Another Classic Day

It was just like any other classic morning in Israel for those meddling kids in bus 246: tuna fish for breakfast, an assorted cheese tray, watered down orange juice, and groggy yes. After loading the bus both emotionally and physically, everyone swiftly fell into the usual deep slumber associated with the early morning bus rides. Yotam, with his now recognizable calm and soothing Israeli drawl and Adam Sandler-esque good looks/wits proceeded to start the countoff which once again was corrupted by a general apathy towards the process, a disdain for all-things numerical, and slight mental retardation (just kidding)!
The first stop of our visit to the holiest of cities, Jerusalem, was the Gilad Shalit protest tent containing various posters, memorabilia and information about the kidnapped Israeli soldier. Yotam soon explained the predicament in regards to Shalit’s kidnapping amongst the bustling traffic of downtown Jerusalem. We learned that the decision whether to release 1000 captured terrorists in order to guarantee Shalit’s safe return was, like many issues in contemporary Israeli politics, a double edged sword.
Back on the bus, we ventured towards one of the countless lookouts which oversaw the beautiful city of Jerusalem in the distance and a dilapidated former restaurant located directly beneath the lookout’s ledge. Shorashim particpant Jacob was especially enthused, remarking, “This history stuff is my shit!” Indeed it was Jacob, indeed it was. Soon, all the participants gathered together for a group picture, while Shorashim participant Joey Mintz stood off in the corner to scribe more illustrious interview questions for the pending bus ride--more on that later. While we fought back an incumbent sleep, Yotam articulated beautifully the general outline of Jerusalem’s conception from its in Egyptian hieroglyphics to its current epicenter of three major religions (Islam, Judaism, and Christianity). He explained the differences between East and West Jerusalem (Eastern Jerusalem has more Arabs and newer, higher buildings) and various religious institutions ranging from the Western Wall to the gold domed mosque blazing in the horizon. It was quite fascinating to realize the religious importance that the city holds for all three religions, and provided even more evidence for why there are so many complex conflicts rooted in the respective religious histories.
After seeing the Old City from afar, it was time to take a closer look. The group, guided by our faithful leader Yotam, approached the gates to the packed Old City (due to the fact that it was Jerusalem Day, which celebrates the city of the same name), and immediately witnessed a group of Israelis singing and dancing in a circle. Trying to ignite the groups’ Jewish Spirit (can you feel it?) Israeli Shorashim participants attempted to make up a circle dance of their own, which succeeded in rousing American members, but failed on almost every other level, given Bus 246’s ineptitude for anything resembling rhythm. Walking through the streets, one could perceive the stark contrast between the modern consumerist structures put in place and the ancient architecture that housed them. We investigated many important spots such as the tower of David and a modern orthodox courtyard in the Jewish quarter, giving us proof of how the Old City, while steeped in ancient culture and architecture, is still very much a living city with many people fighting for real estate in the area.
Later, following an impromptu game of peek-a-boo, Yotam opened our eyes to yet another lookout providing a great view of the Western Wall. Slipping our personal notes into the rustic cracks in the wall, all of the participants were visibly moved by the powerful community of Jew’s praying at our most holiest of sites. Zach, a Shorashim participant, was heard saying at lunch, “I never though I could connect to something religious like I did to the Western Wall,” while Shorashim participant Grady noted, “This burger is delicious.” On a personal level, I found myself entranced by the wall and its effect, looking on at the wall and having myself quite a moment, only to be broken by Israeli soldier and friend Tomer asking, “Which American girl do you think is hottest?” to which I responded with a singular answer that will not be disclosed in this blog for privacy reasons. Leaving the Old City, we were continually amazed by the diversity of people and their enthusiasm for the city.
Following this, the group traveled to a clearing in the forest where we met a tour guide who discussed with us the importance of trees, water, and land in Israel. Planting trees for Israel is a means to command ownership of the land, and our job was to cut the low branches of some pine trees in the area in order that the trees would obtain more water and be less susceptible to forest fires. It was one of the only times that forty seven Jewish teenagers would ever hold hand saws, and while the danger in the area was palpable, the group worked effectively to remove the branches. One Israeli participant was the group photographer, and the activity soon transformed into quite the photo shoot. The strenuous work lasted a whole fifteen to twenty minutes, and by the end all of us were dripping with sweat, some were bleeding from being scratched by branches, and we were proud of the work we had accomplished. After the tree cutting, we split into two teams and played a trivia game that included a push up contest, balancing water on peoples’ heads, and eating graham crackers like it was nobody’s business.
At the end of the day, we regrouped on the bus for a classic Joey Mintz interview with Nate the Great. It was at once the most captivating and disturbing interviews any of the participants had ever seen. When the laughter finally subsided, we dozed off on the bus ride to the kibbutz, where this blog has to end, for as the popular saying goes, “What happens at the kibbutz, stays at the kibbutz.”