Welcome to Israel!!!
Cheers erupted throughout our USAir flight from Philly as we finally touched down in Tel Aviv, 13 hours and a full day (how does that work?) later than when we left. Bus 22-308 Shorashim has landed!
Led by the fearless Benji and unpronouncable Dana (no, not Donna, nor Dayna, but Dana, like Banana) our group is already shaping up to be a colorful bunch. From Montreal to Long Beach, Long Island to Aimes, Iowa, we've got representatives from every facet of Jewish-American life. But that's not all. . .
After collecting our luggage, and eachother, we passed through customs together without a hitch. On the other side of security we were met by an enthusiastic group of young Israelis (most of whom are in active service in the Israeli Defense Force or IDF) who will joining us on our Birthright tour of the Holy Land!
Of course, no meetup is complete without an icebreaker so it came as no surprise that within minutes we were all singing and dancing together. Embracing our new friends our group of 40+ danced around the arrival area, alternating chants of 'achiem'(brotherhood) and 'simcha' (happiness). What better way to enter a new country than by making a remarkable scene!
Quick, every one to the bus before we get kicked out of the airport!!
Having spent the majority of the day locked in a small economy class seat, no one seemed too excited to board our awaiting bus but eventually, lured by the almost-too-powerful airconditioning, we were fully loaded and on our way north towards the Malcia Kibbutz. The clean, freshly paved highways, modern advertising and Golden Arches can easily trick one in to believing that they're back home. The countryside currently rolling by the window is suprisingly lush and green, nothing at all like a Middle East Rookie would expect! The only hint of desert, at least at this point, is the brown tint to everything. . .I'm guessing it wasn't raining here last night!
No more then half an hour outside of the airport our attention was turned to a long, grey, concrete wall running off into the distance, offering a tangible separation between The West Bank and Israel proper. A point of great controversy and undoubtedly a topic that will be explored in depth thoughout this trip is the signifcance of this physical barrier and the political separation that it implies.
But for now, all politics aside as we head to the Malcia Kibbutz where we'll have our first Israeli meal and truly get oriented to this beautiful and welcoming country! Shalom!
Word of the Day - Milat ha'yom
Traffic Jam - p'cock t'nuah
-Adam Saper (now AKA Shaggy)-
