Day Ten, by Rebecca B.
Posted on 07/06/2011 @ 06:05 PM
Working as regions outside
This morning, after breakfast, we split up into our Blueprint meetings. My group presented our Shabbat weekend programs that we had planned earlier. I was so glad everyone took it seriously because I felt that we ended up with some great ideas that I would love to take back to my region. We also started to plan our own Leadership Training weekend, which as a group we planned every aspect of to be presented and voted on the best by the participants. It's amazing how quickly we can plan something so huge, since we only had a few hours to plan our weekends. Our theme was "Jungle" and I can't wait to present tomorrow. After Blueprints, we split up into our regions to discuss things we wanted to take back home and implement in the real world. Since it was such a beautiful day, we met outside and enjoyed the sun while we discussed. Not only are the people from my region some of my best friends, but we work so well together that I know this year is going to be amazing because of ILTC. After lunch, I went to my creative arts elective, "Shabbat In A Box", where we learned about the symbolism behind wine at Shabbat and decorated our own Kiddush cups.
After dinner, the staff gave us an opportunity to ask them questions so we could benefit from their past experiences. Later, we participated in a teen led program that showed us the how important AZA and BBG are to one another and how synergy can make the two entities into a better BBYO. After sunset, we gathered around a campfire to roast marshmallows, make smores and to bond with our fellow participants. It was an amazing end to an outstanding day and, as always, I'm excited for tomorrow.
Gathering around the campfire
Next, we learned about an international initiative to "Stand Up" for each other. We had several different rotations, each teaching us different aspects of acceptance. We ended the day with a competition of making origami stars with out blueprint groups. Although at first most groups struggled, most were able to get into a groove and successfully make a good number of stars. This day was one of fun and learning, and I cannot wait to see how ILTC ends up.
Written by Rachel Baer, Mountain Region
As always, feel free to check out our other sources of ILTC Updates, Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/user/ILTC2011 ), Twitter (@ILTC2011 or #ILTC2011), and Smugmug (bbyo.smugmug.com/2011/ILTC-2011/ ).
Welcome to the Kallah 2011 Blog!
Posted on 07/06/2011 @ 01:00 PM
Kallah
Kallah has officially begun! All of the teens arrived safely yesterday, and things are moving right along. They had icebreakers where teens got to know each other, had our first meal as a community, and held a program this evening to kick off our time together: we were treated to a performance by “Bible Raps”, a group that teaches Torah and Midrash (legends, interpretations and commentary) through rap music. Teens then spent some time with members of their dorms to get to know one another and settle in to their homes for the next three weeks.
Can't wait to be in touch regularly over the coming days to tell you about what the teens are doing, what they are learning, and to share news about the program!
Did you attend Kallah? Leave your favorite memories posted!
Spotlight On...
Posted on 07/06/2011 @ 08:00 AM
Impact: Boston
Hebrew SeniorLife
It was wonderful to see the Impact: Boston participants listening attentively, asking questions and having lively conversations with their new friends. One resident, Roz, told us about giving back to the community as the welcoming committee chair person because she wants to ensure all new residents have an easy transition.
New Bridge on the Charles is located on a wide expanse of land that includes shaded seating areas, a community garden and paths through the woods for exercise. The physical structure represents the value and deep respect the community has for the elderly.
The participants and I are learning a great deal about the different activities that the residents take part in and the hobbies they enjoy. We were lucky enough to sit in on a music session and joined in singing, shaking tambourines and enjoying the company. We look forward to coming back, meeting more people and learning from them.
- Yael Kelter, IMPACT: Boston Site Educator, Hebrew SeniorLife
Spotlight On...
Posted on 07/06/2011 @ 08:00 AM
Impact: Boston
Medicine Wheel Productions
When I first entered the Medicine Wheel building, I had no idea what to expect. I was expecting to see some sculptures or tile mosaics, but as I saw the cardboard carvings of people watching my journey up the stairs, I knew that we were going to be doing some interesting projects.
We met the leaders of the project, Michael, Richie, and Devin. On the wall in one of the main rooms is a huge collage of scraps of newspaper and magazines forming a colorful interpretation of the city, which was surprisingly detailed.
After hearing the background story describing the situation in South Boston, we took a trip to “No Man’s Land”, an area behind the nearby high school that Medicine Wheel has transformed. Over a period of time, the Medicine Wheel workers have created an inviting, beautiful, safe area out of what used to be an overgrown wasteland.
My first impression of the experience of Medicine Wheel was good albeit a somewhat sad one. Nonetheless I look forward to helping in the coming weeks!
-Mane Williams, Toluca Lake, CA, IMPACT participant volunteering at Medicine Wheel Productions
Post Color War Return to Normal, by Andrew A
Posted on 07/05/2011 @ 06:00 PM
Learning about religious freedom from other participants
Greetings from Camp Perlman! For all those keeping track back at home, we have just finished day 8. The day started off with breakfast, where the room was incredibly exhausted from yesterdays color war escapades. Shortly after breakfast, participants met up in their blueprint groups to learn how to plan meaningful events for their chapters and regions. The boys and girls then split up to make a BBYO bucket lists. These lists were done reflecting back on our experiences in BBYO, with both our past and future in mind. The ultimate goal was to see what our bucket list in BBYO would have been years ago given the knowledge we have now.
Pasta for lunch set the mood for the second half of the day. Creative arts rotations got us back into the creative planning and thinking mode. Leadership classes then continued, where the theme for the day was the elevator pitch. We were given 1-2 minutes, the time it takes to travel in an elevator, to sell BBYO and what it offers to someone completely new and to sell ourselves as leaders.
Cheering on the yellow team
After dinner, we watched a few short videos featuring BBYO members from around the world and heard our Bulgarian participants speak on their experience with BBYO overseas. Then, everyone split up again by region and council and received a first hand look at the globalization of BBYO and how their regions can get involved with regions far away. To wrap up the night, the StandUp! committee held an event to help raise money for the StandUp! campaign, while the participants went through rotations to lean about religious freedom and what we can do to help promote it. Events included a soccer game, which used small trashcans as a goals. The ultimate message of the game was that you can fight and cause wars over religion all you want, but all you are doing is wasting time (the soccer ball didn't actually fit into the goal, so even if a team did somehow manage the near impossible task of scoring a goal, they still ended in a stalemate). Overall, the day was amazing and everyone can't wait until tomorrow!
Written by Andrew Arbogast, Eastern Region
As always, feel free to check out our other sources of ILTC Updates, Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/user/ILTC2011 ), Twitter (@ILTC2011 or #ILTC2011), and Smugmug (bbyo.smugmug.com/2011/ILTC-2011/ ).
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