7am- we loaded the busses to head to The North for a few days.  I am actually excited just starting this blog entry because the North has been my favorite part of  Career Israel so far… I can use my time writing this as an excuse to reminisce!

Career Israel Internship Program hiking in the north

When we arrived, we grabbed a packed lunch and got straight to hiking.  There is something about hiking inIsraelis extra AWESOME…we trekked over lots of water which kept us challenged for the entire 4 hours.  Itzik’s group and Mara’s group also started somewhat of a competition over who was passing who on the trail.  Quite funny and of course Mara’s group was way more functional .  The next morning we were up at 6am for another hike.  This time, we could choose between “easy”, “medium”, and “hard”… “hard” hike option was supposed to be the Yehudia, one of the most famous hikes inIsrael.  Sadly the trail was closed because of mudslides, so we hiked part of Zavitan (another well known trail) instead.  It was a good thing that the hike from the day before was a bit challenging, since our “hard” hike turned in to a flat walk in the sun, and a swim in a crystal clear natural pool.  We had an amazing tour guide, Einat, who taught us quite a bit while we were hiking.

Career Israel Internship Program at Rosh Hanikra

We also visited several other places, including Rosh Hanikra (beautiful grottos!) and a kibbutz called Misgav-Am which overlooks both Lebanon and Syria.  We listened to a very captivating speech by a Zionist who came here from the US many years ago.  After that, we went to a school called Shorashim, and then to an Arab (Bedouin) high school to talk with the students there about our similarities and differences.

That night, we had a BBQ by the beach and went on a dancing boat cruise on the Kinneret. After the cruise we learned about the negotiations being finalized for the return of Gilad Shalit – it was quite surreal. And left us something to look forward to when returning to our normal routine on the beach and preparing for internships in Tel Aviv.

I am so impressed with the Career Israel programming and I was sad to leave this trip-  it leaves me looking forward to the trips we have coming soon, including Haifa, Sderot, the Dialogue Seminar, and the Negev!

שלום

Mariel

Career Israel Internship Program

Orientation in Jerusalem has been great! We went on several tours and listened to a few very interesting speakers in order to expose us to the complexity and beauty of  Jerusalem.   Our first tour was around the Old City examining the presence of the three major religious in Jerusalem.  It included visiting the Western Wall (Kotel), the Temple Mount/Dome of the Rock, and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.   In the afternoon we went to the YMCA to hear the CEO of the YMCA and the chief advisor to the mayor of Jerusalem for Arab affairs (self defined Palestinian/Arab-Israeli) speak about his narrative.

Shuk on Friday afternoon

On Friday we wandered the adorable streets of Nachlaot, and experienced what it is like to prepare for Shabbat in these cute neighborhoods and getting lost in the crowd at the shuk (the market) on a bustling Friday afternoon.  We spent our first Shabat together in Jerusalem, which was very relaxing.  We had some time to lay at the pool at our hostel and catch up on rest- which was great since most of us had spent the past few days packing, travelling and meeting 95 new people (all of whom I really love!!).   On Saturday night we toured the Kotel Tunnels, which I haven’t toured before.  Basically, you walk underground along most of the entire length of the “Western Wall” (the visible part of the wall where people pray is actually only a small portion of the wall that was built by King David after the destruction of the first temple as a means to create the platform for a larger second temple eventually built by King Harrod).   On Sunday morning we toured the border of the West Bank to learn about theWest Bank, the settlements and security fence.

And then… we moved to TEL AVIV!!!!!!! I was so excited to move into my apartment in Beit Leni, unpack and get settled.  My roommate, Maya, is great, and we made our modest room very cozy.  I am so happy here in general – every day is amazing and I am learning so much.  We started Ulpan, which is a Hebrew emersion course from 9:00am-2:30pm- every day.  I am in level 2 (out of 5); my teacher is great and we have already learned close to 100 words (wild guess), but I still can’t really say any sentences.  Last night I had a great sushi dinner (of course) with Hannah and Maoz (both friends of mine from Taglit).  Hannah also came back to Israel Maoz was one of our Israeli soldiers on Taglit).  We have spent the past few days running errands to get settled, but it’s been easy because the location of our apartment is amazing!  It is a two minute walk to the market, down the street from a huge shopping mall, and a ten minute walk to the beach!  Things are a bit pricey here, but we are finding good buys.

