Going to sleep now, very late after tracking the nights events. There was the terror attack in Jerusalem where 17 were wounded and the only death was that of the terrorist, Thank G-d. Also Thank G-d I was not near where it happened, and I am fine. Some events that may have slipped the news are 2 other incidents.
Firstly there was an arab terrorist woman who sprayed toxic acid in a soldiers face while driving by at a check point. He now may need surgery and will lose his vision as well. The woman was arrested, and associated with another similar incident.
Secondly there was a group of travelers kidnapped in Egypt, and 2 of them were to thought to have been Israeli, thank G-d they are not. The Egyptians want $15 million ransom. You can find the article here: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/127714
I guess this has also become somewhat of a news blog as well, seeing as I am on the ground here with this network I speak of feeding me info. I will try to update the blog as soon as something happens. Have a good night all, and keep it here for the latest in the daily life of a student in the holy land.
Jesse
Ten of the wounded were evacuated to the Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital, and all of them are conscious and in good condition.
Six other victims suffered light injuries and were rushed to Shaarei Tzedek.
At least two people were rushed to the hospital in serious condition, and approximately 12 others suffered light to moderate wounds.
The terrorist was driving a private vehicle when he attacked opposite Jaffa Gate. A group of IDF soldiers who were touring the Old City at the time witnessed the attack and opened fire, killing the driver before he could cause further damage.
Today was pretty normal. It was a long day. Our schedule goes from 7:45 am till 10:40 pm, with 2 breaks. Its still a long day. I am starting to learn Hebrew by assimilation. It's amazing here. The different parts of Israel are like their own world in itself and going to all of them is quite the experience. Some of my pictures that I have been taking for the Yeshiva are now on the Yeshiva website. There is one of me with my hair all crazy messed up cause we had just finished swimming. oops. I am designing T-shirts for the school. Any ideas? Post them in the comments below. That’s basically it for now, see y'all on the flip side,
Jesse
Wow, we have only been here for 10 days. It feels like so much more. We are starting to really settle in here and get used to the schedule and what not. Today we had a Tiul, a Trip. We started out with going to the beach. We went to a beach in Ashdod. It was beautiful. The water was a nice shade, it was warm and amazing. Extremely salty though. It was like swimming in the dead sea only you could actually swim. We spent all morning there just hanging out, swimming, and playing sports. After that we drove to the caves of Bar Kochba. We had a tour guide with us showing the way, don’t worry (mom). The Caves were incredible. We were walking through history. The caves were the exact same caves they used when fighting the Romans. Inside the caves were pitch black. We had flashlights, but at certain points turned them off just to feel the darkness. It was really a great experience. The silence inside the caves almost hurt, and the darkness was complete. No light whatsoever.
After the caves we went to a settlement where there were Gush Katif refugees living. It was a 'temporary' place for them. G-d should help them and the govt. should get in gear and actually give them what they promised. The tour guide was one of the refugees. He gave a nice talk. I will be posting his whole speech as soon as it finishes uploading to youtube (read tomorrow). I want to post a story that he told later on about an incredible miracle that happened to him, and the type of things that go on in holy places like Gush Katif. They had one of the best agricultural systems in the world. This was only a bit unusual considering they had nothing but sand to work with. They worked the land over and over again until it gave forth food. When the arabs took over the land after Israel forced our brothers out, the workers who had been working in the green houses could not grow a thing. They worked in the green houses and new the exact way to make it work, yet they could not grow a single thing! This is the hand of Hashem. This is one of the things that happens in a place like Gush Katif. In the words of Ari our tour guide, “the land is literally waiting for us to come and take it back”. The following is a story that happened to him.
Ari was driving on the road next to the beach with his wife on their way back home from a wedding on the beach. As they were driving they heard shots being fired. As they got closer they saw the terrorist in the road shooting directly at them. He told his wife to get down as he floored it while trying to run over the terrorist. He missed, but also was not hit. He dropped his wife off at home. He then sped off to get the others, as he was part of the security team for their town. They all go back to the scene, and the army says that they had it under control. So the team went to go protect the village in the event that there were more terrorists. After the situation was over and the terrorists dead he was telling the story over to a reporter. He said “thank G-d the terrorists sent us operatives who were cross-eyed”. The commander of the unit who handled the terrorists came over and said there is one thing incorrect about you story. The terrorists were not cross-eyed, the terrorists were real professionals and they had come from the ocean in full scuba gear.
