Kefiada 2010 The Blog...

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July 29, 2010 - Leaving Israel. On Thursday night we left Arad after a summer than each of us will forever remember.  It was bittersweet to say farewell to the place we so fondly called home, however, the thought that it wasn’t truly “goodbye” lingered in the back of our minds.  From arriving in this small desert community, none of us truly could have imagined we would become this attached to the people and lifestyle here.

Our final week in Arad, after camp reached its conclusion, was jammed packed with trips to the vibrant city of Tel Aviv, and the spiritual experience of Jerusalem.  It was an amazing way to reflect on our time here and verify that each will return in the future.

Personally, I know that spending my summer vacation in Israel was the best possible option, and I know I will remember this opportunity for the rest of my life.  Thank you Partnership 2000 for making this possible.

- Samantha Cohen, Jewish Federation of Monmouth County

July 18, 2010 - This past week has been great!  The theme for this week at camp was recycling and the environment, so a lot of the activities related to these themes.  My favorite day of the week is definitely pool day, which is every Wednesday.  In the afternoons and nights after camp this week, we also did a lot of fun things.  We went to a couple of barbeques, something Israelis seem to love.  Also, one night this week, a group of 15 or so Israelis and Americans went to Beer Sheva for the night to bowl and have dinner!  We ended the week by hiking Masada and going to the Dead Sea, followed by Shabbat dinner in our host families' homes.  The dinners were great, as usual, and I really enjoy how every family here in Arad does some kind of family dinner on Friday night!  It's hard to believe that the last week of camp is approaching, but it should be a good one!  Time really is flying in Israel, but we are loving every minute!

- Lisa Colton, Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey

July 16, 2010 - Masada.  There are many moments in your life that I believe you will always look back on, but there are few moments you will remember perfectly.  Watching the sun rise over the Dead Sea atop Masada is a moment that I will replay in mind everyday for the rest of my life.  How could anyone possibly forget being on top of a mountain where wars were fought and lives were taken?  Being on Masada was like stepping back in time, and watching the brilliant orange sun rise was magical.  As a group, we started the climb for Masada at 5:00 a.m., and we reached the top after a short hike.  After watching the sun rise, we explored the top of Masada.  We viewed the remains of King Herod's Northern Palace, with parts of the columns and frescos still intact.  After seeing the Northern Palace, we explored the Roman bathhouse.  The last sight we checked out with Lior was a cistern used to capture and store water for the people of Masada.  Even though it was difficult to climb down the steps into the cistern, it was worth the effort.  The cistern was dug by hand, and seeing the chisel marks on the wall was a powerful reminder of the ingenuity of the builders of Masada.  Climbing back out, Lior asked us to imagine carrying water up the steps every day.  I'll admit I could barely make it back up with my backpack, let alone two heavy pails of water.  His comment, however, made me realize how strong and determined the rebels at Masada were.  Before we left, I stopped to take a look around, and I tried to picture life on the mountain 2,000 years ago.  It was time to leave and we decided to take the snake path down, which is a 30-minute hike.  It made you realize how small you really are compared to the vast desert and endless canyons.  As a group, we literally climbed over Masada.  I think it’s something that should be on everyone’s "bucket list".

- Lisa Levin, Jewish Federation of Cumberland, Gloucester & Salem Counties

July 12, 2010 – Reflections on Arad.  From what I had heard about Arad, I came expecting nothing more than a small desert city.  I could not have been more wrong; Arad is a wonderful city full of energy and spirit.  Yet, what truly defines a city are the individuals that live within it.  We all were assigned a host family in Arad, and I was, at first, a bit uncomfortable to be with a family I had never met before.  Now, I know that my worries were all for naught; they are without a doubt one of the most welcoming, hospitable, pleasant and caring families I have ever met.

The Kefiada camp is certainly different than your standard day camp back home in the States, but it is a taste of a culture different than our own and offers an experience that can’t be had outside of Israel.  In addition to the camp, there are almost daily activities for the American and Israeli counselors alike to further our experience of Arad and Israel as a whole.

Yet, in all, none of these great opportunities would have come to fruition had it not been for two incredible people: Lior and Ofra.  They have both been extremely helpful during our entire stay in Arad thus far, making sure we have what we need and assisting us in whatever way they can.  If not for them, Kefiada would not be the unbelievable experience that it is.  I could not be more satisfied with my decision to come on Kefiada, and I am certain this will be an experience to remember for many years to come.

- Yossi Mason, Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey

July 11, 2010 – Exploring Israel.  After our first week of camp, we decided that it was time to explore Israel a little bit, so we chose to spend the weekend in the resort city of Eilat, located in southern Israel on the Red Sea.  My brother spent a few months living in Eilat, so I knew a few of the fun places to go.  We worked with Lior, our madrich, to find a great place to stay, and the villa he recommended was amazing.  Of course, the beautiful beach and club scene in Eilat was a hit with everyone, but we thought it was also important to make a Shabbat dinner, so thank you to Jewish Federation of Cumberland, Gloucester & Salem Counties for sponsoring our delicious Eilat Shabbat, and thank you for the great experiences we have had so far with Kefiada.

- Marc Bennett, Jewish Federation of Cumberland, Gloucester & Salem Counties

July 9, 2010 - Our time Israel is really flying!  We spent our first few days orienting ourselves with Arad, organizing camp activities, and meeting our new Israeli friends.  After only a few trips around town, I can confidently say that this place is beginning to feel like home.  I really love the "Country Club" [community pool] and the air conditioned mall!  During our free time, we have been playing softball with our Israeli co-counselors on the fields behind the Arad Tennis Center, and watching the Mondial [World Cup] at a local pub, called Muza.

We just finished with our first week of camp, and it was awesome!  The kids in my bunk really seem to love us, and we love them too.  Every day we work with our Israeli co-counselors to plan activities for the campers, and most of the activities have an environmental theme.  Well, after my first week here, my impression of Israel is that it is the friendliest country I have ever visited; I really like this place!

- Alexander Schimmel, Jewish Federation of Cumberland, Gloucester & Salem Counties

July 7, 2010 - Our first few days here have been awesome.  Ok, so the flight was a little long, but well worth it!  The drive from Tel Aviv to Arad wasn’t bad at all; it took about an hour and half, and it was interesting to see the scenery change from irrigated greenery to desert.  Our first stop was the Arad Community Center that the locals call the Youth Center.  We met with our new hosts and enjoyed some cold drinks, ate dinner and went to bed early.

One major component of Kefiada is building the bridge between Jews in Israel and America.  As part of this initiative, we have been working on preparing the Kefiada camp building.  A birthright group stopped by to help us brighten up the school where camp will be held, and, as you can see from the photos, it looks really nice.  We had our first Shabbat dinners with our host families; it was delicious, and my family was very friendly.  So far, the experience has been great!  I am enjoying learning about Israel and meeting Israelis, and the entire group is building a strong connection to our sister city, Arad.

- Jason Roth, Jewish Federation of Cumberland, Gloucester & Salem Counties