The One Where They all Switch Cities
Last weekend all of our MITF+ Participants went on a weekend trip to Yeruham to commemorate the past 5 months and discuss logistics for the big switchover. All of our fellows had an opportunity to spend the weekend together and share their experiences and tips from their time in their cities. They went on a tour of Yerhuam and went beer tasting, seeing how a small entrepreneur in a small city can make a successful business! They visited The Colorful Sands and a Bedouin tent to drink tea and speak with a local Bedouin woman, who shared her experience living in the Negev and about her community and culture. They also spent time at the Kibbutz playing Color Wars, consisting of games like dodgeball, a wheelbarrow race, trivia, improv and more. Our Tel Aviv/soon to be Rahat fellow, CJ, led a beautiful Havdalah and singing session. It was the perfect end to our first shabbat where all the BINA MITF+ fellows were together.
Soon after they all received their new school placements in the next cities they’re heading to and had time to reflect and share their anxieties and excitement with each other. Over the past few weeks the fellows said goodbye to the places they called home for five months. In honor of their last weeks in Beit Shean, fellows spent their time visiting their host families and having final Shabbat dinners. They expressed how welcoming their host families were, and how crucial they became to their overall experience. These families treated our fellows like family of their own leading Amy from Beit Shean to share how she will be going back to visit them even after she has officially moved to Tel Aviv. Also up north, Nazareth fellows enjoyed their favorite Knafe, followed by hiking some of their favorite trails. They all enjoyed watching the sunset together at a lookout spot, and reminiscing over their adventures these past few months.
Some of our Ramla fellows decided to bid farewell by visiting the most popular restaurant in Ramla, Samir’s one last time before they leave. One of the hardest goodbyes for these fellows by far will be the schools and their students. Ramla fellows had spent the month volunteering at Ben-Zvi elementary school painting a mural for the kids which they unveiled alongside a small goodbye party. Our fellows Gabby and Marielle spent their last week at Moshe Sharet organizing a spelling bee for their kids marking a sweet ending to their stay. Rahat fellows met up with fellows from Be’er Sheva to play laser tag and eat lunch at one of their favorite spots. One of the things Rahat fellows have loved most about this program is getting the chance to live with other MITF participants from a different organization in Be’er Sheva. They are sad to say goodbye to the friends who have been like family the past five months, but are excited to host them all in Tel Aviv in their new apartments. Speaking of Tel Aviv, one of the most popular attractions right now is the Yayoi Kusama exhibit in the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. Tel Aviv fellows took advantage of their last exploration day to visit the museum, which was the cherry on top to their eventful time spent in the city. The past five months have been one for the books; now let’s continue to write our story.
From soon to be MITF Tel Aviv Fellows,
// Marielle and Michaela
