The City of the Universal Religions

 

There are so many beautiful tourist sites to visit around the world. Some of those sites have been declared as world heritage sites such as the Giza Pyramids, Petra, and Bahia Gardens, etc.… Despite their fame, there are three main sites in the old city of Jerusalem that are considered the cradle of three monotheistic religion: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Jerusalem is the only city in the world that has this kind of religious harmony and multicultural society. If you would ask any visitor or any person in the universe, they would say Jerusalem is the city of the universal religions.

In Judaism, the holiest place is located in the Jewish quarter and called Western Wall or Wailing Wall. The name Western Wall comes from the fact that it is located in the western part of Al-Aqsa complex. The Wailing Wall because the Israelis or Jews from all over the world weep daily for the destruction of the first temple and second temple.

Beside Judaism, Jerusalem is home to the third holiest Islamic world beside Mecca and al Madina. The night journey that is called Al-Israa and Al- Miraj started from Mecca to Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem. Also, it is the land of gathering and resurrection. In AL-Aqsa complex, there is an impressive building that stands on the peak which is called; the Dome of the Rock.

Not far from it is the most ancient church in the world that was built by Queen Helena during the Byzantine period in 325 AD. This church which is the center of Christianity is known as the Church of Resurrection. That Church includes Galogata, the place of the crucifixion of Jesus and his tomb.  

Cleaning an Eco-house

A week ago I was asked to help with house cleaning. As a student I often take cleaning jobs: good money and no need to think too much. Anyway, the house was a very unusual one. It is an eco-house and I want to describe it to you.

It is a nice sunny place with a garden and a terrace. On the terrace you can find a lot of plants and even strawberries planted inside an old bath-tub!

No water is wasted in the house – under every water tap there is a basin, so the running water is collected and then used to water the plants. The dish-washing liquid and other cleaning substances are hand-made by the owner of the house and they are safe for soil and plants.

When I was cleaning her house I was using diluted vinegar which removed dust and stains quite effectively. No “Economica”!

She uses a compost toilet. Instead of water you use dry leaves and sawdust. The content of the toilet returns eventually to the ground and serves as a fertiliser.

Frankly, I was quite inspired by the environmental awareness of this lady. I think it is something we should all aspire to.

Stand Up for Your Rights

It happened that I started working at the educational center in one of the elementary schools in Jerusalem, which is partially funded by an organization called Mahapach-Taghir מהפך-תע'ייר مهباخ-تغيير. The organization itself is feminist, with eight communities located both in Jewish and Arab sectors, and involved in children’ education. Once a year, they organize a seminar where people who have been working there for several years and changed something share their experience with people who are interested in education. These can be parents of children from those communities, employees or just people who need help or advice. This year I took part in a seminar where I learned a lot and met amazing people.

On the one side, you might think that I live in a democratic country and it is all nonsense because everyone has the same rights. I can drive a car if I want to, study, work, and marry someone I want; however, as it turned out, that is not entirely true. For example, one elderly woman says that she got a driver's license (so what? You might think), but in Israel, it was not always possible for women to drive a car, she says. Not everyone has the opportunity to get a higher education or even some kind of profession, especially if it is a woman from a religious family who got married early, and by the age of 25-30 has five or more kids. But one community could help. As a result of their efforts, the state allocated funds to implement the program for such cases and this year the first women will receive their higher education in the Open University.

Of course, it is not always possible to achieve everything we want, for instance, we met a woman who has been trying to open a regular school with parents and other interested people for several years, where kids from south Tel Aviv could get a Baghrut. The things are progressing at a slow pace but  hopefully in the next few years, children from this neighborhood  will have a choice and they will go to study not only in a vocational school but also in a school after which they would be able to study in a University or other institutions of higher education.

In conclusion, it can be said that living in a democratic country does not always mean enjoying all rights freely. Very often we have to protect our rights and the rights of our children.

Dead Poets Society

Dead Poets Society is a very interesting film from the point of view of the pedagogical ideology in my opinion. This film is so multifaceted that every time I talk about it, another topic comes to mind. In this movie, we see problems of independent choice of life path, the theme of friendship and betrayal, the conflict of generations and it is not an exhaustive list of topics raised in the film. The awakening of the human “I” among the desert of socially- acceptable life scenarios will always conflict with social structure.

The actions take place in the elite prop school. We can see some principles used at this school, for example, the school itself is conservative.  From the first sight, it seems that the school has solid form of education, with its own statutes and laws, where all the children must comply with them. Then a new charismatic teacher, John Keating, appears and his lessons differ from those of his colleagues. Keating forces students to tear an introductory article to a collection of poetry and it is not without a reason. He is trying to wake their true personality, their true interests.

