDF and the community and love he has found by moving to Israel. The many problems that Israel faces and sacrifices that its people must make (such as being drafted into the IDF at age 18) unifies its people and is what causes such a strong sense of community amongst the Jews of Israel.

We also went on an awesome hike/tour along the Golan Heights. During the hike, our group as a whole got to cool off by diving into a large swimming hole under a waterfall. We were only in the water for about 10 minutes but it was a great time and many of us vowed to come back again on one of our days off. The guided tour of the Golan Heights finished with us on one of the peaks, where we could clearly see Syria in the distance. There, a decorated member of the IDF explained to us the importance of the Golan Heights for Israel, as well as the complexion and importance of Israel’s diplomatic relations with its northern neighbors, Syria and Lebanon. While she was speaking, we actually heard two explosions go off, a product of the civil war currently going on in Syria. It wasn’t the soldier’s reaction, but her non-reaction and calmness as she explained that this was a daily occurrence, that strongly impacted me. When you constantly hear statistics about death and injury tolls on the news about the violence in the Middle East, it is almost numbing and seems like just another number. But to actually hear these bombings, and wonder if someone’s life just ended or a family’s house just exploded, gave me a much clearer perspective on the reality of wars and violence. It is a lesson I wish no one ever had to learn, but definitely important to understand, and I carry with me a new viewpoint on the impacts and horrors of war.

Jordan Angel, UConn '18, traveled to Israel with his school's Birthright Israel trip, and is interning this summer with Dynamic Shipping as a Boston Onward Israel Haifa 2016 participant.

THE MEDITERRANEAN
AND THE DESERT

June 29, 2016

Last weekend I traveled to Haifa, on the Mediterranean coast, to visit some friends in the Haifa Onward program. Haifa has a dense contrast of ancient and modern architecture. Remains left by the Ottomans and Moroccans are spread throughout the city mixed with modern structures like the district government building (Sail Tower) which overlooks the city port. My friends Josh, Itamar and I spent our nights exploring the nightlife on Masada Street in the Hadar neighborhood and Paris Square, downtown. Then, we spent Shabbat relaxing on the beautiful Carmel Beach. My few days there showed me an entirely different side of Israel than I’ve experienced so far in Jerusalem.

This week we also had our first group day trip. All 50 of the Onward Jerusalem students loaded onto the bus and traveled south to the Negev. We began the day with a beautiful hike through one of Israel’s national parks. Its crazy to think that millions of years ago the same sandstone canyons we walked through was actually the ocean floor. From there, we got to visit a small desert farm and winery. One of the farmers explained how by mixing ancient and modern farming techniques they are able to yield a huge variety of different crops even in the harsh desert climate. We were lucky enough to taste some of the delicious wines made there. Our final destination was the Desert Shanti House. This place does incredible work helping displaced and at-risk youth from all over Israel. It was a humbling and inspirational visit, and a great way to end our day in the desert.

DISCOVERY AND GRATITUDE

June 28, 2016

What a week! So much has happened in such a short period of time. My internship has started and I couldn’t be more thrilled. Originally, as someone who wants to be a doctor, I was scared about what it would be like to work in a lab. All of my fears quickly vanished when I met my supervisor, a Ph.D. student at the Technion University working on an amazing project in the field of cancer research. I have been working with her directly, conducting daily experiments and even taking part in the writing process of the research. This type of opportunity isn’t something I am taking for granted. I know many students in the States competing for internships far less interesting and meaningful than the one I have gotten the privilege to participate in. I make sure to take in all of the information that is quickly being thrown at me and learn as much as I can!

What is so amazing about Onward is that the learning doesn’t stop in our internships. A couple of times throughout the program we all come together for a day trip somewhere in Israel. This week we went to the Golan Heights to learn more about the different countries surrounding Israel and to further understand the Arab-Israeli conflict. The emphasis was clear - there isn’t one Israeli conflict, there are many different conflicts with many different people involved. Our trip started with a hike on the Jilaboun trail, where we saw some of the most beautiful views of Israel we had ever seen. While the hike was difficult, we pushed through until we arrived at a giant waterfall with a small pond at the bottom. This not only gave us time to bond, but we were also given time to reflect about how special it is to be in our homeland. We then went to the Golan Winery where we tasted wine made from local vineyards. We traveled to Mount Bental, where we saw the Syrian border and talked about the conflicts that Israel faces with the new rebellions. It was crazy going from hearing things on the news to seeing everything so close. It really opened my eyes to the fact that people are living with these issues day by day, and for some reason, I had never felt safer than standing there at the top of the mountain knowing I was totally protected by the Israel Defense Forces. I am so excited for what’s to come next week.

