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"