Shabbat in Ashkelon!

Hi it's Brooke! I am writing this post from My match Dana's house as we finish up Shabbat and our free day with our Israeli families! 
   But first, Friday was our third day of Community Week and was led by Sarah, Micah, Dani, Yuval B., Yuval S., Daga, and May. The theme was Unity and IDF appreciation so we all were excited to learn more about the IDF, as well as discuss unity in the context of our combined Diller cohort, the IDF, and the Jewish people. We discussed sacrifice during an open circle conversation in the morning and then went to volunteer at the community hospital. We passed out snacks and well wishes to the patients as well as talked to the director of the hospital. It was really interesting to hear his perspective since the hospital serves Palestinian and Israeli war patients side by side. It definitely fit the unity theme of the day to hear how a place takes care of patients solely based on need. We then went to a park to do a simulation of what it is like to train in the IDF. We climbed ropes, army crawled, ran through tires, and shot paintball guns. It was really interesting to see what Israeli soldiers go through to prepare for the army especially because our friends are going to be in that situation really soon. Finally we came back and had time to reflect with our separate cohorts to conclude the day. We ended early to get ready for Shabbat with our host families. 

  For the next two days, everyone did different things with their host families and the other Dillers. Everyone enjoyed a huge homemade Shabbat dinner and some matches went to synagogue. Most of us then met at Liav's house to spend time together and we had fun hanging out in his backyard. On Saturday, we split up but often met up in smaller groups throughout the day. Matches caught up on sleep and then went to a large outdoor mall, cinema city (a huge movie theater), went to synagogue, got ice cream or spent time with family. I had so much fun going shopping and then spending time with Dana and her family and relaxing before meeting at Yuval B's house for a reflective program as a group to close the night. 
Since everyone had a different experience on Friday night and Saturday, when I volunteered to write the blog, I asked people to send me a little bit about their Shabbat experience:

Audrey
I had an amazing Shabbat with yardens family! 20 of her family members came over for Shabbat and were so nice and welcoming and made me feel like I was part of the family. We are a huge meal and they made me try everything! On Saturday relaxed by sleeping in and the going to the beach! I got burnt but other than that my Shabbat was perfect!


Charlie
I would say that it was really nice and interesting to see what Israeli families do for their Friday Shabbat dinners. And because I was so exhausted throughout the week it was cool to experience the desire to want to have Shabbat and relax. Also I went to the beach to relax with his family which was really fun. 

Lj
Today was special. We had breakfast at Liav's house. And his grandmother and aunt ate with us. Its rare in america, or at least in my household to have meals together as a family, nonetheless breakfast. His father then explained the importance of family time to all of them and how that is the true meaning of shabbat. Not necessarily the religious connotations, but the time spent with family. Incredible way to start today. 

Jillian 
This Shabbat was really different than what I usually do, but in a great way I had dinner with my sisters match from when she did Diller and spent all of Saturday seeing more of Ashkelon with other Dillers. It's was so refreshing and fun!

Sarah 
Shabbat was great! Dinner with Eden's family made Ashkelon feel like home and shopping let us explore Ashkelon and enjoy some un-structured free time to go on an Israeli shopping spree! :)

It's hard to believe we only have two days left in Ashkelon and with our families! But we can't wait until Congress!! 
Xo,
Brooke