By Risa Kelemer

Shabbat in Marrakech was relaxing we davened and ate at the one local synagogue. Erev Shabbat we were waiting to be bused to the Shul, when ten horse pulled carriages rolled up to the curb. We traveled in style through the city, waving at the passing cars. Our carriage was the first, and it was quite a sight to turn around and see the convey of kivunim kids in their carriages behind us. Dinner and lunch were both cooked by the rabbis wife, and served in an outdoor tent in the chatzer of the Shul. It fascinated me when I looked at the top of the tent and noticed that the poll to which the tent was strung had a crescent moon on top of it- a symbol of Islam. I suppose that in a Muslim country one cannot escape the influence of Islam on Judaism. They are so similar and one is forced to admit that they each helped shape and mold the other.

Read the rest of this blog

Risa Kelemer is on a Masa program called Kivunim and is spending time in Israel - and all around the world! You can read her blogs at the site above. From time to time, we will also share them with you here on THE ASSOCIATED’s Global Impact blog.

By Jakir Manela

“Blessed are you, G-d ruler of the universe, who is good and does good.”

One of the great things about Judaism is that we say the blessing above whenever it rains.  Something we might consider a normal, natural occurrence, yet being in Israel reminds us of just how precious rain is amidst all of Israel’s water conservation challenges.  We have been blessed this week to witness three or four distinct rainstorms and yesterday evening we even had the pleasure of running through the rain to get to our bus.  It is a privilege to be present in the holyland while such a precious natural resource falls down upon the land from the heavens.  Could it be that the rain has fallen on our merit?  Probably not, but as we head toward Shabbat and finish our work here on the Baltimore-Ashkelon Partnership Mission perhaps we can believe that the merit of our partnership is what brings the rains down. 

Together we have seen amazing projects that serve women and families, Ethiopians and Russians and visited community gardens.  We have made tough decisions about where this partnership will go in the future. 

I have not been in Israel for 12 years, since my first experience at the age of 17 on a month-long adventure tour.  My life was transformed by the inspirational experience of discovering Israel for the first time.  Now I am back and so grateful to witness a much different, deeper part of the American-Israeli relations. I would never trade in my experience as a 17-year-old for anything in the world, and in the same token I would never trade in this immensely valuable part of what it means to be part of the Jewish people.

I hope to take many lessons back with me to Kayam Farm, Pearlstone, Baltimore and America.  There are so many ways we can collaborate with Ashkelon on Jewish agricultural and environmental education, community gardening and more.  I look forward to this Shabbat as the time when our two communities become one with shared values and a shared vision for the future.  As the rain continues to fall in Ashkelon I feel great faith and blessings descending on all of us, just as the blessing says. Because Israel is such an arid climate, rain is seen as a great blessing in Judaism, so we thank G-d by saying that He or She is good and does good whenever it rains. 

This Shabbat I think we can all say the blessing not only over the rain but over our Partnership as well.

A group of dedicated Baltimore volunteers and professionals left for Ashkelon earlier this week. Follow their experience through Israel and our sister city as they learn and grow…

By Diane Weiner
My return visit to Israel and to Jerusalem is especially meaningful because I am sharing it with my husband Jeremy.

Avi Melamed’s discussion of Israel’s security concerns, while being here and actually seeing the areas in question, deepened my appreciation of all the complexities and dilemmas Israel faces.

Yoram, our guide, took us through the Old City sharing information and insight about the unique significance of Jerusalem, which is shared by Jews, Christians and Muslims. It is important to note that Israel respects and protects access to the sites for all faiths.

We ended our tour at the Kotel, which was as moving for me as it was on my first visit a year ago. We ended our very long day enjoying wine, conversation and a delicious dinner at Darna with our new friends from the Baltimore-Ashkelon Partnership.

Says Jeremy, “The closeness and juxtaposition of the Israeli and Arab neighborhoods is not understood by most people in the world…”
Read Jeremy’s full blog~

In our Israeli sister city of Ashkelon, the folks are celebrating the spirit of Baltimore-Ashkelon Partnership volunteerism. In the city’s most recent community newspaper, a quarter-page article ran about some of the most meaningful recent visits:

“Many Baltimore families who came to Israel within the last several months requested private volunteer experiences in Ashkelon with the goal of giving back to their sister city.
Einav Koren, the Baltimore-Ashkelon Partnership Volunteer Coordinator works to find each family an appropriate opportunity. ...

Dr. Jim and Dorothy Wolff visited Ashkelon recently. While there, they volunteered at a home for kids at risk. The children gave them a warm welcome…”

www.baltimoreashkelon.org.

By Micky Rubin
Baltimore Hebrew Institute

Although this was perhaps the most physically demanding day of our journey through the holy land thus far, I can honestly say that I felt as if I had accomplished something special by the time I had laid my head down to sleep in the evening. Our adventure began in the morning as we made our way to a yoga studio in Mitzpe Ramon. While I am a fitness enthusiast, I quickly realized that balance and overall flexibility are areas in which I need plenty if work. Still, like many of my classmates, I came to appreciate the calming effect that yoga can ultimately have on the mind and soul. I would be lying if I said I am not giving serious consideration to incorporating yoga into my regular exercise regimen.

