Welcome to the Army

*FROM 11/21*
This morning we got up at normal time and at 8:30 put our final few things in the library and cleaned out our rooms. Then David, Baruch, and Judy dud intense checks of every room to make sure we had cleaned properly. Then we got on the bus and headed down south. Around 11:30 we stopped at a mall for lunch, where Sydney and I shared a salad and a frozen yogurt where they basically create the flavor by mixing in whatever you want. (Ours was pretty good). Then we got back on the bus and around1:30 we arrived at the base. Immediately we were split into 2 groups and put our bags in our respective tents. Luckily all the girls in our group are in a tent with just us (the other EIE girls of Israelis). Then we got our mattresses, sleeping bags, and blankets. None of which were obtained easily. We were constantly being timed and running in to 2 lines or a het. Then we got our uniforms. We went back to the tent to change I found a cat sitting on my mattress. I freaked out a bit (of course the cat would sit on the bed of a girl who dislikes animals). Then we learned some commands, went over rules, learned the “red lines” and ran a little more. Around 6:40 we had dinner (it wasn’t very good). After dinner we met in our groups and played a few games until opening ceremony. The ceremony wasn’t anything special; we legitimately sat there for an hour. After that we had our hour off that every solider is guaranteed. We set up our beds, had a snack, talked to our madrachim, got ready for bed, and I wrote. Our hour off is also the time for us to shower but the bathrooms are a tad gross so we decided that we wouldn’t be using them all week. At 10 we met with our commander, cleaned up some trash, and went to bed.

Shabbat Strawberries with Aunt Suzy

I slept in this morning because its Shabbat which means late wake up! We had services at 11 and at 12:30 I left services early to get in cab to Jerusalem. I went to Aunt Suzy’s hotel to meet up with her and her two friends. Yesterday they went to the Shuk and got food so that we could have a Shabbat picnic. It was soo good! We sat out on the porch of the hotel and had pita, hummus, yogurt, fresh veggies, cheeses, dried fruit, grapes, and strawberries. I was in heaven. Plus it was the first time I had had strawberries in months b/c it just became strawberry season her in Israel! After our delicious lunch we went for a walk around Jerusalem. We also stopped at the Gilad Shalit booth run by his family in an effort to get him back. We even met his father. When we got back to the hotel Aunt Suzy and I had a few minutes for just the 2 of us to talk. Then we went up to her room and she gave me all the leftovers from lunch b/c they were flying home tonight so had nothing to do with them. We figured that even thought we are also leaving tomorrow that the food would be eaten. And sure enough the majority of it is already gone. When I got back to Tzuba I asked my roommates if they were hungry and of course they were so we ate some pita, cheese, and the craisins and dried apricots. I am saving the extra almonds and raisins that Aunt Suzy bought just for me, as a snack while we are in the south. When I got back we also had torah study, which was actually kinda fun. It was led by Yael’s sister, which was also kinda cool. Then I attempted to order a camera but it isn’t working out b/c you need an Israeli identification code thingy to order stuff here. Then Noa helped me with math. At 6 we had havdalah followed by dinner. There was apple salad so I had a bowl and called it a meal ☺ Then I went back to my room and packed up all my stuff (except my computer which I am allowed to have until tomorrow morning when I put it in the library). Then I had a nice conference call with grammy and mommy. It was good to hear their voices and be able to talk to both of them at the same time. It was especially nice b/c I don’t get to talk to grammy that often b/c we have to talk through mommy and it is hard for all 3 of us to find a common time that works. Now I am writing this and when I am done I am going to relax with my roommates and write an article about EIE that we all have to write (the top 4 writings get to have dinner made for us by David Solomon and Jen and I am determined to win). Then I am going to go to bed and wake up tomorrow and go to Gadna (Army training). Which means that I won’t have my computer until next Sunday. But as usual I will write about my day and type it up when I get back to Tzuba. Talk to you next week! Happy Thanksgiving! Eat a piece of apple or cherry pie and a lot of mashed potatoes and gravy for me!

Tel Aviv and delicious apple salad!

