Tuesday July 29
Today we learned about the Suez Canal crisis which occured in October 1956, when Israel (with support from Britian and France) attacked Egypt as a response to Egypt’s shutting off access to the Straits of Tiran. The shiur focused on conflicts and war and had the chanichim learn about whether initiating war is ever justified. They learned about the two kinds of war -Milchemet Mitzvah (a war we are commanded to fight) and Milchemet Reshut (a war we can fight if we choose to widen our borders) – and how they differ regarding attempts to make peace. The younger campers discussed conflict resolution in general too!
Big news: our Village has opened and is running peulot all day at 7 stations!! This session our village is called “Silicon Wadi” which is the nickname for the Middle Eastern version of Silicon valley, a High-Tech hub in Tel Aviv. Our two Roshei Village, Ezra Lestz and Alyssa Kardon, together with their tezevt, have created opportunities for many hands-on projects and activties that relate to the time period we are studying and which incorporate elements of a world from the past:
- Bakery – We have a brick oven where the campers bake pitot and then eat them with cheese and vegetables, simulating an Israeli-style breakfast at the King David Hotel.
- With the help of sewing machines, campers are creating pillowcases from “Israeli flags” (material ordered special for this project). This activity is a shout-out to the famous story of when the Israeli army took over the abandoned police post down in Eilat in march of 1949, but they had no flag to stick in the ground. Someone used sheets to make a flag, and we are now doing the opposite and making a pillow case out of a flag.
- An Escape Room to reflect the mission of Operation Magic Carpet, which was conducted by Israel between June 1949 and September 1950 to take in approximately 49,000 Yeminite Jews as part of the Jewish Exodus from the Muslim world. Chanichim must be silent (the no-speaking rule calls back to the fact that this rescue was hidden from all journalists for 9 months) as they work through three rooms of puzzles and codes.
- Glass Blowing – making salt and pepper shakers
- Blacksmithing – creating a small bowl and spoon for salt or another spice
- Learning about an aqueduct and drip irrigation. Chanichim going home with a surprise (hint: Israeli scientists in the mid-20th century played a key role in developing the cherry tomatoes we know today, with improved shelf life and growth habits)
- A Capture the Flag game between two teams – a small Israeli team and a bigger Arab team. The game is pretty much rigged with obstacles and challenges for the Israeli team that make a victory nearly impossible. After trying and losing, the point is made that the victory in 1948 for the Israeli army was basicaly as unlikely and felt impossible, just like in their game. But they DID win, and it was miraculous!! Now they get the crazy miracle!!
Back to the 1956 Suez Canal Crisis topic for today: at shekem, our Roshei Eidah had blocked the way a little and made getting through to the Shekem shack pretty difficult. They were shouting about it and announcing this blockade. Suddenly, someone “broke out” the Lina (campout!!) by saying that we were all going to Egypt to attack (Lina = Egypt, get it?) And off we went: each eidah to a different campsite for an evening of grilling Vegetarian “Impossible Burgers” and corn on the cob as well, with smores and a kumzits too for some added fun. It was so enjoyable in this very warm weather we have lately b”h. That is the silver lining for this very hot day we had here – a comfortable night sleep outdoors 🙂
Kaytana learned about Yetizat Mitzrayim and experienced a plague of monkeys (well, one monkey well, one monkey costume to be honest…) so their Lina backstory was Exodus from Egypt…that worked well! The girls had cheesecake making today and the boys will have that tomorrow. The boys had a peulah of painting, and the girls had bracelet making. These Kaytana Kids have really gotten into their groove and look like they have been here for weeks.
Machal went on a long dry hike today called the Buckaloons and slept out at a campsite not too far from Sugar Grove.
