Summer 2019

Hi my name is Rena Feldman and I live in Teaneck NJ. Today was our 32nd day on GIVE, but also our second to last day. We started off the day in a museum in Chevron, but it wasn’t an ordinary museum it started out with a really cool ride of the story. Aster that we walk in and out of a few rooms to learn the details of the loosing and reconquering of Chevron. Then we had the best lunch to follow the 9 days, schnitzel!! After our amazing lunch the parents of Hellel, a girl who was stabbed to death 3 years ago, came to speak to us. We got to see their vineyard an winery. Following her parents speaking we went to a dance studio that they made in her memory where we taught/learned a flash mob to perform in Mamila the next day. Our last activity of the day was going to Marat Hamachpela, where we got to daven mincha. When we finally returned to base we had to, very sadly, start packing. Overall the day was a pretty great one!!

Hey! I’m Yakira Dombeck (15, from Hillside NJ- on GIVE bus 2) and I wanted to share some things we did yesterday!! I personally was very touched by Save a Child’s Heart, our first stop of the day. Waking up at the early hour of six in the morning was definitely worth it. The children there come from all places, specifically Africa and Palestinian territory. The children all needed heart surgeries and SACH has them live in this house for however long is needed so they can get the procedure done with proper care.  Though we couldn’t really communicate through talking, we made friends with a lot of the very cute kids. We then ventured on to the shuk which was really fun (I did spend money- sorry Mom and Abba!) Then lastly, we went to this workshop for disabled people. It was really amazing to see that although they might seemed trapped in their bodies, they were very much ABLE to do lots of things. Each workshop showed us specific things that are hard for the people who are wheelchair-bound and we tried to live like them for that hour. It was really hard and made me super grateful for my healthy working body. Although it seems like these things are very small, they’ll have an impact on me forever and I can’t wait to be able to come back here and revisit my favorite chessed spots again. Shabbat Shalom!

My name is edie Berman and I live in highland park New Jersey. Today on GIVE we started our day by going to pantry packers where we helped fill TONS of boxes with food for the less fortunate. It was so incredible because not only were we doing an amazing chessed but we were able to have so much fun doing it. Next, we went to mea shearim where we were able to go into all the stores and check it out. I loved it because I was able to get a gorgeous tehilim with my name engraved in it! Oh and of course kugel! Then, they took us to where we painted last week and made us clean up because it was a mess. JK! COLOR WAR BREAKOUT!!! Color war was awesome even though we were split up into two teams there was still so much achdus and ahava in the air. So all in all, even though it wasn’t the craziest jam packed day it was still an amazing day filled with chessed and fun just like every other day on GIVE.

Hi my name is Leah Perlowitz and I am from Clifton, New Jersey. Today on Give we started down south in Mitzpe Ramon, which is where we were for Shabbat. We went to make a camp for under privileged kids and played a fun and intense game of dodgeball with them. After that we went to a mall to get food and replace all our missing clothing, stocking up for the week. Up next, we went on a enlightening tour of Sderot and learned the danger of living there and the heroic Jews who risk their lives to live there. We saw bomb shelters and learned about the iron dome that has protected so many people. Next we heard from Aharon Karov who told us his story of his time in the IDF and what he sacrificed after fighting bravely in the Gaza strip. After we went to plant flours and paint benches to help brighten up the city of Sderot and create as many smiles as we can. I can’t wait to dive into another week of jammed packed chessed and fun!!
ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM @Brooke ???

Hi, my name is Sarah Andron and I’m from Los Angeles, California. Today, we had a very inspirational day and an amazing way to kickstart our weekend in the Negev. The first stop of the day was Ben Gurion’s house. We watched videos that showed us about his life and what an impact he had on the state of Israel. After the video we got to take a tour of the house and see how even though he could have chosen to live anywhere else in Israel, he chose the middle of the desert. It showed us how modest he was and how he didn’t believe that he needed a big house or a lot of money, he just wanted to live in the place that he loved. After seeing his house, and making a short stop at the grocery store, we arrived at our hotel in mitzpe rimon. The view outside was nothing less than stunning and it was definitely special to be able to do kabalat Shabbat outside with the incredible view behind us. Overall, it was an amazing day in the negev and the best way to start off an incredible shabbos!