Today we went to the beach for the first time to watch the sunset.  It was beautiful, the sand is so soft, and the water is warm- in a fresh way.  Tomorrow we have a lecture from the chief political correspondent for the JPost, Gil Hoffman, so I am looking forward to that.  Stay tuned to hear more…

You can follow Mariel’s blog http://marielinisrael.blogspot.com

Career Israel Internship Program

Welcome Career Israel 11!  Yes, this means that we have started our 11th running of Career Israel, MASA’s flagship internship program.  We are thrilled to be off to such a great start with a diverse and international group of bright young professionals who will intern in a plethora of fields for the next five months while traveling around the country and making new friends.   Where are our participants from this session? See the chart below!

International Internship Program

Over the next few months we will keep you well informed about Career Israel, and our participants.  Want to know where we are travelling?  Where we volunteered?  Who we heard speak?  What we are doing in our internships in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa?  Follow us here!

Career Israel 11 Orientation

My summer in Israel could not have been more amazing- I experienced many incredible moments and met some amazing people. After I came to Israel on Birthright last summer, I knew that I had to come back, so I signed up for the Career Israel Summer Internship Program in Tel Aviv.  I interned with Magen David Adom (MDA) National Ambulance Service at the Ramat Gan station. Doing this internship through Career Israel allowed me to have a three-month MDA experience (instead of the 6 week programs that MDA offers), and enabled me to meet people from around the world.

I want to start out by saying how much I truly love the MDA organization. Being a part of this program has been one of the best experiences of my life. I began the summer training as a Chul (overseas) 60 hour First Responder course. This is the basic volunteer training that the organization offers. It was very interesting, and I learned a lot from it. I rode on ambulances and saw a variety of cases such as transporting an elderly person with a pulmonary edema and helping at the scene of major car accidents.  The Israeli workers from the Ramat Gan station could not have been more helpful, friendly, or hospitable. The paramedics, medics, and youth volunteers were a huge part of my trip and I enjoyed every minute working at the station. The station became a second home for me.

After the first month, I opted to take part in the Shlav Bet (88 hour training course), which gave me the skills to be more involved on the ambulance and to help with the more intense and “fun” cases. During this course I learned how to administer an IV, deliver babies, use an EKG monitor, among other skills. Upon completion I was involved in multiple CPR cases, severe trauma incidents, and even helped deliver a baby on the ambulance! The experience exposed me in-depth to the medical field, and gave me hands on experience in trauma.  This internship opportunity will for sure help me in my medical career.

On Career Israel I met a lot of great people throughout the summer, and most of us lived together in Bet Leni, the program’s apartment complex.  I met amazing people from Israel and from around the world that I continue to keep in touch with, and plan on visiting in the future. I must say living in the center of Tel Aviv was unbelievable. I was in the midst of Israeli culture, met extremely interesting people, and had an incredible time exploring the BEST city in the world. The Tel Aviv beaches were my third home in Israel(after Bet Leni and the Ramat Gan station)- some of my favorite memories from this summer are from hanging out on the beach with my friends, and fortunately we lived only a five-minute walk away.

After my summer in Tel Aviv, I know that I will come back to Israel to volunteer with Magen David Adom. Israel really became a home for me, and I have my experiences from my summer internship in Tel Aviv on Career Israel to thank for that.

Career Israel has provided me with the remarkable opportunity to intern at The Jerusalem Post, the world’s top English-language daily newspaper covering Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World.  My major at Johns Hopkins University (creative writing) coupled with my interest in sociopolitical issues (particularly those pertinent to the Middle East) has made this internship a worthwhile experience.

