Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!
I know it was a week ago but I was waiting for photos that I can't get. :/

I didn't get off unfortunately BUT I did spend the morning in Jerusalem at an education base with my friend Tzvi. (Tzvi's Blog. He's a fellow lone soldier.) We had to go to a mandatory meeting for a course called Course Nativ(pronounced Na-teev)קורס נתיב.
The course is for soldiers that are new to the country and have been in Israel for less then 10 years. It is also the first step to the conversion process for the soldiers that aren't jewish and want to become jewish. It isn't a mandatory course but from what I hear it's a lot of fun.
There is a closed course that is about 7 weeks and an opened course that is about 3 months.
Each week there are one or two trips to different places in the country. Every day there are lessons on Israel.
The meeting finished surprisingly early. We thought it was going to be a few hours. It turned out that it was 15 minutes. Im honestly surprised that I even knew what was being said they were speaking so fast. Instead of the meeting being 830-1130 like we thought it was in and out. They were doing the meetings in waves. It was great. Tzvi and I decided that we didn't want to go back with a whole group of people and took a separate bus to Ben Yehuda. We walked around Ben Yehuda for a little before finally getting some breakfast and then took the new train system to the bus station where we went back to Tel Aviv.

Later on in the evening we met back up at a Thanksgiving Dinner for American Lone Soldiers held by The Michael Levine Lone Soldier Center. The Lone Soldier Center holds a Thanksgiving Dinner  every year for American Lone soldiers. Pictures can be found in the "Thanksgiving Dinner" link. I was surprised as to how many Lone Soldiers that weren't American that came. I honestly was kind of disheartened that they were using it as an excuse to get off base.
On a plus side it was GREAT to see all the Americans and meet some new people.
They had so much food and drinks and it was just a great time. They also had a football game(Greenbay Packers vs Lions?) on the big screen. It was being broadcasted live. It was so much fun. It was a little slice of home.

American holidays aren't really celebrated in Israel. People know it's a holiday but they won't really do anything about it. Halloween is celebrated by mostly the Club Scene but it isn't like home. Just like America doesn't celebrate other countries holidays; Other countries don't celebrate ours. The only celebration going on is the groups of American's that get together and celebrate our holidays. We keep our family traditions alive and make new ones. It is a lot of fun and makes things easier. It's great to feel that small piece of home.
I really have been feeling the need to go home and spend the holidays with my family but I can't. I was home in the summer to try and see my sick Aunt one last time. I only get one month a year to be home. I can either use it to work or to go home. I've been using my one month to go home. As of January 1st, 2012 I will be allowed to come back home. I'm going to save this part for another blog update. :)
I have some things I need to do. Although I really would love to come home. There is nothing like December in New York. It is one of the things I miss the most about home. The holiday spirit, colors, and cheer. It really pains me to hear and read all the religious discrimination going on during this time of year. I really hope that they can be put a side. It doesn't matter what religion you are, just enjoy the smells of cinnamon and freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and all the beautiful colors and warm drinks. You never know when you won't be able to experience it again.


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Passover Holiday 2011

Benny Gantz. The new head of the IDF

So passover was absolutely amazing. Probably the most fun I've had in a while. A very long time I should say. It was non stop laughter and just a really great time over all. I met all these new people that I can say are going to be friends for some time.

We met in Binyamina and took a bus to a hotel in Olga. It was absolutely amazing.

It was like Mickve Alon Reunion. Actually that's exactly what it was. 

I should probably tell you guys that this was only for Lone Soldiers on closed bases and combat positions. Im very thankful I got to go. I'm glad I switched to my new job or I never would have been able to go because I am on an open base with the only combat I have to do is make the Paper Shredder Machine Thingy that I forgot the name of work.

We all got separated into rooms and groups. I had the BEST roommate ever. Her name is Karen. She is also from NY. She was so much fun. We actually met up several times after the passover dinner. She is such a great person and Im really glad to know her and call her friend. 

I also had the best group ever. צוות 27/שולחן 13 כבוד!!

We all had to go into this giant room and sit down where Benny Gantz came and talked to us and surprised a Lone Soldier by having his parents stand behind him. Everyone started crying it was so moving. Photos were strictly prohibited during this even, so naturally Karen and I took photos. :P

After that it was free time or see a comedian who was funny. Then we had the passover sedar where they had raffles. Didn't win anything. Then it was free time until the next night at dinner. 

The free time was spent sleeping and hanging out with our group. I think we were the only group to spend out free time together. We had such an awesome "group commander". This was such a great 2 days. Im so going to remember it forever. After those 2 days I returned to base for half days everyday while everyone was on vacation.

Me, Adam(not in our group but a friend of mine, and Karen

Lior and I.

Me and my really awesome light up ball :P

The second passover dinner I went to my friend Shiran's house with her family. It was so much fun. I spent the entire night speaking hebrew. So I was really proud of myself. It was such a great passover over all.

I really need to go now. My bus is in 20 minutes and Im still in PJ's and I live on the 7th floor!!!

YOM HAATZMAUT!!!! Israel is 62!

Okay so Tuesday April 20 is Israel's Independence Day! It was so much fun. Such a great day. Everybody is smiling, laughing, dancing in the streets, and just having a grand old time. Kids even have shaving cream fights. I only thought those were for Halloween or Mischief Night. Proven wrong Monday night. It started like the other holidays, the evening before. This day had 2 or 3 sirens I think though. One at the beginning, on at the height of the day, and Im not sure but I think one ending the holiday. The one at the height of the day, I was at a hair/nail salon with Sam, Lauren, and Rebecca.  Everyone there almost didn't hear it go off including us. It was also the longest siren to go off out of the 3 holidays. Most seemed to be one minute while this one seemed to be two.

