I have been in Israel for nearly a month now and I couldn't have asked to get more out of it.  The beginning of the OTZMA program was dedicated to becoming oriented with Israel itself.

During the orientation we stayed in Kiriat Moriah, a small complex usually for housing soldiers during their education as well as other groups similar to OTZMA.  The orientation involved tours throughout both the Old City and the New City of Jerusalem, hikes through the Negev desert, educational seminars, as well as a whole slough of activities geared towards building a sense of community among all 47 of the Otzmanikim. Now that the orientation period has ended, we are in our temporary homes in Beer Sheva, the biblical city mentioned in Genesis (21:31).  Aside from becoming accustomed to our new home and oriented to the city, we have also been involved in a few service days.  Although we have only participated in two service days so far, there are many more to come once we are totally settled.  One service day was spent in Dimona where a group of dedicated Israelis are attempting to start new settlements.  Here the group spent time building a small garden, painting, grouting tiles, and cleaning up the courtyard so that the area appears more beautiful and more habitable.  The other service day was helping out with an organization called Table to Table picking vegetables to be delivered to kitchens for the poor and needy. Over Rosh Hashana, I met my new adoptive family in Ofakim, a small city near Beer Sheva.  They were extremely hospitable and generously invited me to their grandmother's house nearby for meals during the holiday.  I experienced Rosh Hashana in a Sephardic synagogue and learned about the Sephardic traditions for Rosh Hashana.

Once I returned to Beer Sheva, we began our training for our volunteering opportunities in the near future.  Representatives from an organization called Atidim provided several training seminars.  Atidim is an organization that works to help strong motivated students in poorer cities  gain admission to the prestigious universities.  For more information on Atidim, see this website [http://www.ujc.org/page.html?ArticleID=91392].  Since students must speak English to enter the universities, the focus of Atidim is pushing the students to develop a stronger grasp on English.
Just before we left for Jerusalem to observe Yom Kippur, we set up a carnival for the children in the new immigrant absorption center where we live.  There were games, prizes, candy, and activities for the children. The children, as well as all the Otzmanikim, truly enjoyed it.

The OTZMA group spent Yom Kippur in Jerusalem.  I attended services there and made my way to the Kotel on the holiest day of the year.  During Yom Kippur the streets had no cars running, instead everyone dressed in white was walking in the streets, children were riding bicycles and skateboards, and not a single store was open, it was truly a sight to behold.  Never has a Yom Kippur been so meaningful to me as my first in Jerusalem.

I am so extremely thankful to all of the donors to the Federation system who are allowing me to be here and experience this.  I hope that all of you feel that your contributions are going to a worthy cause, since those contributions are what is allowing me to be here in Israel today.  Just as you have contributed your hard earned money to make this trip possible to me, I hope to contribute my time and effort to beautify Israel, to provide aid to those less fortunate, and to live up to the Jewish ideals.