Even though today was Friday we had Jewish History. Actually we had an all day tiyul to Tel Aviv. When we got to Tel Aviv this morning we went straight to the beach (but not for fun). We didn’t get to play in the sand or go in the water. Instead we learned about the start of Tel Aviv (1909). We did a short activity to demonstrate how the lots were given out. I drew a lot with a sea front view; I’d say it was a pretty good pick. Then we walked around the old neighborhoods of Tel Aviv. Basically we went on the same tour that I went on the day I went out with the parents while they were here. Those of us who had already gone had fun pointing out all the stuff we were going to learn about to each other. We even stopped for ice cream at the same place ☺ The only difference is that there was a fire in the museum we went in with the parents so we were unable to go into it today. We also had a bunch of small activities during our lesson. For a majority of our walking we were only allowed to speak Hebrew and you would get a “ticket” every time you spoke English. We also had an activity were we went around asking people questions trying to figure out if Tel Aviv was just a city in a Jewish state or a Jewish city. After all of that, the kids who were going out for the weekend left and the rest of us got our lunch money and had 2 and half hours to walk around the market. My goal was to find and buy a new camera but that didn’t work out as well as I had hoped. However, I did get to see Ronit, which was great b/c the last time I saw here was before she left for camp! After free time, we went to Jaffa for a short tour led by Baruch (our principal). Then we went back into Tel Aviv for services. We left services a little early b/c they went longer than expected and we were already going to be late for dinner (we usually eat at 8 on Friday and the dinning hall closes when we are done). When we got to Tzuba we went straight to dinner, we didn’t even put our stuff down in our rooms. Then we did the blessings and ate. I have to say Shabbat meals on Tzuba are my favorite b/c all I eat is a piece of chicken and a ton of apple salad (I wish they served apple salad all week!). Luckily we didn’t have oneg and went right to free time after dinner. Larissa, Sydney and I all hung out in Sydney’s room and watched the Parent Trap. By the time we finished the movie we were tired so I am writing this and going to bed.

The first Aliyah

This morning we got up early b/c we had a full day tiyul. Once on the bus we had about a 2-hour drive to our first destination. We went to a museum to learn about Zionism and Aliyot to Israel. The first big wave of Aliyot was in 1881, incase you were wondering. After we went through the museum we got back on the bus for an hour drive up to the Kineret. When we got there we had lunch. As usual for an all day tiyul we had chicken schnitzel. Then we walked around for a while learning about kibbutzim. We did a role-play activity of a meeting among kibbutz members and I realized that before Kibbutzim became more modern and started letting people actually own things, everything that people owned wasn’t specifically theirs. Rather it was everyone who was a member of the Kibbutz. I could never imagine living on a kibbutz like the ones when kibbutzim were first founded. After that we went to the cemetery and learned several stories about people that lived on one of the first Kibbutzim. Then we got on the bus and started our 3-hour drive home. But we got stuck in traffic and got back an hour late. Right when we got back we went straight to dinner. After dinner I finalized plans with Aunt Suzy because I am seeing her on Saturday. Then I went to Sydney and Yael’s room to steal their Internet b/c the Internet in my room sucks! So that is where I am now. When I am done stealing their Internet I am going to go shower, bond with my roommates, and pack up my stuff.

p.s. I am officially caught up on my blog updates! That is for the time being… after gadna and the south I will have to type up all of those entries too!

Back to school...for a day

Today we actually had school. It was a little weird. During Hebrew we learned words that we will need to know for Gadna. In Jewish history class we caught Ariella up on everything she missed when she left Poland. Then we started discussing what happened after the Holocaust in terms of people’s reactions. While I was on my way to lunch I was told I had to go to Baruch (our principal)’s office instead b/c my econ teacher was sick and had sent him an assignment for us. Then I had lunch. During what would have been my econ. period I did my assignment and typed up more of my blog. Then I had physics and English. But I got out of English early b/c I finished my assignment. So I had 2 hours and 20 min. until dinner. Sydney and I attempted to do math but it didn’t go very well. Then we had dinner and announcements followed by SAT math prep. Then I typed up more blog posts and talked to people from home. Now I am bonding with the other Rachels ☺

Delays

*FROM 11/16*
Since I wrote last night at the airport nothing too exciting has happened. Last night I said our flight had been delayed by 2 hours. Well, that turned into 3 and half hours. I slept the entire plane ride and all the exiting tasks from the airport were easy. By the we got on the bus it was 7 am; aka much later than we had planned on getting back. Because we got back so much later than planned, all of our classes for the day were canceled (originally we were only supposed to have general studies). Upon on return we were given our new rooms that are only for this week (b/c we have to move again on Sunday for Gadna-Army training, and then we get to request rooms). The madrachim decided to do rooms they thought would be fun but we figured out each room has a theme. My room was by far the easiest to figure out, “The Rachel Room”. 4 out of 5 rachels are in our room. We got in our room and all passed out. We slept til about 1 and then decided to go to lunch. When we came back to the room there wasn’t to much to do b/c we had to wait until 3 to get all of our stuff from the library. So Sivan (her first name is Rachel) and I had a shaving party. At 3 we all got out stuff and for the first time we were extremely efficient at emptying the library. We went by the policy of grab your own bags. I was so happy to have my phone and computer! I was able to skype/call mom and start typing up my blogs from the week away. The only problem is that my new room doesn’t have great internet. But I am dealing. At 6 we had dinner followed by a meeting in which we met a commander from Gadna who told us what to expect next week. While everyone else is really excited I am not. And it isn’t even b/c of the work, it is b/c of the logistics part of the program. We get an hour a day to ourselves in which we can use our phone, write, shower, etc. Right as the hour is up the lights will be turned off and we all have to be silent. Our commanders are also not allowed to speak to us in English and while we are there we will be seen and treated as IDF soldiers. But hopefully I am just scaring myself and it will be fine. After the meeting we had SAT English prep. Both Daniel and D Sol weren’t here tonight so we had a joint class taught by Jen, who is in charge of the SAT program. Then I went back to my room, did some homework, typed up my blog, and bonded with the other Rachels.