At the Post, I have learned valuable tools that are crucial to any newspaper/journalism professional. I have learned to use the online database, upload articles onto the Jpost website, moderate talkbacks (readers’ comments), copy edit, and even report.  The most exciting job I was given was the opportunity to cover the Israeli Presidential Conference, hosted by Israeli president Shimon Peres.  The conference welcomed scholars, politicians, and activists from all over the world.  Because it was an international media event, it focused on vital issues, decisions, and initiatives that must be implemented in order to guarantee a ‘better tomorrow’ for the State of Israel and the Jewish people.  I was able to see Tzipi Livni, Bibi Netanyahu, and Shimon Peres speak; I even received a press pass so that I could report back to Jpost.  In early August, I will attend another international conference, ‘Wikimedia,’ that focuses on sharing knowledge and information via the internet.

In addition to my internship, I, along with my peers on the program, have explored Tel Aviv, a city that truly never sleeps.  My roommates and I have sampled some of the best restaurants in the city, stumbled upon countless trendy bars, and exhausted the city’s shopping districts- some of which are less than a block away from our housing!  I have taken wonderful trips to Yaffo, Jerusalem, and even a hike/camping trip near the Sea of Galilee.  In the past two months, I truly feel as if I live in Tel Aviv.  I know the bus routes, can recommend the best streets in the city, and my Hebrew has improved remarkably.  Just a few days ago, two friends and I went to Haifa to see the finale of “Kochav Nolad”, the Israeli version of American Idol.

There is never a shortage of excitement, or things to do, in Tel Aviv.  Living fifteen minutes away from the beach always guarantees a relaxing evening after work, and our apartment’s location in central Tel Aviv is ideal for college students.  I called my parents yesterday, and told them I truly do not want to come home.  The past two months have gone by too quickly, and I have really relished my time here.  It is impossible to describe the experience I have had this summer, but to sum it up in a word–it has been unparalleled.  When I leave, I will be counting the days until I return.

With only 6 weeks left to go, my Career Israel summer internship experience in Tel Aviv has been unparalleled to any other.  With regards to my internship I have found that I am able to accomplish what I had set out to, while dipping my toes into many different opportunities such as research, volunteering and travelling.

Camping in the north

I am entering my senior year of college as a Psychology student at Michigan State University, and therefore have a bit of experience working in psychology labs. I was interested in harnessing my skills in the lab but using them in a new country and a new atmosphere. The lax, yet scholarly vibe that Tel Aviv University emits has helped me undertake serious projects that can only be found in Israel.  I am working on the data entry for a very interesting study regarding political violence and its implications on children and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). I also have spent time working in a school for children with severe Autism; an experience that would not come so easily in the United States.

Night Out in Tel Aviv

When I am not working I am out exploring Tel Aviv and the rest of the country- browsing all of the unique boutiques, shopping in the market, and sampling all of the delicious restaurants.  It’s been amazing experiencing the nightlife in Tel Aviv; it’s lively and full of beachside bars and sparkling nightclubs.  I even took a weekend trip to Northern Israel to go camping and for a little change of pace and scenery.

I decided to come on Career Israel’s summer internship program because I had an incredible experience last summer studying at Tel Aviv University.  It was a great opportunity to get to know my family who lives here inIsrael, and I met a lot of Israelis and locals that I kept in touch with all year.  I spent this past year at school thinking about my time here and planning how I could come back and do something productive.

@ Maccabi Tel Aviv Game

This summer I am interning at Gan Aviv, a kindergarten that is part of the Association for Children at Risk, in Rishon Ltziyon.  My class at Gan Aviv is made up of a group of 10 children, mostly somewhere on the autism spectrum, and approximately 10 adults- “ganenets”, classroom teachers, and therapists who care for the children wonderfully.  I arrive every morning and work through the early afternoon, play with the children, help them interact with each other, and observe and participate in group therapy sessions organized by the therapists.  I also work one on one with children, reading with them, doing exercises with them that help improve their strength and coordination, and help them explore on their own so they can learn.  A highlight is always when I can make a child laugh because it shows I have been able to connect with them.

