Shnatties, Israel - 21st October 2011

This has been our first real, proper week on Shnat and I think we talk on behalf of everyone in the group when we say it has been fantastic.

The last few days of Orientation, based in Beit Shmuel – in central Jerusalem the headquarters of Progressive Judiasm worldwide – far surpassed our expectations of a week of ‘get-to-know you games’ and ‘rules and reg’ sessions that last years Shnatties had led us to believe would be the case. On Thursday we were taken on a 4-hour tour of the Old City by Amy Ben-Dov – a NFTY movement worker famous for the incomparable speed at which she talks, her intimate knowledge of Jersualem and her infectious enthusiasm. Every single person came out of the tour with a greater connection to Jerusalem; we all designated our own spot at the Western Wall and learned more than we cared to remember.

On Friday we were invited to a Reform Synagogoue (Name of Synagogue), rare in Israel, which was as beautiful as it was welcoming. It was a warming feeling to be singing the same songs that we all remember from back home, on a Friday night in Israel.

We had a restful Shabbat and, not so much by choice but by the fact everything in Jerusalem is closed on Friday night, staying in with our guitars and sleeping bags. It ended with a peaceful Havdallah (marking the end of Shabbat) which was on a hilltop overlooking Jerusalem.

That Sunday was a day of excitement. We felt ready to leave for Kibbutz, ready to truly feel like a Shnattie. We were lucky enough to have talks that day from Colin, the head of Machon, Hannah – our Kibbutz coordinator and longtime Kibbutznick Mark. We ended our seminar in Netzer fashion, all hugging and telling each other how much fun we are about to embark on.

We reached Kibbutz yesterday (Monday). If you have not seen Kibbutz Lotan you cannot realize quite how beautiful and special it is. We’ll try and do it justice by describing it briefly now.

Kibbutz Lotan is a self-sufficient, communal (as in all resources are shared, including wages) Reform Zionist Kibbutz of around 150 people (split into about 60 full members, 50 children and around 40 volunteers at any one time) located in the Arava. It is right on the Jordanian border, about 45 minutes north of Eilat. The Kibbutz is beautiful, founded in 1983 by predominantly Australians and Americans, and we are fortunate enough to be staying in arguably the most special part of the Kibbutz.

We are the first Shnat group ever to stay in the Bustan neighborhood. This area of the Kibbutz is effectively a prototype for absolutely green living. We are living in huts constructed from re-used tyres and covered with ‘eco-mud’, some ultra-sustainable concoction created by a Kibbitznik (all just about the coolest people in the world by the way). Our fasces turns into compost, our urine fertilizes date plants. A new washing machine has been created in which you ride a stationery bike to generate energy. It really is an incredible place and a place pioneering something very exciting (which we all can’t wait to try).

There is a pool on Kibbutz, communal dining, a shop in which you can just go in and take fruit, bread, milk free of charge. The dates, harvested last week, are amongst the most delicious things we have ever eaten.

We wake early, at 7, and are trying not to go to bed too late. The first night we sat around a campfire with two great volunteers, Jonty and Gideon, with whom we sang songs and ate marshmallows.

Kibbutz looks set to be the most incredible, transformative month. We are all experiencing new experiences, seeing new perspectives, living out new ideals every minute of every day.