We continued on our adventure, making our way towards Ein Gedi where we would have the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the Dead Sea. As we drove through the Negev desert, I took a moment to gaze into the wilderness and take in the hills, the valleys, the mountains and everything in between. It was probably the first time I stopped and began to wonder just how Moshe and the Hebrews wandered through this terrain for 40 years. Absolutely remarkable.

When we finally arrived in Ein Gedi, many of us immediately went to get changed and headed right for the salty body of water. The lowest point on earth, the Dead Sea is truly something at which to marvel—you just cannot sink! Laying there, floating and soaking in the absolutely gorgeous weather with the others is an experience truly unlike any other. If only we had something like it back in the U.S.!

Our final stop for the day was easily the most climactic—the climb up the mountain fortress of Masada. We were given two options to reach the top: either take the cable car or hike up the snake path,  an estimated one-hour journey. While some students elected to ride the cable car to the top, many of my classmates and I accepted the challenge before us and began our hike to the top of the ancient fortress. On our way up, it was important to me to stop and make sure that everyone was doing alright and physically able to continue. After all, that is how the Jewish community remains so strong—through its commitment to helping one another and providing the support and encouragement to those who find themselves in challenging situations. THIS is why we succeed.

After we all had successfully hiked to the top, I took a minute to look out over the desert and realize just how far we had come. It was simply incredible and I know I would do it again in a heartbeat. We began to explore King Herod’s former mountain fortress, learning about how it came to be and the history behind the story of Masada.

Though I knew the basic details of the Masada story, it was not until I heard the complete version that I really began to understand why Israeli soldiers come to the mountain to swear allegiance to Israel. In a brief nutshell, the Jews had begun to rebel against the Romans following the death of King Herod. Ultimately, Masada was one of the last places that Jews were left (after the Romans had essentially quelled the rebellion). After several Roman attempts to reach the Jews on Masada, they eventually had the Jews in a situation in which there was no escape. The Jews faced the tough decision of either submitting to the Romans and perhaps become slaves or making the ultimate sacrifice and taking their one lives as free Jews, maintaining their identity and dignity. In a tragic ending to the story, the Jews chose the latter, drawing lots to decide who would kill everyone and then eventually taking their own lives.

By swearing allegiance to Israel and that Masada will never happen again, Israeli soldiers mean to say that they will do everything in their power to ensure that we, the Jewish people, will never have to face such a decision that the Jews of old had to face during that fateful day at the top of Masada. It is amazing that this story has had such a deep impact on the Jewish people, especially those living in the land of Israel. However, when you really think about it, it makes perfect sense. We are a people so committed to our faith and the livelihood of Judaism. Despite the level of commitment to the religion itself, we all can acknowledge that there is a common bond that is shared. This has been particularly evident on this trip; we have students of varying commitments to the religion itself, yet we all have a passion for the future and security of the Jewish community. It is this type of heart and soul that will, G-d willing, ensure that Masada will never happen again.

The Baltimore Hebrew Institute students are on their way back from Israel. You can read all of their previous blog entries and be a part of their journey here, on THE ASSOCIATED’s Global Impact blog.

By Ruth M. Szykman
Baltimore Hebrew Institute

The western side of the Judean Hills are green.  Terraced and farmed for thousands of years.  You continue past Jerusalem and head east, the climate turns arid and you enter the Judean Desert.  Too sparse to cultivate, you now think of nomadic life.  This is where Abraham grazed his flocks.  This is where David ran away to hide from Saul.

The hills meet in folds and you see sparse vegetation where the water collects and trickles into gulleys and gulleys into river beds.  The direction of flow of this rain would be east towards Jordan and the Dead Sea if there happened to be enough water.

Here, halfway between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea, some social visionaries decided to try a new social model.  In 1982 the ‘yishuv’ (village) of Alon (oak) was established with the goal of having religious and non-religious families live side-by-side in harmony.  In general, in Israel, some neighborhoods are more or less homogeneous due to people wanting to live with folks with similar values. This has the effect of segregation over time and now modern Israelis are experimenting with pluralism, tolerance, mutual respect and understanding. Alon has 150 families, 50 percent are religious and 50 percent non-religious and they live in understanding and accommodation.  They celebrate holidays together, invite non-religious people to give lectures on their understanding of Jewish texts and send their kids to school together.

The person who told us about the yishuv was “Abraham” at Genesis Land, which is a brief camel ride back in time to Abrahams tent to discuss hospitality, monotheism and history.  He told us about how when his young daughter was asked if she was religious or not, she thought about it and replied that she wanted to be a good person.  Beautiful!

