Day 7: Goodbye, Eilat!

July 30, 2014

By: Orly Lipsitz

‎As our amazing community week comes to a close, our cohort was given the huge honour of visiting soldiers who had a few hours off to rest and wash up at the Beit Hachayalim (house of the soldiers) in Eilat. We would like to thank the anonymous donor who sponsored the socks and underwear that we delivered to the soldiers. I was so appreciative to have the opportunity to thank the soldiers face to face for protecting our country and to remind them that Jews in the diaspora stand by them, support them, and definitely never forget about them and the sacrifices they are making every day. The soldiers were so grateful for the new clothing, but were even happier to have us visit. It was an amazing reminder that something so simple can change someone's day. 

After visiting the soldiers, we went to Top49, a centre for extreme sports. There we honed in on our teamwork skills by playing paintball and guiding each other through rock climbing and other activities. 

We enjoyed an afternoon indoors with air conditioning at the campus of Ben Gurion university in Eilat. We were given time to write a letter of thanks to our host families and then each wrote a second letter addressed to a soldier, which will be given to soldiers who are fighting right now in Gaza. It was especially significant to write the letters today, after we visited a group of soldiers in person. We were then immersed in discussion on the topic of language,in particular Hebrew, which was led by Daniel and Liav. It was very interesting to hear the diverse opinions in the room regarding the language of prayer and the attitude people hold towards praying in a language that they don't fully understand- even for the Israelis who struggle to comprehend Biblical Hebrew sometimes. We discussed that language can create family, but family is not dependent on language, and therefore those in our cohort who don't speak Hebrew or English are still a part of our Diller family. Daniel and Liav led an amazing and thought provoking session with us.

We then traveled to the Eilat fire station and witnessed just how much Toronto supports the Eilat‎ community. 

The night ended with a farewell banquet.  It was great to spend the night all together with our host families before we leave tomorrow morning. It's amazing how in just one short week we have been welcomed into the Eilati's homes and treated as a member of their family, even during such trying times here. Our host families will definitely be missed, but I can guarantee that I will be traveling back to Eilat soon to visit my new home.

Day 6: Tikkun Olam and Fun

July 29, 2014
By: Amir Mesterman

‎Today we started the day off by volunteering. I really enjoyed it and learned a lot. We were split up into different groups. I was volunteering in an organization to help people with special needs integrate into society. I got to understand personal stories of many different people. It was interesting and a good experience. We then went to the Ice Mall and had free time where some of us went ice skating. After, we went to a cruise where we ate dinner. After the cruise we went to the "youth tent" where we met Israelis and Canadians our age. Today was a really fun day with some great volunteering.

Day 6: Volunteer-Work

July 29, 2014
By: Judah Hoffman

Today was focused on giving back to the community of Eilat which has given us so much up until this point on the trip.

We started off the day with an intriguing discussion led by the leaders of the day regarding "tikkun olam," repairing the world. After coming up with some great ideas, we turned our ideas into realities by splitting up and going to different charitable organizations. The group I was in went to an organization called מיוחד (Meyuchad) that gives work to people with special needs. We helped out with the work they were doing, which included folding labels and Nesspresso bags. It was fun, but more importantly we got to know the people working there. This gave us a chance to better understand their lives and appreciate the organization's work. In my opinion, this was the greatest experience of the trip so far.

We then moved on to a compelling discussion about family led by our amazing Junior Counselors. Afterwards we went to the Ice Mall for some food and skating. Finally we embarked on a fun cruise through the waters of Eilat, where we saw the Jordanian border up close, dolphins, and the beautiful night-time skyline.

Day 5: To the Beach!

July 28, 2014
By: Oliver Blatt

We started off the day at the underwater observatory, learning about the different fish and coral found in the Red Sea. Then, we saw the shark feeding. It was very interesting to watch. The person feeding the sharks actually went in with the sharks as opposed to just dropping the food in the water. My favourite part of the observatory was seeing the sting rays and turtles interact together in the same living space.

