Going into this trip, I thought that I could go to Latvia and Estonia for $600. I have never been to Europe before and it was a great price for traveling to two countries with all amenities included. Knowing that this trip was mainly for community service, it did not appeal to me so much. I have never helped people in this way before. I did not feel like doing this service because it would be boring and not helpful to the community. But while actually doing the community service and seeing the reaction of many people, I knew then that we did something good and right for the community. I felt good inside too! I never thought that I would feel this way about community service and I never thought that it would have such an impact on the community itself. I'm glad that I went on this trip because I did not just sight see, but I helped a community and made a difference.
-Ariel
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
A Trip of a Lifetime...
Estonia check... Latvia check... and a trip of a lifetime remembered forever. I could not have imagined the actions played out and the at time overwhelming emotions that I didn't and felt through these past ten days. Working as a group in Estonia we accomplished the unpacking and reorganizing of clothes and other necessities to give to the elderly. We met with the incredible men/women who were present during the Holocaust and patiently waited for their unique stories of the past. In Latvia, once again we worked together to get a school painted and decorated for the awaiting Jewish students in the community. Painting a mural of Israel not only brought color to the school but hopefully a new light to the students who attend. During these past days I have felt nearly every emotion and gained a perspective, which has changed my life forever. I connected with people in a way that I never thought was possible, a connection stronger then I ever thought. the trip is over but for me and several others, this trip has ignited a fire within us. a burning need to continue on the path of restoring the Jewish community and as well as being an active member of it. We cannot forget the past, for it is the only way in which we can continue our active Jewish life.
-Alissa
-Alissa
A Special Moment
I had heard that the weather in Estonia was maybe going to be rainy so I had prepared for rain everyday. However, during the three days our group was there it only rained once. Elana and I were out at night walking around with four Estonian peers. They were showing us all of the sites in the old city. We had just finished looking at old tombstones when it started to rain. When I say that it started, I don't mean that it started to drizzle then slowly got harder. No, this instantly was pouring. We quickly ran for shelter to the nearest place. This happened to be a little archway created by the giant wooden doors of an old cathedral. The rain continued to fall hard. It trickled off the church and it made us feel like we were standing under a waterfall. We all just sat there watching the rain fall and I knew that this was a special moment.
-Stacey Newman
-Stacey Newman
August 31, 2009
On Monday morning, we went to the Jewish school and finally finished painting which looked amazing. many members of the Jewish community came and were so impressed and grateful for what SB Hillel had done for them. After this, we had a couple hours to go shopping and tour the city more. There were so many little booths on the street selling amber. Later that day, we say a young dance group perform, and we also danced with them too! Some of these kids were in the welfare program. A boy also sang for us who was in the welfare program. For dinner, our group and the Latvian peers ate together and played games and said our good byes.
-Ariel
August 30, 2009
Today we went to the memorial grounds located in Latvia. the memorial monuments were placed in the forest that was a location of the mass killing of Jews during the Holocaust. here women, men, and children were shot and also a train loaded of WWII war heroes from Germany. The whole forest was surrounded with an eerie and gloomy feeling. We heard trains passing on the tracks just outside the forest which brought tears to my eyes and gave me the chills because it made what we were learning about that much more feel. The forest had a feeling of unrest and it was extremely emotional for everybody on the trip to walk on the grounds of the forest that once contained so much blood of our ancestors, our people. There were lots of stones covered in names of ones who passed in these killings. It was so surreal to see huge families killed there, the huge section of monuments dedicated to just the Jewish children and to walk the same paths from the city and the train tracks that both lead to the center of the forest that the Latvian Jews once walked also. We held a memorial service for our people who were killed there and also sang the mourners kaddish. This was one of the most meaningful experiences and we learned so much about what the Latvian Jews once faced through detailed stories and facts. This day meant a lot to me, and even though it was very emotional, I was very appreciative of the chance to see this area.
-Whitney
Auugust 28, 2009
Friday was our first full day in Riga, Latvia. We visited the Jewish children school, a block from the hotel, for the first time. The task at hand was immediately started. The painting of the outside of the school, the sketching of the city inside and the draft of what would be a stone wall painted in the multipurpose room. By the end of the day the foundation was layed for what would be a very complete, few, productive days.
