MBI powers through the heat

On Tuesday as the second day of Rafsodia began the heat wave continued. The good news is that everyone is very responsible and another day goes by without dehydration!

Rafsodia is a 2 day group building and outdoor training activity which will bring the group closer by working together to build a raft that they will then be able to sail across the Kinneret. The group arrived bright and early this morning and got to work. Each kvutzah was given materials and instruction for raft building (they were supervised of course). They spent today finishing up their rafts. In the afternoon all of the boats were completed, flags were hoisted and they were off.

This was a very hot and intense day of work on the banks of the Kinneret but everyone finished the day with a great sense of accomplishment and pride in their work. In celebration the group loaded onto another (larger) boat and "discoed" the night away.

On Wednesday the group headed back down to the shores of the Kinneret but this time to learn about the early pioneers at one of the most historically significant places by the Kinneret- the chatzer Kinneret (Kinneret courtyard) and cemetery. Founded in 1909, the Kinneret courtyard was the first agricultural training farm in the history of modern Israel, where young people would come through in small groups and learn to work the land, before leaving somewhere else for permanent settlement. The MBIers heard stories of young people from Eastern Europe who came to Palestine and the hardships, dilemmas, failures and numerous successes that they endured in their time at the chatzer.

Just across the road from the Chazter Kinneret is the old Kinneret cemetery. Here, the MBIers could hear the stories of some of the most famous personalities in the history of Israel and Zionism, ranging from the early Socialist Zionist thinkers and writers Moses Hess and Dov Ber Borachov, to the early Chalutzim (pioneers) Berl Katznelson and Rachel, the poetess to some of the integral figures of the modern state, such as Israeli song-writer Naomi Shemer. Needless to say, the MBIers left the day with a real feel of the spirit of the chalutzim and an understanding of the uniqueness of the young people who were so essential in the establishment of the Jewish State.

Due to the heat wave the hike of the Arbel Mountain was canceled this afternoon and the group headed back to Yaar Lavi for some relaxation and chugim. This evening the group headed out for their first "city" outing. They headed into Tiberias for pizur dinner and hanging out on the boardwalk. A pizur is when each chanich gets a certain amount of money and are allowed to walk around and have whatever they pleased for dinner. This was also their first opportunity to experience a bit of independent time at an outdoor market and peruse the Israeli goods.