Free Weekend

Well the buses departed for Jerusalem, Tel-Aviv, and Haifa this morning and the drop-offs overall went smoothly. For the hearty bunch who stayed back a fun day was had. The morning greeted them with a hike at Tel Goded where they got to explore the caves there. The caves date back to the Macabees with one part of the caves involved reaching a room filled with holes with perches for pigeons. They also were underground in the caves climbing through some holes that at times were tight and small in order to reach the next part of the caves.

Then the group went to Old Nitzanim which is where a Kibbutz was founded with members of the 2nd aliyah. There the tragic tale was explained and shown to the MBIers of the Kibbutz's role in the Independence War and the battles and losses sustained there. There were many young people and young women who ended up fighting and its a sad tale of ideals and war's effect on them.

Then the group headed to the Harel Mall to get some lunch, escape the heat, and do a little gift shopping as MBI has a little over a week to go. Then they headed back to Nes Harim to rest, clean up and get ready for Shabbat. Then they had mishpachot(camp time) followed by the Rosh's Story told by Leon to an intrigued group. Kabbalat Shabbat and a nice Shabbat dinner followed. In the evening an oneg(play) was performed and as I type Rikud(Israeli dancing) is taking place followed by a basketball game for those still full of energy.

Tomorrow the group at Nes Harim will get the morning to have a genuine sleep-in and relax with optional breakfast and the first planned activity being lunch. In the afternoon they will have chugim(special interest group activities) led by the madrichim there followed by the usual suspects of Musicale, Dinner and Havdallah. In the evening the Free-Weekenders will be dropped off at 8:30pm to the various cities and MBI will depart the lovely campsite of Nes Harim to their Machaneh Kayitz(Summer camp) time period at Yaar Levi, set to start Sunday morning. Shabbat Shalom to all!