Hi, my name is Yael Rovt and I’m from Brooklyn, New York. Today, our first stop was at Ben Gordon Airport where we greeted a Nefesh B’Nefesh flight. We greeted all the Aliyot, with singing and dancing. It was so special seeing people just like us giving up there comfortable lifestyles to live in their homeland. Our next stop was the Barcachva Caves where we got to experience what it was like many years ago when people couldn’t just make Aliyah and move to their homeland to learn Torah. They had to hide in caves in order to stay safe. In there, we sang songs and sat in the darkness of the cave, and really took in everything that we had learned. It was a really inspiring and uplifting day, and I’m looking forward to many more amazing experiences on GIVE!!

Hi, my name is Yakira Topp, and I live in Los Angeles, CA. Today we went to a factory for the blind, where people who are blind have the opportunity to work in building mechanical supplies. Us GIVEr’s had a blast helping out with the building and drilling process, while jamming out to music!! Next we headed to the Tel Aviv beach for some much needed relaxation. After spending some time in the hot sun, we were surprised with popsicles to cool down with!! Our next stop was to Susan’s House, a workplace and rehabilitation for teens at risk. There we learned about the amazing organization, and got to see the amazing work that was created, which included plates, jewelry, and art. After a long day, we headed back to our base in Yerushalayim, and enjoyed a fun night activity of preparing posters and dances for the Nefesh B’nefesh flight we are greeting tomorrow. I can’t believe it’s already the third week! Time flies, but I am so excited for more chessed and fun to come!!

Hi, my name is Yakira Topp, and I live in Los Angeles, CA. Today we went to a factory for the blind, where people who are blind have the opportunity to work in building mechanical supplies. Us GIVEr’s had a blast helping out with the building and drilling process, while jamming out to music!! Next we headed to the Tel Aviv beach for some much needed relaxation. After spending some time in the hot sun, we were surprised with popsicles to cool down with!! Our next stop was to Susan’s House, a workplace and rehabilitation for teens at risk. There we learned about the amazing organization, and got to see the amazing work that was created, which included plates, jewelry, and art. After a long day, we headed back to our base in Yerushalayim, and enjoyed a fun night activity of preparing posters and dances for the Nefesh B’nefesh flight we are greeting tomorrow. I can’t believe it’s already the third week! Time flies, but I am so excited for more chessed and fun to come!!

Hi, my name is Magen Sauer, I am from Memphis, TN. Today all the GIVErs went to a place were they give the elderly jobs so that way they can feel apart of something and feel needed. We got to see the process of how they make all of their hand made crafts. I really loved what they made and I loved the experience. After we went back to our base, where we got into “bowling attire” (shtick) and we we’re taught how to be medical clowns. We learned a bunch of cool tricks like juggling and animal balloon making. After that we went to Zichron Menachem, where we saw how they help kids with cancer and their families. They provide after school programs for both the sick kids and their siblings. They also have wigs made for the kids. After that we then used all of the clowning skills we learned and went to an old age home. We sang, danced with them, and made them laugh. Finally, we went to michlelet to played a basketball game with them. Even though we didn’t end up winning the game, we still had tons of fun! 

Hi, my name is Daniella Samuels and I’m from Great Neck New York. Today Give’s bus left early in the morning to שמר החדש, where we cut down unnecessary plants in order to prevent forest fires and give the fruit trees a chance to grow. Afterward we drove to seeach sod a special needs school. Us GIVErs did art projects and had a super fun dance party with the students of seeach sod. Next we traveled to OTD, where we did team building exercises. We had the chance to climb a rope ladder, rock climb, walk across a tightrope and ride a zip line. After a great adventure at OTD we headed back to our base in  ירושלים. Once we got back to GIVE’s base we decorated posters for tomorrow’s carnival. It’s only day 5 and I have already seen and experienced so much! I’ve been having an a amazing time on GIVE and I can’t wait for day 6!