The first photo (above) is from the Independence Day Ceremony at Rabin Sqaure or in hebrew Cicar Rabin. Pronounced Ke-car Ra- Bean. It was so much fun. There were hundred of people there. They had fireworks and a very large concert. The first set was a group of soldiers I believe. I have videos that Im trying to upload. When they are uploaded I will post them on here for you to see.

 This is the Independence Memorial across from the Independence Building on Rothschild Street in Tel Aviv. Israel didn't actually become Israel until May 14,1948. David Ben Gurion and other founders of Israel signed the Israeli Declaration of Independence at Independence Hall/Building.

 Soo when I said dancing in the street, I ment it. My friends and I were walking around Tel Aviv and made it to the beach where we found this. Even the religious people were having a great time. Usually religious people don't mingle with secular people. I believe that today was an exception and it was just a day for celebrating. It was so much fun. Such a happy day. I loved it. The Israeli Flag was everywhere. And I mean EVERYWHERE! Actually they are still up too.  Here's a giant Israeli flag in Dizengoff. 

 When there is one Israeli Flag there are tons more. On each car window, every house/building window. Just everywhere. This is definitely a proud country. I am very happy and grateful to be here. :)

Yom Hazikaron

Memorial Candles

Yom Hazikaron is Memorial Day for the fallen soldiers. Its the same thing as Memorial Day in America. It is the day before Yom Haatzmaut which is Israeli Independence Day.
Every year the IDF Chief in Staff places a rock on the grave of the most recent fallen soldier. He also places a wreath on Mt.Herzl. The Chief of Staff in Israel is Gabi Ashkenazi.

 This is Gabi Ashkenazi. This photo is from Top News.

Again, just like Yom Hashoah, the siren went off.
This time it was around 8 at night. Yom Hazikaron starts in the evening just like Yom Hashoah and Yom Hazikaron.
I finally figured out what the siren reminds me off. Well not really the siren more like the reactions. When the siren sounds everything stops. People just stop. Well it reminded me of the movie The Happening by M.Night.Shyamalan. Well it only reminded me of how the people just stop moving. It didnt remind me of what happens after they stop moving in the movie. 

 Ashkenazi saluting the wreath at Mt.Herzl. This photo is from Zimbio.com

I'll write more blogs later. This is the list. Yom Haatzmaut, Enlistment Party Attempt 1, Enlistment Party Success, Day 1 of Lishkat Gius (what an experience), and I think Israeli Banking/ Cellphone Companies.

Hag Sameach Leculam!! :)

Memorial Day in America. Thats my grandpa. :)

Yom Ha Shoah

Monday was Yom Ha Shoah. Yom Ha Shoah is remembrance day of the Holocaust.
In America we dont have Holocaust Remembrance Day. So it's safe to say that this was my first Holocaust Remembrance Day... Well official and in Israel.
In America growing up I learned about the Holocaust in Hebrew School, the Temple, High School, and my family. My Grandma and my Omi were from Germany. So was the rest of their family before they were murdered by the Nazis.
Omi is the german word for Grandma. Omi was my Grandmas mom.

On Yom Ha Shoah between 12-1 (the height of everyone's day) EVERYTHING shuts down. Also a 2 minutes alarm sounds. This was one of the things I've never witnessed before in my life. When the alarm sounded everyone stopped what they were doing and stood still. Cars stopped. It didn't matter where they were. The drivers got out of their cars. Those that were walking stopped. Those that were sitting in trains stood. It was very different and very touching to see.
Around 1230 my friends Sam, Rebecca, and I left class to go to the Memorial Service. They recited speeches and told stories and they played the National Anthem.
The whole thing was amazing. Im glad to have been here during it. This upcoming Monday is Memorial Day and then Tuesday is Independence Day. I will have pictures for these two days and a blog for them as well. Right now all of Israel is covered in flags.
I didnt feel comfortable taking pictures of Yom Ha Shoah. BUT heres one of my Grandma, Omi, and I.

Pesach פסח(Passover) Fun fact ;)

So I needed food today. I haven't really been at the dorms so I didnt really need food. I went food shopping naturally and found something rather shocking. To me it was shocking since Im from New York. But now that I think about it, its rather logical for Israel.
In the supermarkets all of the bread/grain products are covered or removed from the shelves. You can not buy any of it. When Passover is over then you can buy bread/grain products. I wish I knew so I could have bought things on Sunday before I left. Its good to know though for future reference.
I was hungry and so I went to the food court and figured Id get pizza thinking fast food doesnt count. ...yup fast food does. Sbarro the pizza place was not selling regular pizza. So I left and decided Burger King. They were like yeah we got burgers. Not real buns.  I shall wait till next week for my beautiful slice of pizza. It was rather shocking at first. "Ahh what happened to the store? Is there a problem?" Nope, just cant eat bread/grain products during Pesach. Ha sill me. I forgot. Ahh wonderful new experiences in foreign countries. Shufersell:

 

Mega:

This is usually just filled with tons of bread and all different kinds. Now its Bamba and potato chips.. and wine.

 They had cool decorated covers for their aisles.

Okay till next time peeps. חג שמח :) (Happy Holidays- Hag Sameach)