Rebecca Sampson (NIFTY) and Michaela Mackenzie
You can also follow her on: www.1canadian8months.wordpress.com
Have you ever sat in a room for 12 hours (gazing across to the Old City) while discussing things like reform Zionism, progressive Judaism, Alyiah and Israeli politics? Have you ever been together with 27 people from 14 different countries, who all share the same values and ideals as you? Have you ever helped changed a framework for a worldwide movement? Well from personal experience at Netzer Veida this week, I can now say I have done all of these incredible things, and was so exhilarating.
The past 6 days I had the amazing opportunity to attend an incredible event that happens every year called Netzer Veida, a gathering of representatives from all over the world, including Brazil, France, England (RSY and LJY), Holland, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, U.S.A, Canada (me!), Australia, Germany, South Africa, Israel and Barcelona. Within the past 6 days we discussed issues central to our ideology and we explored our positions and advanced our understanding of our role among the Jewish youth of the world today.
During the Veida, we got to hear from each sniffim (branches of Netzer) about how they run and what they do, to make each branch who they are. Coming from NFTY, I never really had an true understanding about the other sniffim and what makes them special, so getting an opportunity to see and hear about each snif was amazing! Even though we all come from Netzer, its so fantastic to know that we’re all a bit different and have our own things that make us individuals.
Since we’re all leaders, each snif ran either a kef (fun) session, a ma’amad (service) or asepha (committee meeting). NFTY had the privilege of leading a ma’amad on Sunday afternoon. I taught and lead songs that could potentially be spread throughout the world. Honestly, whenever I lead a service I feel on top of the world, like I can do anything. Ending the evening with that left me on such a high note, and I really hope I left that impression on all of the other delegates as well.
Throughout the veida we had many asephot pertaining to different topics such as new Shichvah names (names for year groups), vegetarianism and Netzer’s ideology. Many of the discussions were heated with very strong opinions, but in the end we were all able to agree on topics that will now be in place to make Netzer the best possible movement it can be.
During the 6 days we went on 2 day trips, to the Herzl museum and to “Israel with the South.” The museum is spilt up into 4 rooms with a movie reenacting the story of Theodore Herzl. I had never been to the Herzl museum before and I felt it was a really interesting way of showing all the history and information about Theodore Herzl, in a creative, and interactive way. “Israel with the South” was a trip to Sderot where we explored the area and spoke to the residents who live there. This experience was so surreal, because until that moment I had never been to the place where it all happened, where some 6,000 rockets had been fired into, in recent years. Looking at Gaza in real life and hearing perspectives on peace was such a thought-provoking experience. In spite of the hatred, the residents of kibbutzim still paint the walls of their bomb shelters brightly with colours, to truly show their hope of peace one day.
Netzer Veida was an incredible experience of meeting new people, learning about new ideas and the other sniffim and even being a part of the meetings to change the movement and make it even better than it is now. I had a wonderful week in the great city that is Jerusalem, and this experience has made me even more excited for the up and coming 4 months on Machon (study period), the next part of my shnat year!
Also, being able to say I was the first Canadian to attend is pretty cool, I guess.
Until next time, eh?
Becca
Weekly Report by Michaela Mc (Lotan)
I stay out too late
Zionism in my brain
That’s what Shmichael says, mmm-mmm
That’s what Debbie says, mmm-mmm
I eat too many dates [chuckle]
But I can’t make them stay
I poo ‘em out all day, mmm-mmm
That’s what people say, mmm-mmm
But I keep mulchin’
Can’t stop, won’t stop mudding
It’s like I got this eco –
Kef mind-set
Saying, “I’m gonna mulch tonight.”
‘Cause the noi gonna move those rock, rock, rocks
And the refet’s gonna milk, milk, milk, milk, milk
Baby, I’m just gonna mulch, mulch, mulch, mulch, mulch
Eco life, Eco life
Tourism gonna clean, clean, clean, clean, clean
And the teahouse gonna bake, bake, bake, bake, bake
Baby, I’m just gonna mud, mud, mud, mud, mud
Eco life, Eco life
I never miss a weed
Despite my lightning speed
And then we sow the seeds, mmm-mmm
As long as there’re no reeds , mmm-mmm
Tuesday’s sharing time (Tuesday’s sharing time)
‘cos yom chinuch is fine (yom chinuch is fine)
And Debbie makes it kef, mmm-mmm
Murder mystery – death by chef, mmm-mmm
But I keep mulchin’
Can’t stop, won’t stop mudding
It’s like I got this eco
Kef mind-set
Saying, “I’m gonna mulch tonight.”
‘Cause the noi gonna move those rock, rock, rocks
And the refet’s gonna milk, milk, milk, milk, milk
Baby, I’m just gonna mulch, mulch, mulch, mulch, mulch
Eco life, Eco life
Tourism gonna clean, clean, clean, clean, clean
And the teahouse gonna bake, bake, bake, bake, bake
Baby, I’m just gonna mud, mud, mud, mud, mud
Eco life, Eco life
Eco Kef, Eco Kef,
E, E, E Eco Kef, Eco Kef,
E, E, E Eco Kef, Eco Kef,
E, E, E Eco Kef, Eco Kef
Chay, chay, chay
Yeah ohhh
‘Cause the noi gonna move those rock, rock, rocks
And the refet’s gonna milk, milk, milk, milk, milk
Baby, I’m just gonna mulch, mulch, mulch, mulch, mulch
Eco life, Eco life
Tourism gonna clean, clean, clean, clean, clean
And the teahouse gonna bake, bake, bake, bake, bake
Baby, I’m just gonna mud, mud, mud, mud, mud
Eco life, Eco life
Eco Kef, Eco Kef,
E, E, E Eco Kef, Eco Kef,
E, E, E Eco Kef, Eco Kef,
E, E, E Eco Kef, Eco Kef
Eco Kef, Eco Kef,
E, E, E Eco Kef, Eco Kef,
E, E, E Eco Kef, Eco Kef,
E, E, E Eco Kef, Eco Kef
Eco Kef, Eco Kef,
E, E, E Eco Kef, Eco Kef,
E, E, E Eco Kef, Eco Kef,
E, E, E Eco Kef, Eco Kef
In other news
Thursday
Mousse murder mystery breakdown gilad nice kvutsah bonding
Friday
Onions
Mike nitsan loves gingers
Cutty tree thing
Saturdya
Chillaxatives
Host famalams
Sundazzle
Revolution against king Jonny
Moved a tree
Beth was taken down by a cactus
Mondinging
Shnats not veggie
Covered not so sustainable Israel #theyleft
Sussong
Choochwew train
Yom chinuch
Privatisation with a banterous cat
Bongo decisions
We didn’t share squares
Webdings VI
I was sick fam
‘Coz innit I’m strong dough?