EMT TRAINING

June 27, 2016

During these last five days I've been living in Jerusalem for my EMT intensive training course. The hostel that all sixty of us basic Magen David Adom volunteers have been staying at has been represented, in my mind, as a melting pot between a nice hotel, my old high school, and a state penitentiary prison. Here is where I will start to extrapolate. I've been studying, eating, and sleeping at this hostel near the Israeli Museum along with three other Onward Israel participants from Haifa - and two of them go to Williams College with me. It is safe to say that every participant here is inherently nice and childishly silly - which makes for an exciting classroom environment. We did not hesitate to go explore the main marketplace known as the Shuk. After winding through the crowded bazaar of the marketplace, we found a fancy-on-a-budget restaurant on Ben Yehuda Street. The salads there were arguably the best ones I've found in my time in Israel, and it was the best way to get out of the restricted space of the hostel.

As bad as I'm making the camp grounds of the hostel out to be, it's not so horrible knowing that I'm here for my internship. In addition to learning about what I'm going to be doing during the summer up in Haifa, I get to learn something new and interesting every day. For example, my instructor jumps from teaching us about back stabbings to heart attacks in a class session as long as an hour and a half. At times it can be challenging to see myself doing some of these rescue missions because they can seem intimidating, but I know that after enough training and practice, I'll be able to help patients with the same legitimacy as the other paramedics on the ambulance. It's also extremely humbling to hear about the experiences of the other participants here who are in the advanced course and have already had some training out on the field. Some of these kids are my age and have already delivered babies...how crazy! Although it might not seem too exciting at the moment, I can already see how much potential I have to learn more about the medical field and about myself throughout the summer through this program. Oh yeah, and saying I delivered a baby would be pretty cool.

A VERY SOCIAL PLACE

June 23, 2016

I just landed in Tel Aviv; so excited to finally be here! Even at the airport Israelis loved opening up to me and telling me stories of where they're going and what they think about Israel. The first night out in the Shuk, full of bars, young people dancing, and Israeli music gave me a great first impression. After socializing in the Shuk, many people told me Israel is the most amazing land in the world, but that sometimes the people can be quite intense. After having been here for a couple days, I have not had that feeling so far, except maybe when I visited the Western Wall on Shabbat; seeing all of these people from different Jewish communities singing along together in harmony definitely could be described as intense.

No matter what, I love the people that I am living with. We are 60 college students living in the same building. Our madrichim (counselors) are ready to help us with any problems, and although I have had only one day of my internship I can understand what the Israeli startup scene is like. Essentially, nobody comes to you, you need to come to them if you need help. But I do love my coworkers so far, they are all ready to open up to me and explain what they do. If they ever need help, they can come to me. I have learned a lot about “remote monitoring solutions,” although I still don’t quite understand the full meaning of what that means. That’s why I am still only an intern at the moment, correct? All in all, hakol tov, sababa; I am in the holy land and I am feeling fine. The excursions that we made as a group were amazingly nice, too! They really showed us elements of the country that we would have probably not seen or heard of otherwise.

A CULTURE OF DIFFERENCE

June 22, 2016

“Hello Jordan. 9 AM tomorrow. Now please go enjoy the beach!” My first telephone conversation with my boss in Israel was both brief and informal. This was a far cry from my previous job in the United States, where I talked to my boss on the phone multiple times for hours and received a 30-page packet to fill out prior to my first day of work. I had only been in Israel for a couple days but I already noticed a stark contrast in the culture between it and the United States. Despite the constant stream of violent and scary news stories one hears on TV about the Middle East, the people that I met in Haifa have seemed to be far more relaxed and composed than what I was used to in the U.S. My coworkers had to explain to me that there was no need to rush back inside after our lunch break: instead we would stay outside and get to know each other for a bit as they took a quick smoke break.

An hour before my first day of work for Dynamic Shipping as a finance intern, I felt a craving for falafel, a sort of sandwich containing fried chickpea and hummus, and a staple Israeli food. My housemate Matt assured me that no restaurant would be open so early at 8 AM. I was eager to prove him wrong, but was promptly rejected by 3 restaurants, all of which explained to me that they were not yet open for business. Finally, I walked into Saleh’s Falafel and Shawarma, where a smiling man named Essam in front of the cash register greeted me. As I ordered, a fellow customer intrigued by my American accent, politely struck up a conversation as to what I was doing in Haifa. We talked for about 10 minutes on topics ranging from my time at Israel to his views on Donald Trump. After a couple of minutes of conversation with this man, it dawned on me that I had rarely sat and talked with complete strangers in America for this amount of time, especially in the morning before people have had their $4 Starbucks coffees and “can’t deal with people yet.” Finally, as I finished up my falafel, which was much more delicious than anything on the breakfast menu at Dunkin Donuts, my new friend explained that he had to get to work. “Enjoy your stay in Israel!” He shouted, enthusiastically as he reached out to shake my hand.

Jordan Angel, UConn '18, traveled to Israel with his school's Birthright Israel trip, and is interning this summer with Dynamic Shipping as a Boston Onward Israel Haifa 2016 participant.

STARTING IN JERUSALEM

June 21, 2016

Last week Onward participants united in Jerusalem for an exciting start to our two month adventure. Students traveled far and wide to intern in Haifa and Jerusalem. This summer I will be interning at a Jerusalem-based solar startup that specializes in designing and installing photovoltaic systems on personal homes and businesses. My job will be designing and creating computer renderings of solar arrays and creating price proposals for potential clients. I’m excited to be part of the renewable energy movement here in Israel and can’t wait to see where this experience will bring me.

