With an organized trip though OSA (Organization of Student Activities) at RIS we were able to take a tour through Sderot, an Israeli town that is positioned just meters away from Gaza. Hearing about the daily lives of the locals, of the bus stops that function as bomb shelters and being able to see a few of the thousands of missiles that were fired to Sderot - lives have been lost, people have been injured and every person who is living in Sderot each has a story and emotional trauma of their own.
Day trip gear.
The best tomatoes - ginger tomatoes, chocolate tomatoes and past tomatoes.
Fresh Passionfruit.
Fresh strawberries.
I feel in love with the magnificent sunflowers.
The 'code red' sign that is places on a kid's, bomb shelter play ground.
This day in the Israeli calendar and the Jewish calendar is a very sombre one. This day for me, this year, in this city and country was the most memorable Yom Ha'shoah I am yet to have. Between hearing an incredible Holocaust survivor speak on the eve of the memorial day and then going to the Kotel at midnight- these were two things that gave me shivers. The tears, moans and prayers from the women standing around me at the Western Wall gave me the chills, the train ride on the way to the Old City had the ability to keep me silent the entire way and allowed for me to hear Hebrew, the language of Israel and the Jews, and smile to know that we were on a train, but this time it was not on the way to horrific places but instead it was traveling through Jerusalem within the Jewish State of Israel.
Here are some photographs:
I organized for our room to light six candles in memory of the 6 000 000 Jews who were murdered during the Holocaust. The large candle symbolizes the light and life that Israel gives us.
The flag waving at half-mast at the Kotel at midnight on Yom Ha'shoah.
My special friend and roommate, Kira, and I hugged and cried together. What a special memory to share.
The Rothberg International School and Hebrew University Official Holocaust Remembrance Day Ceremony. This was filled with poetry, artworks from the children of the Holocaust and songs of survival, of life lost and of faith in Hashem.
The two minute siren when everything and everyone (the majority) stops.
Here are some more things that have been happening on the side:
Only the most special day with my most special friend.
Summer Style on Yaffo Street.
The new Israel trend - reflective sunglasses.
Wearing my 'Israel Smile' - this is what happiness looks like.
On my way home with my friend, Liora, from a beautiful Shabbat in Katamon, a lovely area in Jerusalem.
My new favorite hobby: Swinging in the sun at the K'far Ha'Studentim.
My Jerusalem style.
My most recent painting: this was a project of my painting class. The requirements were that this had to be painted using techniques learnt in class, such as the grid method, as well as more than six hours of work put into the project and also using realistic colours and space.
On a Thursday morning straight from my Hebrew class, I decided to take my camera, my sketch pad, some pen's and pencils, a book and venture into the old city of Jerusalem. These days fall into the category of things that I am starting to believe that I cannot live without. They grant me absolute spiritual fulfillment, complete bliss and a certain presence fills me, one that I get from nowhere else.
Here are a few photographs of my artworks and my day x
Summer is blooming
The breathtaking views from the Old City
Happiness
The Kotel (Western Wall)
One of my favourite parts of the day, was going to a park, laying across a bench, reading a very spiritual and meaningful book and letting the day fade away.
This is what us Bezalel students do during coffee dates with our best friends.
Another drawing.
A Military 'Tekes' (ceremony) happening at the Western Wall - this ceremony was for many newly inducted soldiers into the army. Both lone soldiers and Israeli's. This Tekes, in particular struck many emotions within me - first being absolute joy and excitement to know that hopefully one day I will be able to serve in the IDF (the Israeli army), second was this overwhelming sense of pride to know that I can now call Israel MY country, I can sing the national Anthem with pride and with respect. With the songs sung, the prayers said and the position of the Tekes being at the Western Wall - just brought smiles to faces all around me and especially brought one to myself.
