Tag: Israel

Caption this challenge: Alice the camel

On By thestampsinmypassportIn Uncategorized1 Comment

camel

I was driving home from work today and thought to myself, the water slide wasn’t the first (or second or third) time I did something that terrified me. I rode a camel. Yes, you heard me correctly, a camel.

I was in Israel on my JWRP trip in June 2012. Our day started off at Masada. After that was time to put on some dead sea mud and float for a while. Nice and relaxed from floating in the dead sea and now we were on our way to Genesis Land in the desert. camel1To meet our forefather Abraham and Sarah for a meal in their tent in the dessert. But not before we had a camel riding experience. Oh yes, I said camel riding.

We were almost 200 women on this trip and everyone started to scramble to find someone to go on the camel with. I was not having any part of the camel experience. All I had to see was how they actually stand up and sit down while you were on their  backs and I couldn’t see myself getting on (or off) a camel.

abe1I watched as my friends and trip mates got on, went on their rides and came back. I took all their photos and everyone kept saying, you are next. Ah, yeah, I don’t think so. Wait, time for lunch, great – saved by the lunch bell. Whoever didn’t have a chance before lunch will get a chance after, great, not saved just yet.

After we ate the rest of the group had their chance to ride. Everyone said to me, you will go home and wish you had ridden the camel and then the chance will be gone. A really nice (and very fit) sister I met from the Montreal group said she would go with me. What the heck, when in the dessert…ride a camel.

Someone had my camera and there are many undesirable photos of me getting on, trying to stay on and going on my camel ride. I did not like at all. They smell, they snort and they are really not the nicest of animals. We almost went off the side of the road as well.

When it was over everyone asked if I was happy I did it. I am once again drawn to the water slide experience and the lessons I learned. This group of women were all experiencing a abelife changing experience. We all share that in common and there was a safety in numbers and in sisterhood. Funny thing is that I never did see or hear from the Montreal woman again after the trip. But for that short period of time she was sitting in front of me on the camel and made me feel safe and comfortable doing something totally out of my comfort zone. I will always remember that.

camel4

Writers Block

On By thestampsinmypassportIn Uncategorized4 Comments

For the past couple of weeks I have wanted to write, but feel like I have been blocked. I wrote a post last week and then deleted it. I am not sure if I am going to post this or not, but I think the only way to get out of the block is to write it and see where it goes.

For those of you who know me or have followed me for a while, you know that about two and half years ago I went on a life changing mission trip to Israel. The organization that was responsible for me being able to go is called JWRP (Jewish Womens Renaissance Project). It is a wonderful organization, started by women, led by women FOR women. I have nothing but the utmost respect for everything they are doing for the Jewish people, the State of Israel and most importantly for Jewish women.

The organization has been written up several times in the past few weeks in several Jewish Newspapers. The trip is touted as “birthright” for MOMS. The articles refer in the article to all the Jewish mothers arriving at the airport like excited young people on the traditional “birthright” trips.

The first lines on the JWRP website are:

“Inspire a woman, you inspire a family. Inspire enough families, you inspire a community. Inspire enough communities, you can change the world.”

On the last night of the trip our group sat in the lobby of the hotel with our Rebbitzen and we discussed what our responsibilities are when we come home. That we would continue to learn and keep the momentum that we were feeling at that moment in Israel alive. Classes, learning, every week. I have been doing that. I went in June 2012 and have been learning constantly since I have come home.

I have to be honest, before I went on this trip to Israel, I had my own person views on the observant world and how it sees the Jewish women. It has been amazing to learn that there is so much we don’t know, or just aren’t aware of the power of the Jewish woman. I have learned how important the Jewish woman is to her home, her family, her friends, her community. More than I ever knew before.

But the power of the Jewish woman, is not just the power of the Jewish MOTHER.

When I went on the trip, there were only 10% of the women from each group that were ‘like me’. When I say that I mean, not married or without children. I get the reasons why, and I fully appreciate them. There are many different trips to Israel one can choose to apply for. This particular one is meant for women who have children under 18 at home. I get it.

As a Jewish woman I will always remember what it felt like to stand at the Kotel with my Siddur and say prayers. I will also always remember what Shabbat at the Kotel felt like, dancing and singing with hundreds of Jewish women bringing Shabbat in.

I consider myself to be blessed in more ways I ever thought possible.

I know that I inspire people. I have been told. My mother shares my blogs with her friends and family and they write her back with amazing words of praise. I share my stories that I learn in my classes. I even took a friend of mine to the mega Challah bake over the Global Shabbat back in October. I know that she was affected by the power of the Mitzvah of Challah. I know that I changed something in her life. That is the power of a Jewish WOMAN.

I am grateful. I am thankful for everything that I have received since going on my trip to Israel. Lessons are around us every day, with every step, with every word. They don’t always make sense at the time but with time, they will make sense.