After the observatory, we went to the marine university, where we meet with a professor specializing in marine life. Luckily, we had the opportunity to see plankton both alive and dead. Since the plankton is so minute, microscopes were necessary to look at them. The professor spoke to us about ocean currents, coral reefs, and other marine life, which was all very intriguing. We ate lunch outside on the university campus, then walked to the nature reserve. At the nature reserve we went snorkeling and saw beautiful fish and corals. The day ended off with some matkot (beach tennis) on the beach.

Day 4: From Mountain to Parade

July 27, 2013
By: Antigone Fogel

Today was an amazing day of both education and fun. We started our day with a visit to Kibbutz Eilot where both Artyom and Tamara (two of the Eilat-Eilot fellows) live. Our visit started by meeting one of the original members of kibbutz Eilot. He told us all about why he chose to move there and the type of work members of the kibbutz do to keep it running smoothly. After that we spoke with Artyom, Tamara, and the head of their program about the program and what it is like to move to Israel alone as a teenager, living without the support from your parents which we all take for granted. It was very interesting, and I am very glad that Artyom and Tamara chose to share it with us!

After Kibbutz Eilot we went to the police station and learned about how they deal with suspicious objects which are potential bombs. It was a very interesting and interactive presentation, but because it was outside and the weather was very hot, it was difficult to pay complete attention. After the presentation ended, I decided I would find my way inside to air conditioning. However, it turned out that right as I started off, a prisoner was being taken to a building. So I followed him. I followed him a bit too far, because I almost ended up in the place they take all the prisoners. Luckily, I realized before I got booked as a criminal myself. In total, the visit was very interesting and I had fun.

Then, after the police station tour, we went on a jeep ride up some of the mountains in Eilat to a beautiful viewpoint. From it, you could see three different countries! It was beautiful, and the drives to and from the viewpoint gave us a great opportunity to bond with the other people in our jeeps. So far, that tour is one of my highlights of our trip!

Finally, after all of that craziness we went on a parade to support Israeli troops. It was amazing for me to see all of the people who came out to show their support. There were tons of huge Israeli flags, and even people driving by would honk their horns in solidarity. The sense of community for that short period of time was incredibly strong, and the experience is one I will never forget.

Well, that's all for the day! We each did our own thing with our hosts. Now it is late, and I have to wake up early tomorrow. Goodnight!

Day 4: Understanding Realities

July 27, 2014
By: Jonathan Aaronowitz

As I see it, today was a day of culture and understanding the realities of Eilat and its people. Meeting with professional kibbutznik Shmulik and hearing from our fellows, Artyom and Tamara, gave a shocking realization about the enormity of the life decisions that youngsters in other parts of the world make. In all three cases, brave, curious, and ambitious personalities changed their lives completely by voluntarily leaving their families to move to kibbutz Eilot. Not out of spite or regret, but out of courage, all three moved to seek the multitude of opportunities that Israel offers and built themselves for the future to come. Kind of sounds like Diller, now that I think of it.

Anyhow, we continued on a jeep tour to gain a spectacular perspective of Israel and its neighborhood. Standing at the peak of a mountain, I had an epiphany. Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt were all surrounding the our little country. With mountains on all sides, it was as if the thin stretch of land could be swallowed by the mountains. But here we were, a bunch of ambitious teenagers standing atop a mountain enjoying the view and talking about peace. Why does it have to be so complicated?

As the organized programs came to an end, we joined the parade in support of the soldiers. We held signs, waved flags, and sang. Nearly 10% of Eilat turned out! Overall, today was a simply wonderful day. It kept feeding our minds with questions, experiences and hope.

Day 3: Shabbat with Families

July 26,2014
By: Jacqueline Winitsky

After spending my two first days in Israel, I still can't find the right words to describe how I feel about the scenery here. I have never been in a country where every direction you look you'll find something fascinating. The mountains in and around the dessert are one of the most amazing things I've ever seen!

