- Hello Everybody
I apologize I have not posted in a week – the internet has not been working.
Here’s a recap of the week that was.
On Monday the Garin Tzabar program officially started with a big ceremony for about 300 soldiers. We waited all day in lines to get forms and our Israeli ID Cards, as well as a check for making Aliyah, and of course the obligatory free t-shirt. The ceremony involved speakers from all sorts of different government departments and organizations that help lone soldiers. Originally, Bibi Netanyahu was supposed to attend, but had a surprise surgery. Instead his wife came in the middle of a performance by the Israeli Scouts Caravan and all eyes were on the First Lady. I also ran into my counselor from when I came to Israel with Gann during junior year which was a pleasant surprise. Once the ceremony was over, we took a bus Kibbutz Bet Zera, our home for the next chunk of our lives! Here are some pictures of the outside of the dorm, the Moadon (common room), and my room, which I share with my friends Ori and Roey.
Outside of our dorm building
Moadon / Common Room and Kitchenette
“The Fort”, Shared with Ori and Roey
On Monday we also met the entire crew that is responsible for us during our time on the kibbutz. We have one lady who is the head for the group from the Kibbutz, Alison. Her and Shula, another kibbutz member, handle much of the logistics. We have a counselor, Idan, who is 24 and grew up on the kibbutz. He is in charge of the social aspect of the group. We also have two “Mashakiot”. A Mashak (or Mashakit for a girl) is an abbreviation for Mefaked She-eino Katzin, or a commander who is not an officer. Ilil and Daniel are two girls still in the army, who serve as our connection to the IDF. They help with the entire process of enlisting and doing all the necessary tests to reach the unit we want.
Bet Zera is right at the southern tip of the Kineret, at about 200 meters below sea level. It is HOT here. Usually it is impossible to spend time outside between the hours of 12 PM – 5 PM. To make it better, the pool here has been closed for a few years. The empty pool is now a part of the Kibbutz zoo.
One of the only Kibbutznikim who get to enjoy the pool
On Tuesday morning a few of us went for a run. We thought we would be able to beat the heat by leaving around 7:30, but by 8 AM the sun was beating down. Since then we have run at night when it is cooler. Tuesday afternoon we were given the task of coming up with a skit for a small party the kibbutz members invited us to. We ended up performing one skit about how the kibbutznikim probably think the Garin acts, and then another skit about an American that makes Aliyah and wants to be a kibbutznik. I played Sam the American who became Shmulik the Kibbutznik through a rigorous wardrobe change. The same night, the kibbutz kids invited us to their end of the year celebrations. It was very fun to play with all the kids and try to explain to them why we were in their home.
Ori, Doron, and “Shmulik” the Kibbutznikim
For dinner, the local pizza guy on the kibbutz called up Shula and told her that he heard about what we were doing, and wanted to treat us all to dinner. We had an awesome time at Pizza Joe, and some Garin members provided live music.
Micha on the guitar, Doron on the keys
On Friday we played a scavenger hunt throughout the kibbutz to get better acquainted with our surroundings. We made our way to the zoo, hair salon, the Thai workers, the first building from 1927, and more. After a nice Kabalat Shabbat in the Chadar Ochel (Shabbat ceremony in the dining hall), we went back to our dorm to have some fun. Later that night we walked to a club in Afikim, the next kibbutz over. Saturday we spent the day swimming and cooling down in the Kineret, which was a ten minute tractor ride from Bet Zera. Sunday was spent in busses and offices. It was “Bureaucracy Day”. We spent four-ish hours in the Misrad HaKlita (Ministry of Absorption) with two other Garinim, about 75 kids. All I had to do was sign my name twice. We then moved to Misrad HaPnim (Ministry of the Interior), where I sat for four more hours and didn’t even have to sign once.
A look ahead: Monday – setting up bank accounts and cell phones. I’ll have a new Israeli number, so anyone who wants to contact me on Whatsapp will have to add the new number. Tuesday – I don’t remember. Wednesday – a BIG day. This is the first part of our enlistment process, our Tsav Rishon (First Calling). On this day we go to a military office for a day of testing. There is a medical exam, a long interview, a quick yet deceptively challenging Hebrew test, and a couple hours of math, reading comprehension, word analogy, and shape analogy tests. All of these different exams give us a few different scores, which eventually determine which tryouts one can participate in / which units one can serve in. Wish me luck.
Till next time,
Shmulik the Kibbutznik
Shaul Armony 