Wow What A Week (Week 12)

Wow. Another crazy amazing week on Nativ. Instead of going day by day this week, I decided to write about the few main events that happened, since they monopolized most of my time. There were four key events this week: the conflict with Gaza, my Birthday, Thanksgiving, and Shabbat.

The ongoing conflict with Gaza was an immense part of this week. On Tuesday afternoon there was another siren in Jerusalem. I was in my Hebrew class when it happened. We headed to the bomb shelter, stayed for ten minutes, and then went on with our day as usual. The rocket landed in the Gush, the same place as the last rocket that was shot toward Jerusalem. I came up with an analogy for what being in Jerusalem when the siren went off was like. It feels like when you’re watching a scary movie and someone walks into the room and scares you. You realize after a few minutes that you aren’t really in immediate danger, but it still scares you. Then, on Wednesday afternoon, there was a bus bombing in Tel Aviv. This was really scary, because it was the first act of terrorism from within the country. Also, when there are bus bombings they frequently happen in Jerusalem. For the rest of the day Wednesday we were instructed not to take buses. Luckily on Wednesday night Israel and Gaza agreed upon a cease-fire! Of course, a few minutes after the cease-fire more rockets were shot into Israel, but after a few more rockets, things were calm, and have remained calm since.  This means that our staff Roni can come back to Nativ, and is supposed to get back sometime Saturday night.

Wednesday was an exciting day because it was my 18^th birthday! I had a day full of festivities. In the morning, my roommate Amanda bought me lots of yummy food for breakfast, like my favorite cereal and oatmeal. During my day at the Yeshiva, the Gift of Life foundation came. This is an organization that focuses on getting Jews in a bone marrow registry. It was perfect that they came on my birthday, because you have to be 18 to register. I signed for myself for the first time as a legal adult. It also felt good to do a mitzvah on a day that was so fun for me. Then, after my morning class my friends Adiva and Eliana bought me a delicious chocolate cake. They gave it to me at lunch, and candles and a song were included. I didn’t eat lunch, but I did have my cake and share with the people around me. Then I went to get my cartilage pierced. For anyone wondering, it didn’t really hurt, but has been sore ever since. Also, just to keep my family calm, this is the last piercing I plan on getting in Israel, so you can stop worrying. After that, I went out to lunch with my friend Julia and her mom. We went to this pretty outdoor café above the Mamilla mall. It was delicious, and so much fun. Then Wednesday night, I went out with a group of girls to get Sushi at Sushi Rehavia. When we got back, I found presents waiting on my bed. My roommate Miriam made me a peanut butter chocolate pie, Angela got me marzipan rugalach and spa night gift set, and Elana Pentelnik got me a really cute scarf. Also, my parents got me flowers, which Yossi picked out for them, and they are gorgeous. Overall it was one of the best birthday’s I’ve had in awhile. I definitely missed my friends and family at home, but my friends here made it easy to have a good time anyway.

On Thursday night we had Nativ Thanksgiving. All past nativers and their families are invited to come to Beit Nativ and have Thanksgiving with the current nativers. The Nativ a capella preformed two songs, and we had the best meal so far on Nativ. Then, the current Nativers go downstairs and have special activities. a cappella sang again, and we watched a slideshow that said what everyone on Nativ is thankful for, and had pictures up to this point on Nativ. It was weird not being with my family on Thanksgiving, but as Yossi pointed out, this is my new Nativ family.  

Shabbos was an amazing end to an already amazing week. Friday night I went to dinner at Miriam (my roommate’s) parent’s apartment. We had an amazing meal, and had lots of fun just talking and having a peaceful Shabbos meal. Saturday morning I woke up and went to davening at mayanot. It was about a 45 minute walk from Beit Nativ. I liked services there, but they were nothing so special that I would walk there again. The best part was that quite a few people from the Conservative Yeshiva daven there. After services I had lunch at my teacher Shiyah’s house. We had make your own burritos, and it was delicious. It was fun to bond with the other Nativ CYers, and to get to see a teacher outside of school. After lunch I headed back to Beit Nativ just in time for Mincha services, where I read the same Torah portion as at my Bat Mitzvah.  Overall it was the perfect end to the perfect week.