Great Grandma Ruth

Mommy always taught me that the best way to share emotions is by writing.  

Great Grandma Ruth, I feel so blessed to have grown up with Great Grandparents, and to have shared 22 years of my life with you. I have so many memories, you always smiled when we came in even when you weren't in the mood for company. The carpet in your apartment, just sitting on the couch not necessarily talking the whole time, but enjoying each others company. Looking at pictures with you, ordering Chinese and eating supper with you. NOT moving the chairs out of their indents, or the eggs out of place. I loved being able to take you to the doctor or to the beauty shop, showing off that I have a Great Grandma who always "wants to do things by herself". You always said what was on your mind- every time I put mousse in my hair you would tell me it looks like spaghetti- so I stopped moussing my hair. You never liked the color of my nails, or toe nails. Most importantly the weekly Friday phone calls. I looked forward to telling you what I have been doing, and updating you on my life. Grandma, you always cared, you remembered where I was and what I was doing. You knew what was going on in my life probably more than a lot of my friends. The phone calls weren't ever too long, but always enough to share stories and tell you that I love you. I told you I would come visit and show you pictures, and you would always ask when I am coming because you miss me and wish I was there.

I know you were 98 and ready to die, but I don't think I was ready for you to go. I still haven't told you about the rest of my trip. I always thought I would one day introduce my husband to you, it was kind of a dream I always had, and I haven't done that yet. Somehow in my mind you were ever lasting. You were going to be with me forever. At 98 so sharp, loving, caring, funny, understanding. I would tell all my friends about you, so proud to have a relationship with my 98 year old Great Grandmother. I am so lucky to have had such a good relationship with you without even living so close by.

 I wish I was there to say a proper good-bye. I thank Hashem for not making you suffer and I know you are happy now with Great Grandpa looking down at all your children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. I hope and pray that one day I will live to have such a life filled with nachat and family all around who love and care about me. You will always have a special place in my heart. You taught me a lot about the importance of family and keeping in touch and I thank you for caring so much every time we spoke! I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU. 

Love always, your #1 Great Granddaughter,  Malka B.

WINTER CAMP!

For the first time EVER in Bnei Akiva Cape Town history we got 50 kids on our Winter camp!!!
Usually there are about 10 kids from all grades and this time we succeeded in getting 50 kids just from grades 3-6, and 20 for the Winter Camp next week from grades 7-9.

I just wanted to share my excitement on how far we have come, Bnei Akiva really has grown since Shani and I arrived and hopefully it will keep growing.

These kids are really starting to be proud of being apart of such an amazing Youth movement and I think that this was an incredible way to end off my Shlichut in Cape Town.
 I am not leaving yet, but working with the Madrichim (counselors) who are so passionate about the movement and really building connections with these kids, I know I am leaving Bnei Akiva in good hands. 

This winter camp was a success for everyone. The kids had a blast, the parents are happy and most important the leaders of the movement are proud of what they are doing!
 

Group Photo!!

I <3 Bnei Akiva... written by one of the kids

Family trip

Dov, Nechama, Elysheva and I bought tickets for Mommy and Abba for their anniversary to come travel and visit me in South Africa. We had always planned to send them somewhere exotic for their 25 anniversary and this way we were able to kill two birds with one stone. A trip to the beautiful South Africa and then a visit with ME!!!
We surprised Elysheva as I am sure you all know with a ticket as well so she came along for the trip!!

Garden route

We had an amazing trip. I really enjoyed showing them around, my house, shul, the people, and just everything about were I have been living on my own for the past 10 months.
Although the weather wasn't 100% we dodged the rain drops and really had a great time. After being in Cape Town we started our big trip up whats called "The garden route". We drove from Cape Town along the coast to Port Elizabeth.
The drive is BEAUTIFUL, the animals, the scenery, and the mountains are breath taking.

We stopped along the way at different fun animal parks, beautiful scenic spots, pet cheetahs, tigers, monkeys, adopted a hippo, rode an elephant, saw baboons and ostriches on the side of the road, and really just had the best time!
The beauty that you experience here really is hard to explain. You have to experience it for yourself to understand.