-Josh
Community Service in Latvia
In Latvia, we were asked to paint a wall in one of the classrooms. After 6 hours of replicating bricks using sponges and rough outlines, you can imagine how disheartening it was to hear that it needed brightening up: Few of us had an idea of how to do such until Amber suggested vines and flowers, bees and butterflies. She handed me a paintbrush and for the next two days made it my personal mission to make the brick wall as "child friendly" as possible. Having something specific I could do to put my own stamp on the project made the experience that much more special. I dream of coming back in twenty years to be able to say "I painted those flowers and vines and everyday since then they have put smiles on the children."
-Lauren O.
August 26, 2009: Our Last Day in Estonia
We woke up to a rainy morning on our last day in Estonia. With our bellies full of Estonian breakfast (eggs, cheese on bread, yogurt drink, and pastries) we went off to explore the old city of Tallinn! The buildings are so tall yet all connected like a movie set. As we waled on the century old cobblestone, we felt a sense of history and culture. Some of the first buildings we passed housed guilds during the medieval times. "The Great Guild" building was quite amazing and was a guild of both rich merchants who were the only people allowed to sell salt or make and sell beer during the medieval times. In general, the fortress of Tallinn was split into two ports, and upper and the lower where knights and nobility were divided. The upper divide had an overlook that allowed us to see all of Tallinn, including churches, rooftops, and the ocean. At this stage in the trip, our group has become increasingly close and made for a more meaningful experience atop such a beautiful sight. even in the rain, we took pictures together and took in the beautiful sight. The city's center was like a movie set as well, with birds, large city hall building, and restaurants creating a circle around an open space. There is a circle in the center of the city center where one is supposed to stand, make a wish, and turn nine times. This "city of competition" and "city of salt" was magical and memorable! The age of the city illustrated Estonian culture and beauty. We felt so lucky to experience such.
-Sarah Kahn
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Sunday August 29th
hey all, adrienne here. wanted to let you all know about one of the most meaningful days of the trip for me.
so after a fun and exciting night out with our latvian peers, we returned early the next morning to the jewish day school. i had been commissioned to paint a mural for the front lobby. along with the help of sasha and stacey, we painted the sketch that andrew had so nicely drawn. we had music playing so we were singing and dancing while we were painting. lira, one of the latvian peers, even played here music so we could see what kind of music they are into. around midday, we walked to a place called kebabs. in the states, i would have expected a kabob-skewer with meat and veggies- but here, kebabs are like pitas filled with shwarma or falafel and veggies. they were so delicious!! on our walk back, it started pouring rain and we had to run the rest of the way back to the school. after painting for about an hour or two more, we were soon bussed off to rumbla forest. sarah, sasha, and alyssa had prepared a wonderful ceremony to commemorate the 30,000 jews who were killed there. as we all stood in a circle hearing the details of what had happened there, a train passed by, the same train that had brought the 30,000 jews to there graves during world war two. it was pretty eerie to think that we were on the grave site of so many people. we sang a couple songs and had time for self reflection. then the rabbi of the latvian community said a prayer for those who had perished there. i found it quite ironic that even though so many had dies in this forest, i have never seen such a place thriving with life. latvia is truly a beautiful place. we were then bused to the community center where we had dinner. soon after that we were walked back to the hotel and had a low key night of just hanging out with the group. i can't believe we only have one more day on this amazing trip!