Today was Shabbat, and I spent it in a very unique way with the three new sisters I am staying with. We walked to the beach after waking up (everything is SO nearby) and met up with a few of the other fellows. We were there until sundown! Seeing Jordan just across the water was also so cool for me. The weather was perfect, and not too hot! At night we all went to a Diller party hosted at a fellow's house. We were assigned different costumes to arrive in like soldiers, Tel Aviv hipsters, and kibbutzniks. They were used for activities throughout the night. The party also included night-time swimming!

Overall, today couldn't have been better. I am so happy with how our trip is going so far! I'm also beginning to learn Hebrew, which is sababa (cool). I can't wait to spend the next week and half in this beautiful country!

Day 2: Exploring Kibbutzim

July 25, 2014
By: Noah Guttman


Dear Parents and Friends,

Today, the 25th of July, our group traveled to Kibbutz Lotan, Kibbutz Ketora, and went to the desert to fly kites. At Kibbutz Lotan we had a tour, and they explained to us how they achieve sustainable gardening and living on the kibbutz. They make their lives on their kibbutz sustainable by using insulation from hay bales to decrease the need for heating or air conditioning. For sustainable gardening they use a “lasagna technique” to keep their soil fertile so they can continue to farm in the desert. After learning about how members keep their community running, they showed us another small community they have there. This community is for students and volunteers who come to Lotan to learn. The houses there looked like they came from the Star Wars world of Tatooine, and the kicker was  they even had a little R2-D2 in front. That made me sure they came from there.

After we left Kibbutz Lotan, we went to Kibbutz Ketora. At Kibbutz Ketora they take a different stance on what the job of a kibbutz is. Instead of being an agricultural kibbutz they focus on unique plants to grow in the desert and become more industrialized. One of the ways they have become more industrial is through an algae that can be fed to salmon to keep the fish healthy. They have created a solar farm to power their complex and are soon creating a new one which will be able to power one third of Eilat when operational. On their kibbutz they also grow endangered species and have a large collection of very rare plants. When we left Kibbutz Ketora we went flying kites. . . or most people did.  I had trouble getting my kite in the air and when I did, it hit another kite and both fell down. I didn’t get mine up again but it was still great!

Day 2: Kibbutzim, Kites, and Showing We Care (Emma Friedman)

July 25, 2014
By: Emma Friedman

As our group embarked on the second day of community week, my thoughts and feelings were definitely not passive. I was still suffering from jet lag, was paranoid I would permanently damage my fluorescent pale skin in the sun, and was still focused on the almost ironic rockets from the night before. However, if I had to sum up how I was, I would say ready. Ready to explore this city that Toronto knows so well, ready for all the questions that would be asked of us that would inevitably make me question my values, and ready for any more surprises to be thrown my way. Judging by the intriguing discussions that took place today, it seemed that every other Diller was just as ready as I was. But I shouldn't be surprised; both the Toronto and Eilat-Eilot fellows are so lucky to have each other as partners. And that is what today really highlighted. It seemed that the general theme for what we did today was "community."

Today we went to the Eilot area of Eilat-Eilot. There, we visited Kibbutz Lotan and Kibbutz Ketura. At Kibbutz Lotan we learned the importance of respecting nature and how to harmoniously live among it. We also learned what the kibbutz life is like. Basically, a kibbutz involves a group of people who are valued equally all working for their community. They share everything, ranging from equipment to responsibilities. Later, at Kibbutz Ketura, we learned about the kibbutz's ingenuity whether it be their algae farm, solar field, or orchard of endangered plant species. However, for me at least, the most impactful part of the visit was the discussion that we held there. We studied a scripture from the bible that related to Bnei Israel first coming to the land of Canaan. However, the main discussion that took place was how we could, or even if we could, truly support Israel from the Diaspora. This really made me reflect on my actions so far. I questioned whether I had done enough for this country and I wondered what more I could actually do, but I mostly wondered if I had earned the right to say that I really support Israel. Although actions speak louder than words, I believe that having these discussions does show our support. The next step is to apply it to our everyday lives back at home. We were asked the day before if we were a guest or a host when it came to Israel, and I feel that as long as we are in Canada, we are hosts. As hosts it is our job to to take care of what we are hosting. Whether it be advocating or giving tzedakah towards it, as young Zionistic leaders we hold the responsibility of showing Israel that it is strongly supported in the Diaspora and that it will not be abandoned.