We spent Shabbat with the Edelmans, and on Sunday drove to a game drive and saw lots of animals! We even saw a lion and a rhino, usually they are really hard to see so we got lucky!!!

I SPY A LION

I spy 2 rhinos

 After such an incredible trip it was a bit hard to say good-bye. It is very easy to forget how much I miss being home, being with family reminded me how much I really needed them around.

This trip was definitely one to remember and making memories like these with family is SO important, I really thank Hashem for such an amazing opportunity.

Cape Point

That way to Jerusalem

Petting a cheetah

The elephant ride

out in the middle of a game reserve

The waterfront (the harbor)

Cape Point

Cape Point

SKY DIVING!!!

It has always been a dream to sky dive, so my friends and I decided to finally go for it!!

One of the best experiences of my life. We got there a bit late because as usual, we decided last minute that we were going to jump and only found out that there is space for us an hour before. Unfortunately, because you have to pay in cash, and we were so rushed, I didn't know if I had enough money to get pictures taken of the actual jump. 
But still, I will have these memories in my head forever. Everyone else can see the before and after pictures :)

I didn't really have time to get nervous, we were the last jumpers of the day, so as soon as we got there, I signed a form that probably said something about if I die they won't take responsibility for me. I didn't even have time to read it.

We got geared up and went right to the plane. A teeny tiny "barf plane"(as we like to call it in my family) only 6 of us fit inside pretty much sitting on top of each other. Each of the guides chilled as the plane went up. One fell asleep, my guide was reading a book. They jump so many times a day it doesn't even affect them!
I warned my guide before we took off that he will probably be deaf by the end because I tend to scream loud.

The plane ride was about 20 minutes long, but because it all happened so fast, it didn't hit me that I was about to actually jump out of a plane.
We rose 3km (3000 meters, 9000 ft) in the air. 
2 minutes before the guides opened the door, my guide checked if I was 100% attached to him, I asked about 5 times if he was sure the parachute will open!

Then they opened the door. Shani jumped first and in that second she got sucked out of the plane I thought to myself:
"OH MY GOSH!!! I AM ABOUT TO JUMP OUT OF A PLANE!!"
I moved up to the edge, with my guide attached to me, and put my feet out of the plane, layed my head back on his shoulder like I was instructed and just like that I was free falling from the plane.

I was wearing goggles so I kept my eyes open and looked around! Just soaring through the sky.
Was an incredible feeling!! The fall was for about 35 seconds before the parachute opened, it truly was the most amazing feeling, just flying through the sky, and seeing the beauty from up above. 
As soon as the parachute opened I was kinda uncomfortable but the beauty, the mountains, the sea and just everything from a birds eye view was worth the pain!
I am a bit upset that I don't have any pictures from the jump itself, but the memory, the feeling of free falling, of looking down onto the world, is worth much more than the pictures! 

Definitely a dream come true :)

Getting geared up to jump

Making sure everything is secure

Getting excited...

In the plane..

AFTER THE CRAZY JUMP!!!

Zionist caravan

Right after Yom Ha'atzmaut, (Israel independence day) the Israeli mishlachat ( A group of 10 Israelis that are here like me working in Cape Town) left for what we call "the zionist caravan".
This was a week were we drove to different Jewish communities around the Eastern Cape and spoke about Israel. We prepared a presentation called 65 years of pride, which showed what Israel has accomplished in these 65 years.
We started in Port Elizabeth, drove 9 hours straight from Cape Town.We gave a presentation to the community at the Shul. In the morning we went to the Jewish school and ran an activity all about Israel for the 12 Jewish students.

It was very nice to be in PE with Sandra. I still can't get over how small the world is, both of us are originally from Lowell and somehow we ended up in South Africa!
After Shabbat in  PE we drove to East London. Gave our presentation to the remaining 20 Jews of the community, mostly over the age of 60. 

The next day before we left for Plettenberg Bay we spent the morning on a game drive. It is really incredible just driving and seeing so many animals out in the open, and driving through acres and acres of land. These game drives are almost the size of Israel or bigger.

