Today on Yom Yisrael (a weekly day trip out of the Machon bubble) we looked at the concept of Aliyah. On previous days we've done topics such as the Holocaust, the IDF, Israeli culture, Israeli politics and the conflict.
For Aliyah, we heard a talk in the morning given by Serebro's grandpa who, among other things was the head of Hillel worldwide which runs Jewish and Zionist events on thousands of university campuses.
After that we went down to an absorption centre for new Olim where they learn Hebrew and prepare for life in Israel. We talked about the concept and hardships of moving countries and different motivations behind it. There was a guy there from Melbourne and another from Perth who took us around.
After we returned back to Machon to listen to a panel of Olim who have been here for a bit longer, and then saw a really good comedian.
We've got around 2 weeks left of Machon so are all very sad but excited to move into the rest of Shnat.
Lots of love,
Nir
Wednesday, 30 May 2012
Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Northern Tiyul Video
We're well and truly into the swing of things, back from Northern Tiyul and with 3 more weeks of Machon.
We saw Bibi speak tonight at a Masa event with programs from all over the world, as well as Natan Sharansky and some Israeli Olympic athletes.
Northern Tiyul was heaps of fun with kayaking wars, hikes down cliffs and through a river, jeeping in the Golan, Tel Hai, visit to a Druze village with awesome food, Bahai gardens, swimming in the Kinneret, beaches and a Kibbutz party, awesome programs, among other things.
Massive kudos to Zac for co-roshing with Mattan from Betar Melbourne.
Here's the promo video edited by Mark and Berny from Habo Sydney.
http://vimeo.com/41830422
Shnat loving,
Nir
We saw Bibi speak tonight at a Masa event with programs from all over the world, as well as Natan Sharansky and some Israeli Olympic athletes.
Northern Tiyul was heaps of fun with kayaking wars, hikes down cliffs and through a river, jeeping in the Golan, Tel Hai, visit to a Druze village with awesome food, Bahai gardens, swimming in the Kinneret, beaches and a Kibbutz party, awesome programs, among other things.
Massive kudos to Zac for co-roshing with Mattan from Betar Melbourne.
Here's the promo video edited by Mark and Berny from Habo Sydney.
http://vimeo.com/41830422
Shnat loving,
Nir
Tuesday, 15 May 2012
Northern Tiyul So Far
Hey guys,
Don't have much time but here's a quick update of northern tiyul which we're on now.
Yesterday we went on a massive hike in morning which ended up at a spring and waterfall where we all went swimming.
After that was ATV driving in the very north, where Sammy J and Grun got shouted at plenty of times by the instructors for speeding down hills and over rocks.
We went to Tel Hai, the site of a pre-state battle which is quite important to Habo and Betar. Check out the photo of the memorial below.
Today was another hike down the Arbel Mountains, followed by a beautiful lunch and swim in the Kinneret. The day finished up with a visit to a chocolate factory on Kibbutz Deganya.
We've also hit up a Druze village for an awesome lunch and gone to the Bahai Temple in Haifa
More to come,
Nir
Don't have much time but here's a quick update of northern tiyul which we're on now.
Yesterday we went on a massive hike in morning which ended up at a spring and waterfall where we all went swimming.
After that was ATV driving in the very north, where Sammy J and Grun got shouted at plenty of times by the instructors for speeding down hills and over rocks.
We went to Tel Hai, the site of a pre-state battle which is quite important to Habo and Betar. Check out the photo of the memorial below.
Today was another hike down the Arbel Mountains, followed by a beautiful lunch and swim in the Kinneret. The day finished up with a visit to a chocolate factory on Kibbutz Deganya.
We've also hit up a Druze village for an awesome lunch and gone to the Bahai Temple in Haifa
More to come,
Nir
Tuesday, 1 May 2012
April Update
Hey parents and family back in Australia/New Zealand,
What’s up? That’s good. Shnat’s going great!!
March ended well with a great win by Carlton over Richmond and April began with a wedding! Hillel, Hineni’s shaliach to Sydney, invited us to his brother’s wedding. The majority of Nir went to the wedding and really enjoyed the festivities and the free food. We would like to wish a huge mazel tov to Hillel’s brother Chaim and his new wife Esther and a big thank you for allowing us to join in their celebration. The festivities continued with Daniel Grunstein’s 19th birthday. Along with other Machonikim we had a great night out on the town. Further continuing the happiness was another great win by Carlton against Brisbane. Although classes are going great and are being attended punctually by all, chofesh provided a well needed break. Everyone enjoyed the seders they attended and had a great experience of Pesach in the Holy Land – for most of us that meant one seder night! A lot of Nir went to Zorba, a spiritual music festival in the middle of the desert, which was an incredible experience. Each Nirian found their own fun during the holiday and we highly recommend you speak to your own child to find out more details.
With chofesh over and another brilliant win to Carlton, this time against Collingwood, we returned to Machon, welcomed by brand new merchandise (go Andy for organising!) and a nice picnic breakfast on the machon grass area. Yoni Genende’s 19th birthday was also celebrated in style. A majority of the group then went on a three day Israel Advocacy Seminar funded by the ZFA and run by Stand With Us. Speakers included Mark Regev, David Horovitz and Isi Leibler. It was a great learning seminar and although extremely intense, everyone enjoyed themselves and is looking forward to the second part of the seminar later on in the year.
