Orientation Seminar On Shnat

Hi again everyone,

It has been a frenetic start to Shnat 2009-10, and the group is already bonding together as one. Everyone arrived safely on Wednesday evening, and immediately they headed off to the lovely and quiet guest house of Neve Shalom, which is halfway between Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv. Once they arrived, they played a few ice-breakers to get to know each other, and then headed to bed for a well-earned nights' sleep.

On Thursday the group continued their bonding peulot, before going over the rules and expectations of the program with myself in the afternoon. They also had a bit of time at the pool in Neve Shalom in the afternoon, which was a well-deserved break from the early spring Israel heat.

Yesterday the group headed to Jerusalem for a day trip. They spent their time at the kotel and the Jewish quarter of the old city, which gave them a good insight into the spiritual meaning and connection with Jerusalem in Judaism. They also had a chance to scout the Ben Yehuda pedestrian mall, and the surrounding areas, including buying a traditional 'shawarma' lunch for themselves!
They headed back to Neve Shalom in the afternoon and prepared for their first shabbat together as the Shnat group.

This morning the Dutch chanichim met up with the Dutch Chazon seminar, of the incoming mazkirut. They had a peula together and will also be eating lunch together. In the afternoon, they will continue with Peulot, before preparing for their tiyul for tomorrow.

Tomorrow the group will head to the northern negev region for tiyul, and will be spending 2 days hiking, camping, and eating together, under the beautiful and peaceful desert sky. On Tuesday they will head back to the centre of the country, and will all be attending the big Habonim Dror UK 80th celebrations on Tuesday evening at Ramat Efal.

The group will be concluding their orientation seminar on Thursday, and will head up to their base for the next 3 months, kibbutz Ein Dor.

It has been a really positive start to the Shnat year, and the group are looking forward to many more inspirational and growing experiences together.

I would like to wish a shabbat shalom to everyone, and a shavua tov to you all.

Until next time,

Leon.