At the end of the day we traveled to the sand dunes and flew kites until we were all dripping in sweat. After a long bus ride home we all said goodbye to each other for now and went home with our host fellows for Shabbat. I am getting ready for Shabbat now and I don't know what to expect. Will my Hebrew be almost laughable tonight? Will another siren end up going off? Will I have to wake up at 6:15 am again tomorrow? I don't know. But that's okay because, like I said, I'm ready.

Day 1: Journey to Israel (Naomi Benmergui)

July 24, 2014
By: Naomi Benmergui


Dear Diller Friends and Family,

We began our day early this morning as we met at the airport to board our flight to Israel. Our parents wished us safe travels as we went through ELAL's enhanced security procedures. As we were waiting to board, we participated in the custom of Shaliach Mitzvah (literally: "messenger of good deed") where travellers carry some tzedakah with them so that the journey has a genuinely just and righteous purpose. The custom suggests that this promotes safe travels and I would like to thank our anonymous donor who ensured that we could all partake in such a beautiful custom!

After just a few short (at least they felt short) hours on the plane, we landed safely in Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv. From the moment we landed, I noticed that here in Israel, the colours are brighter, the sun shines brighter and the the people have all been warm and welcoming.

As for what is being heard in the media, have have seen signs supporting the soliders in the Golani unit, which Richard, the Diller Supervisor in Eilat explained beautifully: in Israel there is such a strong connection with the army because each and every soldier is like a brother or sister to one another and the rest of the country. Some families are now living in a situation that is not average for life in Israel and the country prays for each soldier like he/she is a member of their immediate family.

We are very fortunate as a cohort to have the opportunity to be in Israel now. Showing our support, and more importantly, lending a helping hand where needed is crucial at this time. I would also like to thank the Eilat-Eilot group for their warm welcome and their year-round commitment to our partnership.


As I am writing this by the poolside in Eilat, I keep everyone in Israel in my thoughts, and in my prayers. I'm certain that all my peers and those reading this share the same hope that the situation normalizes speedily. 

ISS 2014: Day 1 - Arrival in Israel (Leora Nash)

July 24, 2014

By: LEORA NASH

Thursday morning, at around 7 a.m, Diller Toronto landed in Tel Aviv. After a long flight we were all tired, but eager to arrive in Eilat and meet up with our Israeli counterpart. Prior to loading and boarding the bus, we had a short security briefing with our Israel Experience Staff. Once all of the fellows and staff were comfortable on the bus we began our drive to Eilat. As the bus moved along, we all looked out the windows to see the breathtaking Israeli scenery. We made a short pit stop for washroom breaks before stopping at a gas station to eat lunch. We enjoyed our sandwiches outdoors and relaxed before getting back on the bus. The remainder of the bus ride was exciting as we listened to music and talked about the upcoming two weeks.

When we arrived at the Eilat municipal library we were greeted with huge signs and lots of hugs. Now that we were all together again community week could officially begin! We played a few rounds of different icebreakers and then launched straight into our first coordinator-run program. During the program we discussed what it means to be a host and studied a text that explored different opinions on the subject. We then went to the Eilat museum where we learned about Israel's 1949 Ovda mission that secured Eilat as part of the Jewish state. Later we went to a pool were we were able to cool down and enjoy the water. The final event of the day was the welcome dinner for the Toronto fellows and Eilat-Eilot host families. Everyone enjoyed the delicious food and meeting their new Israeli families.

The first day of community week was amazing and we are all looking forward to an incredible week!