so after a fun and exciting night out with our latvian peers, we returned early the next morning to the jewish day school. i had been commissioned to paint a mural for the front lobby. along with the help of sasha and stacey, we painted the sketch that andrew had so nicely drawn. we had music playing so we were singing and dancing while we were painting. lira, one of the latvian peers, even played here music so we could see what kind of music they are into. around midday, we walked to a place called kebabs. in the states, i would have expected a kabob-skewer with meat and veggies- but here, kebabs are like pitas filled with shwarma or falafel and veggies. they were so delicious!! on our walk back, it started pouring rain and we had to run the rest of the way back to the school. after painting for about an hour or two more, we were soon bussed off to rumbla forest. sarah, sasha, and alyssa had prepared a wonderful ceremony to commemorate the 30,000 jews who were killed there. as we all stood in a circle hearing the details of what had happened there, a train passed by, the same train that had brought the 30,000 jews to there graves during world war two. it was pretty eerie to think that we were on the grave site of so many people. we sang a couple songs and had time for self reflection. then the rabbi of the latvian community said a prayer for those who had perished there. i found it quite ironic that even though so many had dies in this forest, i have never seen such a place thriving with life. latvia is truly a beautiful place. we were then bused to the community center where we had dinner. soon after that we were walked back to the hotel and had a low key night of just hanging out with the group. i can't believe we only have one more day on this amazing trip!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Meeting the "grandparents" of the community
At precisely 7:00am this morning, my hotel phone interrupted my much-needed rest. But by no later than 7:02 I was fast asleep again. At 7:51 I realize that I am going to be late to meet the group for breakfast so I dash out of bed, throw some water on my face and jet to the hotel lobby. One bowl of granola, two cups of coffee, and about two-dozen yawns later we are on our way to Tallinn’s gorgeous JCC, which is about a 15 minute walk from the hotel (which is located in the charming old town section of the city). A tour of the Estonian Jewish Museum commenced the day’s activities. Here, we learned about the significant events and people that shaped Estonia’s Jewry. This experience was then dovetailed with a tour of the local synagogue. I found this to be a particularly memorable part of the day because all of the Jews in Tallinn, regardless of denomination, use it. Fortunately, a particular donor gave one million Euros to help build the temple. It was money well spent, as this was easily the most elegant synagogue I have personally come across, yet, it still retained a cozy communal feeling. Wooden cut-outs of pomegranate trees were found throughout the sanctuary and on the doors of the building, symbolizing the fruitfulness of the Jewish people and saluting the Diaspora's’ eternal yearning to the State of Israel. They even had a hand-washing station that was foot-petal activated! Thank you! Next, the group split into 8 smaller groups, each accompanied by a local Estonian student and we visited the elders in the local Jewish community in their respective homes. Everyone had a great experience with this and the locals were quite thankful. I felt a particularly strong connection to the couple I visited. The man had many interesting war stories and then became a physics teacher after he served in the Soviet navy. (I can't believe I am sharing this next bit of information on the blog). I am a total physics nerd, so we had a discussion about Mars. His wife was victimized in the siege of Leningrad and survived for about 3 years eating 125 grams of bread and water daily. After sharing each other perspectives on the attitudes of the Cold War, as an American and a former-Soviet, the man was anxious to show me his decorated military uniform. He put it on and posed for a few pictures which reminded the couple to share some family photos. After this, we presented them with a few gifts and then said a sad goodbye. After reuniting with the group, we all went out together for lunch to a comfy Australian-themed place called "The Lost Continent," which easily had the world's best butter (NOTE: it was pesto flavored). We then returned to the JCC where we facilitated the bazaar which we had previously set up for the elders in the local Jewish community to get to pick out some free clothes and even some toiletries. Group discussions on an person's niche and responsibility in a (Jewish) community followed the shop-til-you-drop shenanigan. Then, the local students joined us for a concluding discussion, which included a gift-exchange, a slide show, and snacks. Now, I am back at the hotel and have to go get ready for a last night of fun with the Estonian students. What a wonderful day. By Sasha.
Working in the Tallinn Jewish Community Center
On our first morning in Tallinn, Estonia, with most people getting only 5 to 7 hours of sleep, we started a full and rewarding day. We unloaded a truck full of goods coming from the UK that were for the local Tallinn jews. About 20 people were needed for the operation. We worked briskly, as a group, and all with smiles beacause we knew it was for a good cause. We organized, unpacked, and prepared the clothes for senior citizens, who the next day would be allowed to pick things up. There was everything from belts to blouses. Later in the day, feeling good about our work, we met a group of Estonia peers our age. We played a dancing name game with our resident DJ Ilya on the board. It was a great experience, and a fun way to meet the locals. A dinner, a bus tour, and a night out at a jazz club followed, and it is safe to say it was good day. By Andrew.