By Shifrah Hill
MAJE graduate student
Baltimore Hebrew Institute

A few days ago, we visited a non-profit organization called Yad Lakashish (“Lifeline for the Old”), which provides work and financial assistance to aging immigrants in Jerusalem. In a variety of specialty workshops, including painting, ceramics and metal work, they create Judaica items such as chanukiot and challah covers, as well as items of general interest such as stuffed animals, paintings and cards.

This work provides them with a sense of purpose and self-confidence.  Though the workers are not professional artists, the staff are masters of their trade and design items people will be interested in purchasing. Production is broken down into tasks that can be easily accomplished by the workers.

I was surprised to learn that Israel is mostly a “young” country, which does not always have a way to integrate immigrants who arrive at an older age. Yad Lakashish offers immigrants from Russia, Ethiopia and South Africa an opportunity to participate in Israeli society in a meaningful way. In return, the organization provides them with many social and economic benefits such as a bus pass, a stipend and a daily hot meal and morning snack.

In addition, the organization encourages intergenerational connections. For example, local schools and yeshivot send their old books to the Yad Lakashish book bindery where they are repaired to look like new. It is important for child in Israel to have this experience not only because of the intergenerational benefits.  It also reinforces a positive reflection of immigration.

Touring this organization was a wonderful addition to our trip, not only for their admirable mission but for the quality of the Judaica and crafts produced there. Everyone who worked there was so friendly and greeted us warmly. In the gift shop, I bought beautiful home blessings and items for my sister’s baby and I was able to get more than I could have afforded otherwise because they were having a buy one, get one free sale in their store! I am grateful to support such an amazing cause.  The best part was knowing that the items were made by Jews who understand and care about their meaning, not by a factory worker in China who may not actually think about how the item will be used and valued. 

Our tour guide charged us with being ambassadors for Yad Lakashish, hoping we would share their amazing work with others in order to continue the operation of the workshops.  Not only can you visit them on your next trip to Israel, you can go online and order lovely gifts from their website. If you are in the market for handcrafted Judaica, please consider spending your money on a great cause!

By Sam Stern
Student, Baltimore Hebrew Institute

Saturday was the last day of 2011. It was also Shabbat. Over the past few days our group has been here in Israel, learning about social services and touring Israel. We took a break for Shabbat.

On Friday evening, Mickey Rubin and I led a Shabbat service for the rest of the members of our trip, and we were able to enjoy a spiritual moment and reflect on all we had seen. It was amazing to reflect on the children’s home, Bet Elizrakai, and the community for adults with special needs, K’far Idud. It was equally special to share the feelings we had experienced at Yad Vashem, and how it felt to be in Jerusalem. Our community from Baltimore had the opportunity to come together in a holy way in a holy place.

On Saturday Morning, many of us went to the old city of Jerusalem. We shopped in the market and explored the city and went to pray at the Western Wall. We chose to skip a day of rest for the opportunity to find something important to us as individuals. For some it was the market, for others it was modern Jerusalem, and for me it was the Wall. As a Jew in the Diaspora, I belong to a synagogue community that I love and the Greater Baltimore Jewish community, for which I work, as well. I feel a special connection Jerusalem and the Western Wall, and was ecstatic to be able to celebrate Shabbat in a very different way than I am accustomed to. On that Saturday night, after we did Havdalah, we celebrated the New Year (and then celebrated it again at 7 a.m. with our friends in the U.S.).

Our Shabbat experience in Israel was special for many reasons. It was a chance to relax, and a chance to explore. A chance to celebrate, and a chance to pray. Although we are sad to see Shabbat leave, there is so much more to this incredible land that we still have to see. If you will allow me to practice my Hebrew, “l’hitraot!”

Students from Baltimore Hebrew Institute are in Israel on a leadership mission. You can follow their experience right here, on THE ASSOCIATED’s Global Impact blog.

Hey there, I think your website might be having browser compatibility issues. When I look at your website in Opera, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, amazing blog!!! redstone

I prefer to read this kind of stuff. The quality of content is fine and the conclusion is good. Thanks for the post.
Juicy Couture stores

Poor service and terrible meals.  Visited on 2/4/10 and three of us ordered steaks.  Two of the steaks arrived and were cooked inconsistently and one was missing the jumbo crab.  Third steak was not delivered because it was “overdone”.  When it finally arrived, it was raw and accompanied by glossy and gummy looking garlic mashed potatoes (waiter said they always make them that way).  Waiter said he thought the steak might not be done - but decided to deliver it anyway?  Break never arrived and the potpie special wasn’t…  Topping was pastey white and consisted mostly of gravy.  I called the day after to talk to the owner or manager and did not get further than the bartended, who said she would make sure the manager called me back (Friday).  Given the forecast for bad weather, I said it would be fine if the owner or manager called me by Monday, was again assured I would get a call on Friday.  It is now Tuesday…  I recommend that if the kitchen is overwhelmed on a given night, tell your patrons to order sandwiches - not a steak for $20+ dollars that they cannot deliver.  We won’t be back.