The next week involved Yom Hashoah, on which machonkim organised a moving ceremony. The week prior we had visited Yad Vashem and the day before we went to another museum in which we explored the impact of the Holocaust on Israeli society, in particular the Adolf Eichmann trial. The night of Yom Hashoah we attended a ceremony at Kibbutz Yad Mordechai, a Hashomer Hatzair kibbutz. Before the ceremony began, Nir gathered and had a moving talk about our families and our connection to this unique event in our Jewish history. The ceremony itself was in Hebrew, but nonetheless an experience we will not forget. This sadness coincided with our beloved bogan Lauren Aaron’s departure from the program. Although we all miss her dearly we wish her well on IBC and we can’t wait to see her again soon. Andy Le Bransky then returned in style a few days later. We missed her and are so happy to have her back!
Continuing the busy schedule, Yom Hazikaron followed. We attended a MASA event made especially for English speakers on their programs. Nir Cohen, the ex-Machon madrich after whom our year is named, was remembered along with all soldiers who have given their lives for the safety and security of our Jewish homeland as well as those murdered by terrorists in the past 64 years of the country’s existence. The following morning we went to Har Herzl for the annual Yom Hazikaron ceremony. The entire day was a heartfelt insight into Israeli society and each Nirian connected to the day in their own way. In contrast to the seriousness of Yom Hazikaron, Yom Ha’atzmaut was a fantastic celebration of the State of Israel. Each of us celebrated in our own way and continued celebrating when Carlton beat Fremantle.
Until next month, enjoy the diaspora and lets continue praying for Carlton’s 17th Premiership.
Amanda and Lipson and all of Nir Shnat 2012.
What’s up? That’s good. Shnat’s going great!!
March ended well with a great win by Carlton over Richmond and April began with a wedding! Hillel, Hineni’s shaliach to Sydney, invited us to his brother’s wedding. The majority of Nir went to the wedding and really enjoyed the festivities and the free food. We would like to wish a huge mazel tov to Hillel’s brother Chaim and his new wife Esther and a big thank you for allowing us to join in their celebration. The festivities continued with Daniel Grunstein’s 19th birthday. Along with other Machonikim we had a great night out on the town. Further continuing the happiness was another great win by Carlton against Brisbane. Although classes are going great and are being attended punctually by all, chofesh provided a well needed break. Everyone enjoyed the seders they attended and had a great experience of Pesach in the Holy Land – for most of us that meant one seder night! A lot of Nir went to Zorba, a spiritual music festival in the middle of the desert, which was an incredible experience. Each Nirian found their own fun during the holiday and we highly recommend you speak to your own child to find out more details.
With chofesh over and another brilliant win to Carlton, this time against Collingwood, we returned to Machon, welcomed by brand new merchandise (go Andy for organising!) and a nice picnic breakfast on the machon grass area. Yoni Genende’s 19th birthday was also celebrated in style. A majority of the group then went on a three day Israel Advocacy Seminar funded by the ZFA and run by Stand With Us. Speakers included Mark Regev, David Horovitz and Isi Leibler. It was a great learning seminar and although extremely intense, everyone enjoyed themselves and is looking forward to the second part of the seminar later on in the year.
The next week involved Yom Hashoah, on which machonkim organised a moving ceremony. The week prior we had visited Yad Vashem and the day before we went to another museum in which we explored the impact of the Holocaust on Israeli society, in particular the Adolf Eichmann trial. The night of Yom Hashoah we attended a ceremony at Kibbutz Yad Mordechai, a Hashomer Hatzair kibbutz. Before the ceremony began, Nir gathered and had a moving talk about our families and our connection to this unique event in our Jewish history. The ceremony itself was in Hebrew, but nonetheless an experience we will not forget. This sadness coincided with our beloved bogan Lauren Aaron’s departure from the program. Although we all miss her dearly we wish her well on IBC and we can’t wait to see her again soon. Andy Le Bransky then returned in style a few days later. We missed her and are so happy to have her back!
Continuing the busy schedule, Yom Hazikaron followed. We attended a MASA event made especially for English speakers on their programs. Nir Cohen, the ex-Machon madrich after whom our year is named, was remembered along with all soldiers who have given their lives for the safety and security of our Jewish homeland as well as those murdered by terrorists in the past 64 years of the country’s existence. The following morning we went to Har Herzl for the annual Yom Hazikaron ceremony. The entire day was a heartfelt insight into Israeli society and each Nirian connected to the day in their own way. In contrast to the seriousness of Yom Hazikaron, Yom Ha’atzmaut was a fantastic celebration of the State of Israel. Each of us celebrated in our own way and continued celebrating when Carlton beat Fremantle.
Until next month, enjoy the diaspora and lets continue praying for Carlton’s 17th Premiership.
Amanda and Lipson and all of Nir Shnat 2012.
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