From March to April

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April has begun and it is bringing with it lovely weather. Life here in Haifa has been continuing one day at a time as it has been all year long, and March was a month full of goodies!
A few weeks ago we celebrated Purim--a holiday of rememberance and joy. The evening of Purim we dressed up and went to Beit Knesset Ohel Avraham for the reading of the Megillah, or scroll. Our group participated in the service. We read and acted out one of the chapters of the story. It was quite a performance!
Later that night I went to a party and concert hosted by the Student Union of the University of Haifa. It was held at a convention center in the city. There was loud music and lots of dancing. My favorite part of the evening was seeing all of the creative costumes.
We had the day of Purim off from classes, so I went to Akko to visit a friend. It was a nice and relaxed day.
This past Thursday was Election Day in Israel. The atmosphere was exciting. I watched a live broadcast of the evening through the internet as exit polls were announced and ballots were counted. No matter my political opinions, this year's election brought a lot of change. I am very interested in seeing now the process of the parties forming coalitions and a government.
During the day on Tuesday I participated in a very special event called Riding4Reform. It is an annual bike ride and fundraiser in support of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism. Though I couldn't participate in the entire event, my one day on a bike was fun and motivating. We began in Tel Aviv and ended our day in a town called Rosh Ayin. Maybe I'll participate in the ride again in years to come.
Today I went on a trip organized through the overseas department to a British detainment camp for illegal immigrants during the period of the British Mandate. The prison camp in Atlit is now preserved as a historical memorial to the people who were held there and to the importance of that period in history.
We also visited the town of Zichron Yaakov, which was one of the earliest modern settlements in the region and has been preserved to retain its historical beauty ever since.
Our last stop was Kibbutz Mishmar HaEmek. Founded in the early 1900s, it was one of the first Kibbutzim established. Today it is one of the largest and most prosperous Kibbutzim and it is one of the few Kibbutzim that remain nearly completely collective.
We have one more week of classes and midterms until Passover Break. I'll start my vacation in Jerusalem for a Carmel Seminar. We'll learn about different aspects of Jewish and Israeli culture while meeting with different people from all sorts of places with all sorts of points of view. Afterwards, I am going back down to Kibbutz Lotan where I will stay for the duration of the holiday. I can't wait to go back to that very special community!
Until then,
Happy Spring!

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Photos

Purim!
Top: Dina, me, Laura, and Jess
Bottom: Sarah and Herschel

Purim!
The Reading of the Megilla and synagogue

Purim!
The Reading of the Megilla and synagogue

Purim!
Dressed as a tree

Purim!
Dressed as a tree

Purim!
At the University Party

Purim!
At the University Party

Riding4Reform
Waiting in the Parking Lot

Riding4Reform
Waiting in the Parking Lot: Isaac and Jenn

Atlit
Detention Camp for illegal immigrants during the British Mandate

Atlit
Detention Camp for illegal immigrants during the British Mandate

Atlit
Detention Camp for illegal immigrants during the British Mandate

Zichron Yaakov
Memorial of the settlement's history

Zichron Yaakov
Early cemetery filled with the graves of children who died from the hardships of the settlement's beginnings

Zichron Yaakov
The grave of Sarah Aaronson--an important woman in the history of Zichron Yaakov

Zichron Yaakov
Zichron Yaakov's first water tower

Zichron Yaakov
Zichron Yaakov's first synagogue

Zichron Yaakov
The clock, intentionally made with Hebrew letters, on Zichron Yaakov's first synagogue

Comments

[Elana Gordon]

Costume
Oh what a surprise Mari dressed like a tree....