They found out that the terrorists had shot 15 shots at the van and not one had made contact. The commander said I am not religious but, (pointing to the sky) someone is watching out for you. They later found out the terrorists were part of a special Hamas unit and were sent to kidnap him and his wife. Thank G-d they did not succeed.
That’s all folks, off to bed for tomorrow is travel day to cousins in Karnei Shomron for Shabbos.
Hellooooo. I have a cell phone! Yay! I cant believe I actually went a whole week without having one! Here is the # in case you need me: 0543518312
Anywho, today was a good day. In the morning we had normal shiur. Lunch was some pasta thing because it just so happens that Both ovens are broken. After lunch we had a break and that is when I got my cell phone. I couldn’t believe it, my Hebrew was good enough that through writing stuff down on a pad and their broken English I actually set up a plan all by my onesies! I was happy.
The rest of the day proceeded as normal. Mincha, Shiur, more shiur….yada yada yada. Then back to the dorms. Tomorrow we go to the beach!!!! We will be going to Ashdod to the beach for the morning. It will be the last real swimming opportunity of the season. I am excited, cause I love Beaches!!! And I get to take tons of pictures!!!! After that we are going to the Bar Kochba caves. We will be going spelunking, and will get to see the same caves that Bar Kochba hid in so long ago. Pictures of course will follow. Okdokie, its late as always so I shall sign off for another night,
Good night all,
Jesse
PS: Here are some of my latest pictures. Enjoy!
Hello, and welcome back to daily coverage of life as a teen living in Israel for a year,
I am your host Jesse, and I am that teen.
It is interesting to watch as people meet new people. The questions they ask; what’s your name, where ya from, what kind of music you into (my personal favorite)?, and by then you have enough for a conversation. Meeting people is a dynamic that is essential for a program like this to survive. The Yeshiva has a very family atmosphere, and everyone is becoming close friends here. I was remarking to a friend earlier today, I am pleasantly surprised, everyone in the grade is nice. There isn’t anyone who I despise as of yet (which happens to be unusual), and its lookin like it may only improve.
In other news one of my new friends and myself are starting up a canteen business. I shall update you all on how that comes along. We hope to be up and selling within the next few day. Any ideas of items to sell feel free to tell me in the comments! Thanks in advance! Ok, time for sleep, Have a good day and I’ll see you all when the Earth makes another rotation!
Jesse
Go to airport, yada yada yada. We had to wait on the longest line I have ever seen just to get our luggage checked in. Picture 3 different Yeshivos/Seminaries just waiting in a long line and that’s what I had to go through. While standing on this size record breaking line I started talking to the people around me. I met an African American woman on line behind me and she became good company. We talked for most of the time on the line, and she was very friendly. When we reached the area where El-AL asks you those questions (did you pack your luggage? Have you brought anything for anyone? Etc….) I, like everyone else was asked the questions. After they had determined that I was in fact not a terrorist, and I was not carrying anything questionable they went on to the lady behind me. The guard took one look at her, another guard came over, and after a quick exchange in Hebrew, turn to the woman and say those dreaded words. “Ma’am, would you please come with me.” I have no idea what happened to her, or where she went after that. (Good luck to her wherever she may be.)
Then continuing in line I was told to approach the security counter. Everyone in front of me had to have their baggage checked through the radiation scanner, I although was for some reason allowed to omit that part of the process. The kid behind me (also going to Lev Hatorah) did have to have his scanned. Thus is the end of part one.
After just making it through security in time to board the plane, we took off for the holy land. I of course loved the takeoff as always. Unfortunately I had an isle seat in the middle row and could not take pictures out of the window. Luckily I sat next to a pleasant and friendly person as apposed to what could have been worse. The movies on the plane were scant, although the one I did watch was actually quite good. It is called Entrapment, with Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta Jones. Other then that was Speed Racer which I saw in theaters and thought it was an hour and a half too long.
Many many hours later we landed in Tel Aviv, with the passengers applauding as we touched down. It was quite interesting. We proceeded to get off the plane and get our luggage, at which point we were joined by Lev Hatorah madrichim (A madrich is like a dorm counselor). From there we went to the Yeshiva, ate dinner (I traveled 7,000 miles to get Pizza!), and then had time to do what we want. This brings me to now when I am writing this. I have already unpacked, met all the important people at the yeshiva, set up my electrical system, speakers, dart board, the works. The dorms are actually large houses, and each bedroom is a different set of guys. I have 2 other in my room, and I know both of them so everything is Kosher here. As for the buildings? They are mostly finished. There are wires hanging down from the ceilings in the Bet Midrash, but the dorms are 'done'. Now it is time to go to bed. Good night all.
Jesse
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