Shalom

[Noah Hansen]

Shalom Everyone

I wanted to take today as an opportunity to wish everyone a Shanah Tovah and to give a quick check-in about my time in Israel so far. Maya will send one soon but she's currently busy with Workshop Orientation week.

It has been a hectic, fun and challenging time since Maya and I arrived. We have actually spent more time with our respective messimot than with kvutzah/ apartment issues which is not that surprising given how demanding the Shnat jobs are. Speaking for myself, I can say that Boneh is shaping up quite nicely. The program has become more serious and formal since our Workshop which I think is good. The tzevet (Adam, Zak, Amit, Crook, me) is a great group of nerdy Jewish boys. We spent two days this week picking mangoes on Kibbutz Ravid which was a great Labor Zionist experience until I developed an intense allergic reaction later. So now I've gone from feeling like an AD Gordon Chalutznik to a First Aliyah sucker with a weak immunity system.

The Habo Community here is even more supportive and welcoming than I imagined before coming. All the already established kvutzot have helped Maya and I with moving in, provided us with stuff for our apartment, and generally been very down to help us. Yesterday when the news got out about my mango rash I started receiving emails and calls from everyone asking if I was all right (I am all right by the way--just itchy). Even new Mazkir Julian called to check up on me (my how times have changed)! Even better, Briah brought me a pizza. Being an immigrant is hard, and I think it's quite incredible the culture, infrastructure, and resources that Habo has built up to facilitate the process for newcomers. Jacki, Ofer and Liron have all also been very involved in helping us get settled so todah rabah to them.

The apartment is overall fantastic. We have a great mirpeset with a view of the sea. This is where Maya and I hang out, smoke hookah, play guitar, and listen to the sound of dying (or mating?) cats. The apt. is near an ultra-hipster street called Masada, where I envision us all chilling a lot in the future. Also, for those of you who did Kiyum Meshutaf, melaveh-metalhead Shai is our neighbor! So fun.

This weekend Maya will come back home and I will go to Ein Dor to begin Boneh orientation. I already went to Ein Dor once for a meeting with Chava (she either remembers me or pretends to). The weird meditating monks are still there, but I vetoed another guest lecture from the guru (just was not into it on our Boneh). So things will only get busier from here. Still, I will try to keep yall posted on our lives. I am very excited for those of you moving here soon and also for the potential kvutzah seminar in the winter. It is difficult but important that we maintain some level of communication between the galim. So I want to emphasize that I am available to answer questions, explain how things are working here in more detail, or just have a sicha ishiya if you want it. Maya and I are concentrating on the here and now, but we are also aware of being pieces of a broader puzzle which hopefully includes all of you. 

And we look forward to the pieces starting to come together...

שנה טובה
נח

[Elissa Katz]

Noah!!!! That was beautiful. I've been sort of having all these Aliyah nightmares recently where I arrive in Israel and realize that I forgot to bring my suitcases, or I start unpacking and realize I filled My suitcase with tshirts and no shoes ( my mom says its because I'm "losing what's keeping me grounded") which could totally be true. I am so sorry to hear about your allergy.. Does that mean we can't ever have mangos? But in a way it's times like those where you realize how much of a support people can be and really see how much the Habonim community cares about each other. I'm more exited than ever to come live with you and smoke hookah on the balcony and eat sushi at that hip place on masada street and be a part of this incredible community.

Hope everyone has a meaningful Yom Kippur! My favorite professor/academic advisor invited me over for dinner in his sukkah next weekend. I'm so exited! So many holidays at once I can't handle it!!

Shana tova Shutafim,

Elisssssssa


Sent from my iPhone

[Eve Lifson]

So lovely to read your update, Noah! I am SO excited to move in!! And who would've thought there would be a Habo tzevet of all dudes?? I've managed to ward off the stress dreams so far, but totally been there. Ohh the memories of not being able to eat or sleep the last month of workshop. good times.

My aliyah was accepted yesterday!! Woo!! 

I'm so happy there's excitement about having a kvutz sem in Israel! I'm going to start a convo soon with David Mayer (and Zoey? would you like to be included?) about trying to get some funding. If anyone else would like to be included in that convo, let me know!

Wishing you all an easy and meaningful fast and/or a lovely time observing or not observing in your own way!

Im shalom v'ahava tamid b'kol kvutsah,

Eve

--
Eve Lifson

Tufts University 2013

Peace and Justice Studies

[Ben Marsh]

Shah is your neighbor? That's awesome. This email was super exciting. Glad to hear things are overall good. I can't wait to visit.

-Ben