Traveling from the US to Tallinn, Estonia
I was having trouble figuring out how to explain the beginning of this segment of our journey, but the interesting thing we all later found out, was that the ending of our journey would be the most difficult part to describe. I for one, was alone and having absolutely no travel experience. This was my first excuse for a passport, in fact. I guess my reasoning for being 22 years old and never off the continent was not to suffice but the beginning of this journey is the focus of this story. It started out with a midnight flight out of LAX to JFK. the flight was perfect, got into NY for the first time in my nearly virgin travel life. Somehow through my tenacity I convinced 90% of the group to make use of our 8 hour delay from 8am-4pm and so we went! We took a confusing pathway to an even more confusing exit to get tickets to finally leave the airport and get on a tram to Times Square...the wrong tram initially of course until we found our way through the help of a nice New Yorker. To keep our experiences intimate (excluding the necessary anecdote; our group leader slipping in dog poo in the middle of the sidewalk) I will spare telling the details of our excursion but we all got back safely and arrived at a storm of surprises. As we battled with extreme exhaustion as we made our way through the airport. We had an exciting time getting on Czech Airlines. After our 1 hour delay sitting on the plane off we went on our 7 1/2 hour journey to Prague. Again, after a 5 hour layover in a tiny airport, we had the pleasure of boarding a plane an hour late only to find after the engines and I took my Dramamine that technical difficulties arose and the engines were turned off after another half hour delay. As we were herded like sheep onto a bus the size of a bathroom roughly 100 passengers sat on a hot bus which took another 20 minutes to take us back to the terminal. We were sent on a wild goose chase through the airport in search for facts. To our disappointment we were delighted to wait another 2 hours to take off to Tallinn. When we arrived in Tallinn, the whole trip turned around. Airport was beautiful, city was beautiful, and our tour guide was beautiful.. Natalie introduced us to Aviva (both JDC staff) and the city on the way to our hotel. At this point we all were running on an empty tank of gas with a total of a 32 hour trip under on our engines. Extremely long story short and because I am still tired, we went to dinner, saw a dance performance, and while the rest of the group went out I turned into bed. By Staci Bern.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
I'm Ariel Haus and I'm also going on this trip to the Baltics. I am very eager and excited to go to Latvia and Estonia as I have not been out of the country myself. My ancestors are also Latvian. I can't wait to see a Jewish community outside of the U.S. I am very excited to explore different cultures and traditions other than my own. I think that this trip could be one of the best experiences of my life so far and a great opportunity for any young Jewish person.
Only a few more days...
I am Avi Rubin, another eager participant in the 10 day volunteering trip to Latvia and Estonia.
It has always been a special interest of mine to see how other communities around the world live. How they practice Judaism, how large of a role Judaism plays in that community, and the overall mindsets of motivation and appreciation for what they have. Judaism has offered me the most meaningful experiences, thus becoming a crucial part in my life. I am curious to see how Judaism lives on in other regions, how it is the same and different, yet still uniting us all over the globe.
It can be very meaningful to learn and see how others live, then take in their life lessons and add them to my own. I am anxious to meet our peers from across the world, live their country, and help out with what I can, whether it be material supplies, mental insights, or manual labor.
Only a few more days until getting a whole new flavor of Judaism!
Sunday, August 16, 2009
almost there
Hi my name is Adrienne Gembala and I am one of the lucky 16 to be volunteering for ten days in Estonia and Latvia.
The ability to volunteer and travel at the same time has compromised my love for volunteer tourism. If I am going to travel, I might as well take care of those kind enough to host my stay in their country. I believe that Judaism is a focal point of many communities and definitely brings together people who may not have met otherwise. I am glad that I will be helping to build upon this connection in Estonia and Latvia.
I am most excited to meet my peers in Latvia and Estonia. They are volunteering their time just as we are to make our trip more meaningful. I know that this trip will bring all of us (those traveling from UCSB) closer, as well as those in the countries we will be visiting.
I am so ready to be in Europe already!!
The ability to volunteer and travel at the same time has compromised my love for volunteer tourism. If I am going to travel, I might as well take care of those kind enough to host my stay in their country. I believe that Judaism is a focal point of many communities and definitely brings together people who may not have met otherwise. I am glad that I will be helping to build upon this connection in Estonia and Latvia.
I am most excited to meet my peers in Latvia and Estonia. They are volunteering their time just as we are to make our trip more meaningful. I know that this trip will bring all of us (those traveling from UCSB) closer, as well as those in the countries we will be visiting.
I am so ready to be in Europe already!!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
We're Off to Latvia/Estonia...
Hi Everyone,
My name is Elana Kobernick and I am the student coordinator for this year's JDC short-term trip to the Baltics. I am so excited for this trip, as I am watching everything come together so well. We have an amazing group of 16 students (including myself) that will be traveling to Latvia and Estonia this summer. Our trip will begin in Tallinn, Estonia and end in Riga, Latvia. The JDC has some great volunteer projects lined up for us!