The Worst Camp

*FROM 11/15*
Today was extremely long (and just got longer). We woke up at 6 am, finished putting the final few things in our bag, had breakfast, and made our way to the bus. Once on the bus we had an hour bus ride to Auschwitz. We went to Auschwitz II (Birkenau) first. Below are some facts we learned:
-In 1944 there was a Sunder-commando revolt, in which they destroyed gas chamber/crematorium 4.
-In 1944 the Nazis built the train tracks all the way into the camp or more specifically all the way to the gas chambers.
-In one of the bathrooms “stay clam” was written on the wall in German. Making it so even the one moment a person should have to themselves was controlled by the Nazis.
-Auschwitz camps were the only ones that tattooed the number on people’s arms.
-The seen in Schindler’s list when the girls are sent to Auschwitz never happened (they were sent to a camp but not one like Auschwitz).
-it was really hard to see from end to end of the camp b/c it was so large.
-the real showers, hair cuts, and tattoos were performed in a building called the sauna.
-we heard the story of a man who was a barber and his cousin came in right before she was to be gassed and he had to decide if he was going to tell her what happened in the cambers. He decided against it b/c another barber had told his sister and was killed b/c everyone overheard and started to freak out.
-if you were bad in the barrack you were told to lay on the heater and were slapped by the capo.
-the gas chambers were underground so that the Nazis could easily drop in the gas.

After our class led tour of Birkenau we got on the bus and drove 2 km to Auschwitz 1. We had lunch in the parking lot and than had tours led by their tour guides. Here are details from the tour:
-I was not expecting to walk into the camp and have the barracks right there.
-the band played as workers left for and returned from work
- most of the barracks were brick buildings b/c they had been built prior to the war for the polish army.
-the camp was more like a museum and seemed kind of fake
-the Nazis made all the Jewish men ad Israel to their name and all the Jewish woman add Sara to their name.
-the biggest transport of Jews was from Hungary
- Jews had to pay for their train tickets to the camps b/c they were told they were going on vacation and the Germans sold their possessions basically making so they [the Jews] paid for their own death.
-we saw piles and piles of hair (2 tons worth which was 40000 people) that was used to make fabric for uniforms and to sell
-the name of the storage barracks was Canada b/c they thought Canada was a symbol for wealth.
-you never really imagine it being sunny at the camps but when were there it was and it made everything seem a little out of place
-each person was allowed to bring 25kg of luggage (one bag) and were told to write their name on it so it could eventually be sent back to them
-Jews were told they were allowed to live for 2 weeks, priests were allowed to live for 4 weeks, and everyone else was allowed to live for 3 months.
-until 1943 they photographed non-Jewish prisoners, but they stopped b/c there were too many people coming into the camp
-at one point the Russian’s number was tattooed on their chests, and in some rare occasions it was tattooed on ones bicep or leg
- only 600 kids were alive when the camp was liberated
-Dr. Mengele experimented on multiples to try and learn how to produce multiples to increase the Arian population
-there were 3 types of special jail cells: a dark cell, a standing cell, and a starvation cell
-There were 130 successful runaways
-The commandant, his wife, and 5 kids live 200 meters from the gas chamber

Then we went to a synagogue in Oświęcim and had our last t’fillah in Poland. Then we went to dinner and drove an hour to the airport. Once we got there we had 45 minutes until check in. I couldn’t leave Europe without having a Milka product so Yael and I bought Milka chocolate covered raisins (they were delicious). Then we went through the check-in process. B/c we were flying to Israel security was extremely thorough. First we had to open our bag that was being checked in front of security so that they would know there were no bombs in our bags (the security lady ruined my wonderful packing job), then we checked our bag and got our tickets. After that we went through regular security. The machine had a little bit of an issue and they made Yael empty here entire backpack but nothing was wrong! Then we went through passport control. The guy made a weird face at me b/c my picture is so terrible. Now we are sitting at the gate and our flight has been delayed by 2 hours, which means we will be back at Tzuba between 3 and 4 am!
Overall, this week was the past and worst part of EIE so far. It was sad and difficult at times (especially when we learned about death) but I love studying the Holocaust, which made it interesting and fun. It’s a shame that not everyone gets to have this experience. But I know I will never forget it.