With my roommate in TLV!

As great as my internship is, the best part of my summer has been the people I have met.  I arrived here open to meeting and getting to know everyone, and it has been amazing to see how my relationships with family that I didn’t know well until last summer have become so much stronger, and friends I met only recently have become like family.  I have really gotten to know Tel Aviv and it’s culture.  The combination of my internship, building relationships and living in Tel Aviv has been really valuable.

Having embraced the multitude of activities and events (both within and outside of the Career Israel internship program) in the upbeat City of Tel Aviv, I set off to historical Jerusalem to take part in the celebrations of Yom Yerushalyim, where we celebrate the Unity of our Capitol from 1967.

As part of the colossal Career Israel Experience, I was invited by MASA to represent my programme at an “Ethiopian Memorial Service” on Mount Herzl. The ceremony honoured the thousands of Ethiopians who have died over the past several decades on their journey from Africa to Israel.

Career Israel Participants on Jerusalem Day 2011

Ethiopian Jews Memorial

Little did I know that I would witness Israeli President, Shimon Peres greet Ethiopian Israeli dignitaries at the Memorial Ceremony. The monumental figure, who was so instrumental in the history and construction of this Start Up Nation, was now sat a few feet away from me. As he rose to deliver his speech on the podium, I felt nervous at being so close to this iconic figure whose consistent contribution makes him a true symbol of this great country.  He offered thanks to the immense Ethiopian contribution to Israel and spoke about the centrality and importance of our Capitol, Jerusalem.

Shimon Peres

As I sat there, toasting in the glorious morning sunshine, beads of cool sweat poured down my forehead and I could feel the excitement and pride within.  My name would be called out, as I accompanied Natan Sharansky, Chair of the Executive of the Jewish Agency for Israel and Moshe Batar, Jewish Agency for Ethiopians, to help deliver a reef on the central platform. The event had further performances of “Yerushalyim shel Zahav” from an Ethiopian girls choir and a speech by MK Sofa Landver. The ceremony climaxed with a heart-warming rendition of the Hatikvah performed by a female military officer named Shai.

I then met up with friends from C.I. to join the unbelievable 40,000 peoplestrong parade in the streets of Jerusalem all the way to the Kotel !!  This was yet another fantastic opportunity Career Israel internship program offers, and I am grateful for taking part.

I want to first comment on my experience staying with the family in the West Bank. Last weekend I had the pleasure (thanks to the lovely Career Israel staff) to stay with a host family for Shabbat in the West Bank. The family I stayed with, The Epsteins, were a lovely family and were fantastic hosts to my friend Nathan and I. What was so interesting about the trip was that I really learned about life on the “other side” — that is, life in the settlements. In addition to going to a great Shabbat service at the local synagogue and getting a lovely Shabbat meal, I learned a lot about the challenges and issues the settlement and the family themselves face. It was a fascinating and eye opening experience, and I’m grateful to the Epstein’s as well as the other family’s that took us in for a night and house us.

Right before returning to Tel Aviv, we had a fascinating Q&A session with another settler family (with the whole group together) discussing his opinions on the future of the settlements and politics surrounding them. Again, an amazing experience because we were being exposed first hand to the settlements, not through the media! Thank you Career Israel again for giving me this amazing experience!

Us Career Israelites also recently embarked on a harrowing journey South of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to the small town of Sderot. For those of you who may not be completely familiar with that name, Sderot is a city of about 25,000 or so people in the northern Negev that has been bombarded by rockets and mortar bombs from Gaza for the past decade. The town is literally a hop, skip, and a jump away from the Gaza border….. so close we got to see the border for ourselves! And it was an amazing site. In Sderot, we got a great array of opinions on the situation from both sides of the political sphere. We got lectured by a centrist and right wing activist. Again, this is great! We got great exposure to different Israeli opinions and it was very interesting to hear their point of view. Many of us agreed and disagreed with these speakers, but what mattered the most in terms of the program was that we were exposed to their views and had the opportunity to think about them deeply.

