Wow, I'm really far behind. Sorry about that, its been crazy here! I am sad to say that we are heading into our final weeks here. This upcoming week we have all of our finals. Then we are going up north for a week, then we come home.
I have been keeping note of everything we do on my phone so hopefully if i dont get it write it all out before i leave i will when i get home (yes that includes a real Poland blog and Yam l Yam). I guess ill see everyone soon!

יום הזיכרון ויום העצמאות

5/4 -Memorial Day

Since some kids had to take the SAT this morning, me and my friend Amit decided we would make them all something to have to brighten their day when they got done. So what better than some cupcakes? We made them during our little breaks during classes in the morning and she handed them out when everyone finished (I had class so I couldn't help but I heard they were a huge hit!). 

All week we've been seeing the Israeli flags everywhere. They are on every store, every house, every car, even all over the kibbutz. 

We had the amazing opportunity to go to the national ceremony at the Kotel tonight. 

We heard the president speak, and the chief of the army speak. We also got to stand as the siren went off, but this was different than last week. This time it wasn't just us watching as the cars stopped, this time it was the entire county standing at attention, and you could tell. 

Although we couldn't understand everything that was being said, we stood by people who could translate. The speeches were very moving but maybe the most amazing part was that the mood was not just within one group, but it was everyone. In Israel Memorial Day is much different than in the US. Everyone here has been affected by the army and by war. Whether they lost someone or whether they know someone who lost someone. 

5/5

The full name of this day is the Day of Remembrance for the Fallen Soldiers of Israel and Victims of Terrorism (יום הזיכרון לחללי מערכות ישראל ולנפגעי פעולות האיבה)

This morning we went to the kibbutz memorial service in the cemetery. It is amazing to think that Tzuba has been around since 1948 but has only lost 2 sons to fighting. But even two is more than should be. 

I didn't understand most of the service but nevertheless it was very emotional. One of the things that struck me was as a girl was singing a song, she broke down crying. 

This evening the entire mood changed. We went to another ceremony. This one to end Memorial Day and start Independence Day. This is something we've been taking a lot about lately in classes, why these 2 days are right next to each other. 

We arrived at the ceremony last night right as they were lowering the flag to half mast. Tonight, we watched as the flags were lifted and as the shadow which had been cast over the country was also lifted off. 

After the ceremony we did some Israeli dancing with the people on the kibbutz. It was so much fun! Obviously they were a lot better than us but we also learned the dances quickly. 

At 10:30 we left for Ben-Yehuda street. If you know how packed it normally is, all you have to do is imagine that times 30. It was crazy! בלגן! There were people everywhere. Spraying silly string and other things, dancing, screaming, and of course plenty of loud music. 

We finally got back to the kibbutz at around 1 am. 

5/6- Independence Day- יום העצמאות

We slept In and went to the beach. This is the day of the year where everyone in Israel is out and about, even in an overcast day like today. 

We did an EIE color war. We split into 4 teams, green, yellow, white and pink. The first challenge was to make a team name, cheer, and logo (to be drawn in the sand). We named ourselves the Pink Panthers. The next challenge was a wheelbarrow race relay. Then we did one where we had to fill a bucket up with a sponge and anything else we could think about. It was funny because the Israelis started watching us and were bringing us bags and bowls and things to try and help (that's called cheating). Then we took a break for lunch and had our little barbecue on the beach. After lunch the games continued with some tug of war. First pink beat green. Yellow beat white. Green beat white. Pink beat yellow. Then pink beat the madraheem and some other Israelis that we found on the beach hahaha. 

Programs

5/3- Saturday

Emma and Danielle led an amazing program after Havdallah. They did what I know as friendship circle, something we do at the end of every Kallah. We all walked together to a grassy spot by the Hader Ochel and sat in a circle with our backs facing in and eyes closed. Each person had a number 1-9 and when your number was called you got up. They would tell you to tap some one who...and you could go tap as many people as you wanted and they don't know who tapped them. Some of the questions they used were:

Tap someone who made you laugh

Tap someone who your first impression was wrong

Tap someone who has dreams that you think they are capable of fulfilling

Tap someone who you would go to for advice

Even though I've done this before, it was completely different. This time I knew everyone in the circle and have had a connection with everyone. This made it special. The entire time I was tearing up but also I noticed that i couldn't stop smiling every time I heard a new question and everyone I felt someone tap me. 

It put us all in a sad mood to realize that we only have a short time left together in this place. But it also made us realize that we have to make the best of it.

After that activity I ended up with some of my friends in a circle on the pavement singing songs with a guitar. It just added to the night. 

4/29

We had a half day Tiyul to Ammunition hill. It used to be a Jordanian "police station" (it was used for the army) but was captured during the Six Day War. It was a short Tiyul but before we left we got to walk through the trenches. 

4/30- Wednesday

After a normal school day, we went out to Jerusalem for a private Coby Oz concert with the URJ board. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJsntrAx7TE

5/1

We woke up early to join Women of the Wall at the Kotel for their Rosh Chodesh service this morning. Although we missed a lot of the service we got there in time to join them in singing HaTikvah. 

Then we went back and had J-Hist until lunch. About 3 and a half hours. 

The rest of the day was normal. We had classes and stayed on the kibbutz. 

5/2 

For our Tzadakah project today we went to a beach in Ashdod and picked up all the trash we could find in the sand. Then we got to hang out on the beach and swim for an hourish. After that we went to a mall not far away for lunch and then back to Tzuba to get ready for Shabbat