Actually, last summer I had the opportunity to travel to Estonia and Lithuania with the JDC on basically the same trip. It was one of the best experiences I have had. I love to travel and do community service so when I heard about the trip I immediately signed up. You can read the previous blog posts about last years trip if you are interested, but, basically, I thought it was only going to be a once in a lifetime experience. Little did I know that I would have the opportunity to be the student coordinator for the trip this year.
In Estonia we will be visiting the elderly in their homes, providing companionship and helping with small household repairs. Estonia is beautiful. In fact, the entire Baltic region is green and lush and breathtaking (especially the countryside). There are of course the communist looking slabs of concrete that they call buildings but there are also parks and forests that make up for the dreariness. One of the nice things about our time in Estonia will be that we will be working closely with a group of college students from the Baltic States who will work as our translators with the elderly and spending time with us. One of my favorite parts of the trip last year was getting to know the Lithuanians who are our age.
In Latvia we will also have a group a peers with us. Once in Latvia we will switch our attention from the elderly to the youth. There is a Jewish school in Latvia that has an elementary, middle and secondary school. We will be helping with repairs on the elementary school. This is where our fundraising efforts will hopefully be going, both our in kind goods (material donations) and monetary donations (children at risk).
I know this summer is going to be phenomenal and I hope that everyone realizes how important the work we are doing is. It is important to the people we are helping but it is also important for us to understand the Jewish community in a place where most of us have never been before.
My name is Elana Kobernick and I am the student coordinator for this year's JDC short-term trip to the Baltics. I am so excited for this trip, as I am watching everything come together so well. We have an amazing group of 16 students (including myself) that will be traveling to Latvia and Estonia this summer. Our trip will begin in Tallinn, Estonia and end in Riga, Latvia. The JDC has some great volunteer projects lined up for us!
Actually, last summer I had the opportunity to travel to Estonia and Lithuania with the JDC on basically the same trip. It was one of the best experiences I have had. I love to travel and do community service so when I heard about the trip I immediately signed up. You can read the previous blog posts about last years trip if you are interested, but, basically, I thought it was only going to be a once in a lifetime experience. Little did I know that I would have the opportunity to be the student coordinator for the trip this year.
In Estonia we will be visiting the elderly in their homes, providing companionship and helping with small household repairs. Estonia is beautiful. In fact, the entire Baltic region is green and lush and breathtaking (especially the countryside). There are of course the communist looking slabs of concrete that they call buildings but there are also parks and forests that make up for the dreariness. One of the nice things about our time in Estonia will be that we will be working closely with a group of college students from the Baltic States who will work as our translators with the elderly and spending time with us. One of my favorite parts of the trip last year was getting to know the Lithuanians who are our age.
In Latvia we will also have a group a peers with us. Once in Latvia we will switch our attention from the elderly to the youth. There is a Jewish school in Latvia that has an elementary, middle and secondary school. We will be helping with repairs on the elementary school. This is where our fundraising efforts will hopefully be going, both our in kind goods (material donations) and monetary donations (children at risk).
I know this summer is going to be phenomenal and I hope that everyone realizes how important the work we are doing is. It is important to the people we are helping but it is also important for us to understand the Jewish community in a place where most of us have never been before.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
The Ponar Forest
Hi, this is Leah blogging.
Monday was probably one of the most amazing experiences I have ever encountered. We visited the Ponar forest, which was the place of Jewish extermination in Lithuania. Imagine a mystical forest, covered with moss and greenery. In the midst of this beautiful scenery were not only several memorial plaques commemorating those who had lost their lives, but were also massive pits where nearly 100,000 Jews were brutally murdered. The story behind the Ponar forest and its role in the Holocaust is even more ghastly. It was not the Germans alone who had annihilated 98% of the Jewish population of Lithuania, but it was the local Lithuanians themselves! We had a beautiful ceremony with our Lithuanian peers, where we read passages from eyewitness accounts, said Kaddish, and sang Hatikvah, the national anthem of the State of Israel. Singing Hatikvah in the middle of the Lithuanian forest with Jews from different cultures and backgrounds was truly a great feeling. Knowing that we were still there gave people a sense of hope, or “Tikvah.”