We then traveled to a nearby Kibbutz, literally right next to the Gaza fence/border. There we met with two women who were part of a leftist/progressive organization that believes in dialogue more than war to help resolve the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Again, fascinating to hear their points of view and their experiences…. they were able to get Gazans across the border for dialogue sessions. That’s pretty cool! Many of us were of course split on how we felt about these women. Some of us supported their views, some of us didn’t, but again, this is Israel, and it’s great to be exposed to different viewpoints/political standpoints!

After the lecture one of the women took us directly to the Gaza border fence, to a place called “the lookout”. Here, we were able to actually see much of Gaza (from over the fence of course!) buildings and all. It was very surreal seeing it in person, knowing the politics and situations surrounding the area. All of us were staring at it for a while, and it was a great day for views as well…… we even saw buildings from Gaza City!

Our last activity of the day was a visit to displaced residents from former Gaza settlements…. ones that were evacuated during Israel’s 2005 disengagement from the Gaza Strip. It was a little different from the rest of the day – here we went from discussing bombs and rockets from Gaza to Jews who used to live IN Gaza. Again, many of us disagreed on several of these issues – but we got GREAT speakers who gave us their views on the subject with great passion, which was an experience in and of itself.

I must say that so far this was my favorite activity since the Negev trip. I learned a lot on this day and it left my mind eager for more information and knowledge on the subject.

These are the kind of things I was hoping to get from my Israel experience, and Career Israel delivered it all!

The week seems to be winding down, but that doesn’t mean things are winding down for us on Career Israel!

This Shabbat I’m heading off to the West Bank to spend a night with a Jewish family in one of the settlements! At first, it may seem a little frightening, but it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for us to get a peak on what life on “the other side” is like. And I’m grateful that they’re kind enough to be taking me in! It’s going to be an incredible experience and I cannot wait!

About a week ago we also went on our annual Religion/State seminar in Jerusalem. This was a very serious trip that dealt with many heavily debated topics that face Israelis today. And they were VERY heavy topics. The main things that were discussed were Haredim serving in the army, civil/gay marriage in Israel, and the status of converts. Again, these are all very heavy topics that have NO clear solution…… but what was amazing was that we got to hear from three Israelis (all from different viewpoints) on these issues. It was a very engaging and interesting panel where all of these topics were discussed. Of course, we all disagreed on many things, but the debates were civil and fruitful. I really left the seminar learning a lot and actually being HOPEFUL for the future. Who would have thought?!

I must also briefly mention that our program is about 80% finished. Wow! We have about 30 days left as I write this and I still can’t believe how much I’ve experienced and learned in the past four months! I definitely feel “different”, but of course in a magnificent way!

This weekend we have our Sderot/Gaza trip. No….. we aren’t going to Gaza! But we are going NEAR there, to a small city that has been under constant threats from rockets and mortar bombs sent from Gaza for the past 10 years. In Sderot we will tour the city and get first hand experiences on what residents have had to endure for the past decade and how they are coping with living their daily life under constant threats. But of course, this is Israel! So there will be no discussion without bringing politics into the equation…. and I appreciate that! One of the great things about Career Israel and being here is listening to the infinite opinions that Israelis have. And they are all fascinating.

Expect a VERY long reflection on this event. Personally, this is THE event I have been looking forward to the most.

Until then, keep tabs of our new and improved website…(careerisrael.com) and our application process has begun for Fall 2011, Career Israel Session 11…. so if you haven’t yet, apply now!

I can tell you that you will be SO glad you did!

Have a great weekend everyone and Shabbat Shalom!