Goat Day
I'm not sure one can really call a day Goat Day, but it's what we've decided to call today. But more about that later.
Last night we finished out the evening with a raucous icebreaker game not too dissimilar from "What's My Line?" Then, with a bit of shift in mood, we broke into four groups for a Jewish identity exercise, prioritizing Jewish choices ranging from how to raise your children to what type of literature to read. The conversations were deep and thoughtful. Even many of the quieter students engaged in the give and take as the groups tried to prioritize the twenty behaviors on the list. Their passion and sincerity was incredibly moving and could well have lasted long into the night.
This morning's tefillah, or prayer, focused on sacred space and how we create and extend holiness in the world. Staff member Arik Samuels shared the experience of what it has meant for him to say kaddish for his father, who passed away in April.
Following yet another spectacular breakfast (today I saw fresh cheese blintzes and three types of herring on the buffet), we returned to downtown Jerusalem for an amazing adventure on the Time Elevator (http://www.time-elevator-jerusalem.co.il/en/program.asp?page=jer) a multimedia program on the history of Jerusalem. The seats feel as if you are whooshing through a tunnel of time, pretend flames light building facades on either side, water sprays in concert with water on the movie screen. It was great fun and, as always happens at this site, at least one participant pointed out the factual errors in the presentation (correctly, of course). It always pays to travel with experts!
The centerpiece of the day was a visit to Yaaran Farm, an off the grid, self sustaining farm where Ori, our guide, has spent extensive time. We toured the beautiful grounds and learned about the topography of the area. Goat cheese is the farm's primary product and after learning about how the goats are fed and cared for, we had the opportunity to try our own hands at milking the goats (watch for photos!). We visited the house where the baby goats are cared for and then ground wheat into flour which we mixed into dough for pita.
While the dough rose, we enjoyed delicious boxed lunches al fresco, enjoying the sights and sounds of the farm. Then we each rolled out a section of dough and baked the pita outdoors on a taboun, a curved grill pan which resembles an inverted wok, placed over a wood burning fire. In minutes the dough bubbles and browns and we could enjoy it with local olives. We cleaned up after ourselves, taking all of our trash and recycling with us and sharing the compostable food with the happiest chickens in Israel.
Now, as the sun dips lower into the horizon, we are all washing up and changing for Shabbat, preparing to welcome it with blessings and candlelight and song. The rest is well earned and tomorrow will provide us with time to study, swim and shmooze, before it all starts over again.
From Jerusalem, wishes for a Shabbat Shalom.
Rabbi Elyse Winick