Another truly eye opening event was our visit to Vilnius’s only remaining Jewish cemetery. During the war and even into Soviet rule, Jewish cemeteries were desecrated and destroyed. Not only was desecration a major problem, but as a result of history few Jewish families remained behind to take care of their loved ones graves. One of the biggest “mitzvot” (commandments) or good deeds is caring for those who could never repay your kindness- the deceased. I took great pride in cleaning the graves of those who may have died under very difficult circumstances, or under religious persecution. We scraped moss off the stones, picked weeds, and raked away debris, which had collected around the graves for decades. Afterwards we gathered around the Vilnius Gaon’s memorial, and discussed the day’s intense activity. It was interesting to hear that not everyone shared my view of the cemetery. The great thing about this program was that it brought together a group of Jewish students of different backgrounds. Some of us had been raised traditionally with a formal Jewish education, while others had only recently found a connection to their heritage. Regardless of these differences, we came together and learned a great deal from each other.
Monday was probably one of the most amazing experiences I have ever encountered. We visited the Ponar forest, which was the place of Jewish extermination in Lithuania. Imagine a mystical forest, covered with moss and greenery. In the midst of this beautiful scenery were not only several memorial plaques commemorating those who had lost their lives, but were also massive pits where nearly 100,000 Jews were brutally murdered. The story behind the Ponar forest and its role in the Holocaust is even more ghastly. It was not the Germans alone who had annihilated 98% of the Jewish population of Lithuania, but it was the local Lithuanians themselves! We had a beautiful ceremony with our Lithuanian peers, where we read passages from eyewitness accounts, said Kaddish, and sang Hatikvah, the national anthem of the State of Israel. Singing Hatikvah in the middle of the Lithuanian forest with Jews from different cultures and backgrounds was truly a great feeling. Knowing that we were still there gave people a sense of hope, or “Tikvah.”
Another truly eye opening event was our visit to Vilnius’s only remaining Jewish cemetery. During the war and even into Soviet rule, Jewish cemeteries were desecrated and destroyed. Not only was desecration a major problem, but as a result of history few Jewish families remained behind to take care of their loved ones graves. One of the biggest “mitzvot” (commandments) or good deeds is caring for those who could never repay your kindness- the deceased. I took great pride in cleaning the graves of those who may have died under very difficult circumstances, or under religious persecution. We scraped moss off the stones, picked weeds, and raked away debris, which had collected around the graves for decades. Afterwards we gathered around the Vilnius Gaon’s memorial, and discussed the day’s intense activity. It was interesting to hear that not everyone shared my view of the cemetery. The great thing about this program was that it brought together a group of Jewish students of different backgrounds. Some of us had been raised traditionally with a formal Jewish education, while others had only recently found a connection to their heritage. Regardless of these differences, we came together and learned a great deal from each other.
Stephanie's Reflections on Our Last Days in Vilnius
The level of intensity of the last few days has been unlike anything I have ever experienced… sleep has been hard to come by… we have seen a great deal of new things, talked to so many people, gained so much new experience, physically contributed so much, visited so many homes of the locals, had so much fun, bonded as a group, bonded to the Lithuanian students, and learned an enormous amount.
Yesterday we spent the first half of the day cleaning up the gravesites in the second Jewish cemetery in Vilnius. It was unfortunate to find out that there once was a large and important Jewish cemetery right in the center of the town, but when the Communist regime took over, the plot of land that hundreds of our Jewish ancestors were peacefully resting in was put to other use. The gravestones were removed and buildings were erected in their place… even more horrifying is that the gravestones were not placed in another location, but were broken down for other use… why waste such useful material, right? When walking around the city of Vilnius, if you look closely, you can see Hebrew letters on random staircases leading up to buildings. You can see Hebrew letters used to pave roads and sidewalks. Those Hebrew letters make up the names of hundreds of loved ones… they were made with the intent to respect and remember the beautiful life that they once led, and now they are stepped on, walked over, unnoticed, and in the worst cases, forgotten.
We gathered around the burial site of the Vilna Gaon…for those of you who don’t know this man, he is a man worth remembering. He—as a very young child—was realized to be a genius. He had the five books of Moses memorized and had read (and understood) the Talmud by age ten. Despite the fact that he was capable of incomprehensible amounts of intellectual ability, he contributed to the Jewish people by instilling in them the notion that Jews, in order to be successful, should not only respect the Jewish traditions and religion, but should also fully develop a secular component as well. He taught the importance of acquiring knowledge and becoming educated in subjects other than Judaism, which has come to be one of the most valued Jewish ideologies to this day. We recited the Mourners Kaddish and had a moment of silence before our departure to the rest of the day’s activities.