Our first outing was a tour of Ein Kerem, an ancient village in southwest Jerusalem. Ein Kerem is a prime example of how important the city of Jerusalem is to the Judaism, Christianity and Islam. For example, the church built upon the birthplace of John The Baptist neighbors several different mosques and synagogues. It was an interesting tour to start off the Onward experience and highlighted the vast diversity of the place we will be spending our summer.

FINALLY HERE

June 20, 2016

I can't believe the time has finally come to start our adventures here in Israel! I have been looking forward to this for months... except the opening orientation. All I could imagine was piles of paperwork, ice breakers, and lectures about the rules and regulations. It turns out orientation was so much more than that. Halfway through our first day, an amazing guest speaker, Yossef Abramowitz, came to talk to us about his startups in the field of solar power. His motivational speech about the importance of sticking to our core values and running with them in order to become truly successful, even when it feels like the world is against us, left everyone speechless. The next day half of the Boston-Haifa group went to an emotional tour of the Ammunition Hill memorial. What a powerful story of bravery and heroism during the Six Day War. So many things stood out to me, including the stories of men jumping out of trenches with machine guns to allow their fellow comrades to pass by safely. Our tour guide almost brought tears to everyone’s eyes.

While most of us don’t remember much of the ride to Haifa, since the majority of the bus ride was a chorus of snoring as we caught up on sleep, we were awoken to the most beautiful views many of us had ever seen. The hillside of Haifa overlooking the beach was breathtaking to say the least. We arrived at the apartments, dropped off our bags, and began our adventures living in this bustling city. For many of us, this was our first experience shopping and making decisions for ourselves. Everyone was supportive and we quickly formed a community. Shabbat was then filled with laughter and excitement to kick off the summer. A group of us even got together to share the Sabbath meal. Shabbat seemed longer than usual as the anticipation for Sunday started kicking in, when we would begin our internships.

HAIFA HOSPITALITY

June 19, 2016

As I lay typing on my bed at Nahum Dobrin Street, the street outside my window is empty of the young, hip crowd that usually gathers at the bar underneath us around 5pm to grab drinks with a group of friends. Instead, Haifa's alleyways and boutique shops are cleared and locked up for Shabbat dinner. Everyone's anticipating to gather around a table with a full spread of food and reflect on the week that has just past. I reflect on these past few days and remember feeling nervous and excited to begin my summer journey in Israel with 60 fellow American college students. My nervousness quickly subsided after I met the majority of participants and bonded on our trip to the hustling market in the city nature walk before that. My favorite part by far was the market, mostly for the brief attendance of a jolly aloe-vera-selling man who seemed to find the meaning of happiness.

It seems like everyone has an innate friendliness for each other - even though we had all met just two days prior - we were going to dinner and spending a whole Saturday swimming and playing volleyball at the beach. It's awesome to know we all have each other as a safety network and as allies to turn to whenever we get too caught up in the business of life without the comfort of our homes or families. The locals in Haifa also do a great job at making tourists feel at home. Today, a group of us had walked into a fruit shop and were given bags full of perfectly ripe fruit that wouldn't have lasted the weekend. The owners were so kind to let us, strangers, take their produce and even insisted we take more. This level of hospitality is rarely found in the States, let alone Boston, where all of us Bostonian kids have grown accustomed to the grittiness of Beantown's streets.

BOSTON ONWARD ISRAEL 2016WITH CJP

MEALS WITH FRIENDS

WRAPPING UP A GOOD TIME

LEAVING ISRAEL STRONGER

FIRSTS AND LASTS

EXPLORING NAZARETH

A SPECIAL TRIP UP NORTH

EXPLORING DRUZE HOSPITALITY

DEEP IN JERUSALEM

PERSONAL GROWTH

ONWARD LEARNING

A TRIP TO EILAT

PERSPECTIVES

GREAT EXPERIENCES

THE LEBANESE BORDER

GUSH ETZION

INSPIRATIONAL PEOPLE

A VISIT TO HAIFA

JERUSALEM 3000

TEL AVIV VISIT

HAIFA VIEWPOINTS

SUMMER ADVENTURES

ONWARD VIDEO

ENEMY FLAGS OVER THE BORDER

A TRUE SHABBAT

A TRIP UP NORTH

GUSH ETZION AND THE DESERT

A WEEK IN THE DESERT

A DESERT OASIS

LEARNING AND HAVING FUN

EXPERIENCES APLETNY

AN EMT CELEBRATING WITH FRIENDS

JERUSALEM, TEL AVIV, AND BACK

COMMUNITY AND STRENGTH

THE MEDITERRANEAN ​AND THE DESERT

DISCOVERY AND GRATITUDE

EMT TRAINING

A VERY SOCIAL PLACE

A CULTURE OF DIFFERENCE

STARTING IN JERUSALEM

FINALLY HERE

HAIFA HOSPITALITY

BOSTON ONWARD ISRAEL 2016
WITH CJP

THE MEDITERRANEAN
AND THE DESERT