MASA Conference: Sharansky and Netanyahu Speak

On Tuesday, hundreds of MASA participants congregated in jerusalem at the Binyamina conference center for a "Next Step" conference.  It would be the next logical step, after all the investment that has been made in us being here, for us to have some discussion of what is expected of us and where things go from here.  

After opening remarks, we were treated to an interview / dialogue between an interviewer whose name I am not sure of and Nathan Sharansky.  

(This actually followed a panel, but I felt like nothing of substance was discussed in the panel, nothing of depth, each speaker just got out their individual talking points, and the questions lacked any weight as well.)  Back to Sharansky: it was awesome.  In the first segment, which I unfortunately didn't capture on film, the interviewer probed Sharansky about his time in Prison and a Labor camp in the former Soviet Union.  Sharansky talked about his childhood, different from others in that he was gifted in math and science and a chess master who eventually beat Kasparov!

He also apparently was a terrible singer, and told stories how his teachers used to tell him when they were singing class songs that he needed wait until later.  When he arrived in prison, he decided later was now, and would sing much to the discontent of the guards.

SHARANSKY 1

SHARANSKY 2

SHARANSKY 3

Following that, there was a short graduation for the Leadership Seminar program I have been going to.  Amidst the chaos we "graduated", and that was over, and then we were unable to attend the next segment, which addressed the world economy and strategy for job placement.  I usually don't enjoy these talks because they tend to assume that all jewish kids want to work in either a hillel or in some jewish charity.  Some of us have to be the bankers and consultants though to make the donations and philanthropic efforts to keep this stuff going.  They don't seem to address those ever, but apparently, this one did.  Unfortunate that our graduation went into it.

I had walked to Mehane Yehuda earlier for lunch, and had Kube which was excellent at a little place a few soldiers who came on our taglit (birthright) trip showed me.  I decided to stretch my legs, and headed to Ben Yehuda street, to visit Sefer V'Sefel.  I was looking for a book, and found out they had it, so I wanted to pick it up while I was in Jerusalem.  

After we had to all go through security.  I luckily meandered in early, and had no wait.  I guess it's expected for the Prime Minister.  He didn't say anything substantial either, but he is a good speaker, though his timing was off.  He kept missing the moment of capturing the crowd, I felt like he would allow the energy to die off and so it never really built up throughout his speech.

Here were parts of his remarks:

After, we were subjected to Israeli hip hop.  It was fun for a bit, but a little loud for my ears.  There were people who were really into it though, as shown in my video below of a girl dancing on some chairs a few seats ahead of me.

CONCERT DANCER

Tonight I am heading into Tel Aviv for some more volleyball and tomorrow, we are heading to Eilat and Nick will be joining me in the evening.

Should be awesome!

15 Hour Pickle taste test

Taste test result: Pickle-ish, getting there...

So, my cucumbers are no longer cucumbers - but they also aren't quite pickles.  I definitely need to find the right jar for this, and I need to play with the ingredients a bit, maybe more vinegar, and boiling more than it was.  I also should try a different cucumber, something smaller, and maybe slice it before putting it into the brine.  I might also want to chop up the garlic, and I wonder if I should do anything with the peppercorns.

Happy with my first attempt, going to let them sit for another day or so, try them again, and modify my recipe from there.

In the end, an exciting and fun experiment!

Early morning embassy visit

I arrived at the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv early this morning, around 7:15.  It doesn't open until 8AM, but already there was a large group of people there.  Luckily, I was the sole holder of the magic card - american citizenship.  I still had to wait about thirty minutes before I was let in, and I had to leave my phone at a place around the corner.

Once in, I went to the services for American Citizens.  My name had already been called.  I was surprised explaining that I wasn't allowed in until then anyway.  Filled out my paperwork, and paid.  Quick and painless, and I didn't have to wait for anything that long.  On the way out I asked about the gift shop, but was told it only had T-Shirts and Polo shirts for the marines, nothing relating to the embassy.  Not what I heard from others, but I wasn't that interested.  I should get a call to come back in two weeks to pick up my documents.

Decided with a morning free to meander Tel Aviv, and made my way towards Neve Tzedek.  I stopped at Avis and asked for rates for car rental.  If you have a World Mastercard, auto insurance is covered in Israel - but not with other cards.  Being 24 years of age doesn't change the price, only the deductible - unless you use your credit card insurance, so I wasn't worried about the price.  I wonder in Israel if you are getting insurance and you are renting for more than a week if you can exclude shabbat if you aren't planning to drive then?

Stopped at a cafe for a light breakfast, then headed back to the bus station.

Playing dumb american seemed like the best option when the police stopped me for crossing at a red light.  I pretended to speak no hebrew.  I didn't even have to play the "I am a volunteer" card, which has been good at getting me out of most trouble or situations (got me a free ride home last week from the Aliyah Shabbaton in Jerusalem on a tour bus).  After looking through my passport he told me not to do it again, and let me go on my way.

I imagine the paperwork for a foreign citizen is significantly more than for an israeli, and not really worth their time.  Made it back in time to shower before heading to the Weizmann Institute.

Post BFL excursion to Tel Aviv and Sunday adventure in cooking

Havdallah and we left Young Judea, maybe for the last time as a BFL group.

It was Lag Ba'Omer, which is a break in the days of mourning between Pesach and Shavout, so naturally what do Israeli's do?  They burn stuff.

All over Israel there were fires, parks, on the side of the road, big ones and little ones.  I convinced Allison from the BFL seminar to come to Tel Aviv instead of going back to Ashdod immediately after.  We went with Arya and Hila to their apartment, with the intention of going to a BBQ and then a fire.  Didn't work out, but we had a nice walk and got to see a new apartment.

It was also Yonni's last evening as a civilian, so we stopped by to see him and Rachelle at a bar on King George (not sure what the name is, but it's number 32, and it's pretty nice).  After, we meandered back to the bus station.

Nothing to Ashdod, so Allison came back to Ramla.  Luckily, we still have the spare bed from Whitney, so she wasn't subjected to the back breaking couch.  She left early for Ulpan the following morning.

I decided to make Pickles sunday, and went out with Izy and Jael to Lod.

"Le Kenyon, Bevakasha"

Except we didn't end up at the Kenyon, we ended up at some random mall two kilometers from where I wanted to be.  They had to go, and left, and I walked where I wanted to go.  I ended up purchasing a large jar for pickles, some garlic, and pepper corns.

I remembered somewhere that I had to sanitize the jar, but I didn't realize how cold it was outside.  Hot water pouring in was followed by a minor explosion as the bottom of the jar rapidly expanded.

oops!

I found some pyrex, and packed my pickles into it, but without a top, I don't know if it will work as well.  Just enough liquid, and I created a makeshift top with ton foil, a cloth and lots of weight pressing down via a large pot filled with things.

Baked a potato, some garlic and a whole onion.

Delicious!

Went to bed, but not before finishing my hat.