Over the last two days we have had two different home visits. First, we visited some of the community’s elderly and secondly we visited the homes of some of the community members who are recipients of the JDC-sponsored children at-risk program. Many of the elderly were utterly alone, lost all their relatives, and lived through the Communist regime as well as the Nazi occupation. I visited a lady who told us she was living in a tiny Jewish community in Ukraine when Nazi soldiers marched through. One of them stopped to talk to her and fortunately he was one of the few that could speak Russian—which put her on a human level in her eyes. He helped her find her horses, gave her a bar of chocolate, and told her and her family to get out immediately because the entire town would be bombed in less than two hours. As you can imagine, they fled, but her grandparents were lost due to their inability to move quickly and their desire to stay in their homes until their last breath. She told us that the moment they crossed a bridge which led her out of the town, it was blown up and all those who did not make it were killed instantly. She was then loaded on a train and sent to a Ghetto where she was worked almost to death but fortunately made it and can now tell her story. The elderly we visited, if not for the support of the Jewish community of Vilnius and the JDC would generally not be able to afford a place to live and/or would be left alone in their apartments with the inability to care for themselves. One of the greatest obstacles for these people is the current economic situation: rising inflation taking place in the country of Lithuania, the decrease in the value of the dollar, and the stable pensions that the elderly receive which does not adjust to the inflation rate or any other economic crisis that affects the value of the little money they do have access to. The money contributed by the JDC is in the form of US dollars and, with each new day, the dollar loses more and more value, combined with the fact that the cost of the goods are rising, a serious dilemma to say the least.
Yesterday we spent the first half of the day cleaning up the gravesites in the second Jewish cemetery in Vilnius. It was unfortunate to find out that there once was a large and important Jewish cemetery right in the center of the town, but when the Communist regime took over, the plot of land that hundreds of our Jewish ancestors were peacefully resting in was put to other use. The gravestones were removed and buildings were erected in their place… even more horrifying is that the gravestones were not placed in another location, but were broken down for other use… why waste such useful material, right? When walking around the city of Vilnius, if you look closely, you can see Hebrew letters on random staircases leading up to buildings. You can see Hebrew letters used to pave roads and sidewalks. Those Hebrew letters make up the names of hundreds of loved ones… they were made with the intent to respect and remember the beautiful life that they once led, and now they are stepped on, walked over, unnoticed, and in the worst cases, forgotten.
We gathered around the burial site of the Vilna Gaon…for those of you who don’t know this man, he is a man worth remembering. He—as a very young child—was realized to be a genius. He had the five books of Moses memorized and had read (and understood) the Talmud by age ten. Despite the fact that he was capable of incomprehensible amounts of intellectual ability, he contributed to the Jewish people by instilling in them the notion that Jews, in order to be successful, should not only respect the Jewish traditions and religion, but should also fully develop a secular component as well. He taught the importance of acquiring knowledge and becoming educated in subjects other than Judaism, which has come to be one of the most valued Jewish ideologies to this day. We recited the Mourners Kaddish and had a moment of silence before our departure to the rest of the day’s activities.