I pet a baby lion, Was an amazing experience!
Our next stop was Plettenberg Bay, we gave our presentation at the shul, also to the remaining Jews of the community. We stayed at a beautiful bed and breakfast and had the morning to chill at the beach. BEAUTIFUL area.
In the afternoon we left for Oudtshoorn, our last destination and gave our presentation at someones house, there are not so many Jewish families left there so they all fit into the living room.
Most of the communities are dying down, not many Jews left. Still, to be there and spread our love and passion for Israel, and to see how much they care and love Israel was really an amazing experience.
The route we drove is called the garden route, the view was breath taking the whole way, and the amount of wild life on the side of the road, especially the baboons was incredible.
It was also nice to spend the time and go as a big group of Israelis! I think it was a powerful presentation and we really presented Israel the right way!
Definitely an experience I am going to remember forever!

So much to do so little time to do it

Time has been really hectic lately, we have had so many activities with Bnei Akiva along with planning all the Israeli remembrance day ceremonies. I haven't really had much time to just sit and write.

Yom Hazikaron ( Day we remember the fallen soldiers) outside of Israel was really different. I didn't hear the siren, I wasn't at the military cemetery (Har Hertzel) walking around with Dov in his uniform, or talking to a random mother crying by her sons grave. I was outside of Israel, less connected. I spoke at the community ceremony for over 150 people, and at school for the high school and middle school, I read a letter that my friend wrote to her brother who was killed during his army service. It was very meaningful. But not the same as being in Israel and feeling the pain, and the realness of the loss.

7 months of being in Cape Town is just around the corner, it is time to think about coming home. I was offered to stay till camp, which is in December. I had to say no because otherwise it will mess up my whole year next year, and I need to start school already. I would love to stay, I worked so hard I would do anything to be at camp and be able to see the end result of all our hard work. But I think it is time to finally start thinking about myself instead of other people. I am calling to sign up for school tomorrow, I am going to sign up at "Wingate" to learn Osteopathy- alternative medicine in the bones. It is a 4.5 year program so I need to stop pushing it off, and get started already.

Bnei Akiva, Thank God is in a really good place right now, at least for what it was before we got here. We had our shabbaton (weekend) from grades 3-6 with 60 kids, no one thought we were going to get more than 20, and it was the first time EVER that they did something like that in Cape Town. We had a shabbaton for grades 7-9 and had 15 kids, they haven't done a shabbaton for that age group in 5 years. The past few years they have had mixed shabbatonim and had maximum 10 kids from all ages. So you can see how far we have gotten!
Shani and I  planned the Calender so that from now until we leave there is an activity once a month for the elementary school grades 3-6, once a month for middle school grades 7-9,and Friday night mean once a Month for high school. This way even though we are leaving we will be busy till the minute we get on the plane.
It is weird to start thinking about the end. I miss home a lot, but I don't think I am ready to leave yet. 

Yom Hashoah- Holocaust remembrance day

As a child who never grew up with family stories from the holocaust it was always hard to connect. But 4 years ago as I walked through the death camps in Poland I realized that even though no one had the last name Solomont, these 6 million Jews were all my family.
It is now my responsibility to remember, to pass on, to live the life as a young Jewish girl for all those who could not.
To live the dream of 6 million Jews who only wished to live in Israel, dreamed of their first steps they would take in the Holy Land.
We live in a world of hate, no matter were we go we have to be careful because we are Jewish.
I AM PROUD TO BE A JEW, PROUD TO BE ISRAELI, PROUD TO SAY WE HAVE A JEWISH STATE.
Not being in Israel now just reminds me how disconnected our generation is becoming.
No one cares, no one realizes how our Jewish Identity is dying.
We can not give up! We are living proof that these horrible people failed, we are living proof that the Jewish people live on and will always live on.
As children we CAN NOT forget that. It is our time to take it in, to ask questions, to get answers about our Jewish roots, and our time to pass it on, without us it is all going to disappear.
This is a good day just to take a look and appreciate our heritage, it is our responsibility to keep it going.
I will remember, I will re-tell these stories, I will ask questions so will never forget. 

I hope you will too.

"AM YISROEL CHAI"