Over the last two days we have had two different home visits. First, we visited some of the community’s elderly and secondly we visited the homes of some of the community members who are recipients of the JDC-sponsored children at-risk program. Many of the elderly were utterly alone, lost all their relatives, and lived through the Communist regime as well as the Nazi occupation. I visited a lady who told us she was living in a tiny Jewish community in Ukraine when Nazi soldiers marched through. One of them stopped to talk to her and fortunately he was one of the few that could speak Russian—which put her on a human level in her eyes. He helped her find her horses, gave her a bar of chocolate, and told her and her family to get out immediately because the entire town would be bombed in less than two hours. As you can imagine, they fled, but her grandparents were lost due to their inability to move quickly and their desire to stay in their homes until their last breath. She told us that the moment they crossed a bridge which led her out of the town, it was blown up and all those who did not make it were killed instantly. She was then loaded on a train and sent to a Ghetto where she was worked almost to death but fortunately made it and can now tell her story. The elderly we visited, if not for the support of the Jewish community of Vilnius and the JDC would generally not be able to afford a place to live and/or would be left alone in their apartments with the inability to care for themselves. One of the greatest obstacles for these people is the current economic situation: rising inflation taking place in the country of Lithuania, the decrease in the value of the dollar, and the stable pensions that the elderly receive which does not adjust to the inflation rate or any other economic crisis that affects the value of the little money they do have access to. The money contributed by the JDC is in the form of US dollars and, with each new day, the dollar loses more and more value, combined with the fact that the cost of the goods are rising, a serious dilemma to say the least.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Mike's Reflections on Jewish Identity
Being a Jew
There is a sharp contrast in the notion of Jewish identity between Jews living in Diaspora and those living in Israel, and yet we are all part of one people. As an American Jew living as a minority, I find that I must actively seek out observance, from kashrut (Jewish dietary laws) to regular attendance of Shabbat services, to maintain my Jewish identity. Conversely, in Israel, surrounded by Jews, being a member of the community is automatic and so no explicit effort is required, leading to a lack of observance—one of the most popular Yom Kippur activities is riding bicycles on the freeway. Yet this is not to say that people in Israel are any less Jewish, nor are they necessarily explicitly unwilling to participate in Jewish practice, it is simply a matter that, being Jewish by default, no additional effort is necessary; in fact, many Israeli Jews, upon finding themselves living outside Israel are shocked to discover that they need to seek out Judaism, and consequently do so, in order to maintain their identity.
As a part of our discussions of Jewish identity on Shabbat, we broke up into partnerships for discussions of our definitions of community and to which communities we felt we belonged. While it was not my intention, upon learning that my partner identified herself as an Israeli Jew, I asked whether she felt similarly about the nature of Jewish observance inside and outside of Israel, and we proceeded to discuss this one topic almost exclusively. I’m finding that, as the trip progresses, I am continually questioning and refining my definitions of Jewish practice and observance.
There is a sharp contrast in the notion of Jewish identity between Jews living in Diaspora and those living in Israel, and yet we are all part of one people. As an American Jew living as a minority, I find that I must actively seek out observance, from kashrut (Jewish dietary laws) to regular attendance of Shabbat services, to maintain my Jewish identity. Conversely, in Israel, surrounded by Jews, being a member of the community is automatic and so no explicit effort is required, leading to a lack of observance—one of the most popular Yom Kippur activities is riding bicycles on the freeway. Yet this is not to say that people in Israel are any less Jewish, nor are they necessarily explicitly unwilling to participate in Jewish practice, it is simply a matter that, being Jewish by default, no additional effort is necessary; in fact, many Israeli Jews, upon finding themselves living outside Israel are shocked to discover that they need to seek out Judaism, and consequently do so, in order to maintain their identity.
As a part of our discussions of Jewish identity on Shabbat, we broke up into partnerships for discussions of our definitions of community and to which communities we felt we belonged. While it was not my intention, upon learning that my partner identified herself as an Israeli Jew, I asked whether she felt similarly about the nature of Jewish observance inside and outside of Israel, and we proceeded to discuss this one topic almost exclusively. I’m finding that, as the trip progresses, I am continually questioning and refining my definitions of Jewish practice and observance.
Visiting the Elderly
Hi, this is Briana. Right now I am sitting in a little structure in the Lithuanian Jewish cemetery; we are cleaning off neglected graves. Yesterday we visited JDC’s elderly welfare clients, who are for the most part homebound and don’t have family left to take care of them. Most of them have survived the Holocaust as well, and it was kind of upsetting to see that after all they have lived through, especially the Soviet era and WWII, they still are not finally living in peace and comfort. The first lady we visited was so sweet and inspiring, so happy despite the fact that she lived in a tiny apartment alone, slept on the sofa, and had no family left. She could barley walk, yet still managed to show us around a little bit and tell us a bit about herself. The night before the war, or fighting, or something major broke out, she had traveled from Belorussia to Russia to visit her uncle. Because the war broke out when she was away from home, she was trapped there and could not return home for a few years. She finally reunited with her parents by chance, and you could see the tears welling up in her eyes while she was speaking, yet the smile never left her face. She told us that what keeps her going, and what got her though so much, is simply smiling. Her attitude towards life was the most touching and moving part of the whole day, and I felt that she gave us something no one else and nothing else could. It is as if she has the master key to life and let us in on the secret.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