Moreover, the Dead Poets Society itself is an opportunity to live in these free, creative, social relations. In his methodology, Keating uses the form of individualization it means that he helps students understand their own needs, interests and goals of learning,  creates conditions for the  realization of their abilities and also supports students in creative self-embodiment. He adapts his pedagogical forms and methods to the individual characteristics of the students. In my opinion, his goal was to teach children to think independently, not to be afraid to have their own opinion and to be able to defend it.

Parents also have a great influence in this triangle, very often parents do not see their children, do not see their individuality, want to embody in them what they themselves once could not or want their children to follow in their footsteps, thinking that this is the only right way and the best way.

Watching this film, we can see in ourselves two sides of personality: the first is human, free, who I really am as an individual and the second side of adaptability, socialization, loyalty, meeting required expectations, etc.

I would say this is one of the must watch films for educators, parents and students.

Mizpe Ramon: above and beyond

When you hear the name Mizpe Ramon what springs to your mind? A short stop on the way to Eilat?
The Ramon crater? The ibex? Have you even heard about this place?
Maybe the name is familiar to you because of some army bases situated in the vicinity
or maybe you are a nature lover and once went to enjoy the desert sky in the summer
night of Mizpe Ramon.

Anyway I am here to tell about my Mizpe Ramon experience and recommend some places.

Mizpe Ramon is a small town in the South of Israel, populated by about 5000 residents.

It attracts a lot of tourists thanks  to the magnificent scenery of Makhtesh Ramon.

The town itself is located just above the crater and you can walk between two most distant places
in it within half an hour at most.

In this quite a tiny place I spent 8 months as a student in the Modern dance and movement
program in the former Hanger (warehouse) Adama - a place which had been home for a well known
Adama dance group and dance school for 17 years before it moved to Sderot.

Now the place is called Meever - "beyond" in Hebrew and it houses dance and theater studios,
a backpackers' hostel, volunteer center, festivals and parties.
It's a "hippie" style place with a big lounge area
where you can just sit and chill out with a book and meet travelers from Europe or young Israelis.
Besides you can come to one of the many festivals or workshops that take place there.

I strongly advise taking a walk in the whole industrial area of Mizpe Ramon - you can find there cute
art galleries, ceramics and carpentry workshops, even a boutique bakery and a nice restaurant,
jazz club with a wide range of concerts and a local pub.

So next time you are on your way to Eilat - remember, there is a n alternative to the 90 road,
you can take road 40 via Mizpe Ramon and have an unforgettable experience.

My Angel love for free

            

I feel like l have no words to describe her. It's very hard for me to express my feelings .The love I have for her will never die. My mum, my mother, my friend, my Angel, the woman who brought me into this world - she's my Angel .

People believe that angels only in heaven but according to me my angel is surrounding me I feel angels love and support all the time because my angel on earth is my mom . She's supporting, guiding me . Have you heard about a flower living without the sun ,water and air? I am like that flower and my mum is the sun,water and air to me in equal measure.

My Angel is always behind me. She encourages me to face all the troubles in this life , she teach my how to be a good and strong person .My mum l feel sometimes that I can't do anything without her support . She means everything to me without her I feel lost , I can't live without her help and support .

She has loving hands that are so gentle ,so kind , so soft . I pity the one who doesn't have this mother that means he doesn't have a loving mum who supports him in his life . The candle that illuminates this road is the one who clings to every son's hand and carries him to safety through life's troubles and tribulations . Love for fre

The soul of Russia

What do you imagine when you hear the word “Russia”?
What images does it conjure up? Huge? Faraway? Cold? Communism?
Dostoyevsky? Vodka? Ballet? Matryoshka? A somewhat odd combination
of disparate features.  

The truth is that Russia is indeed a huge country that stretches over a vast
expanse of eastern Europe and northern Asia, with its tremendous capital,
Moscow built to be a major business center, the core of Russian History.
While Moscow is the head of this huge organism, Saint-Petersburg is its soul.
Founded by Peter the Great 300 years ago, this magnificent city has become
one of the most popular destinations in Russia for tourists. Glorious architecture,
magnificent mansions, splendid palaces, beautiful parks and gardens, numerous
rivers and canals make a person fall in love with the city instantly. Being
a hometown of famous musicians, novelists, poets and artists, it attracts
people from all over the world. The best time to experience this wonderful
city is the period of White Nights, which lasts from mid-May till the beginning
of July. A joyful atmosphere dominates the city at this time of the year.
The city is waiting to be discovered through its very poetic sights and
beautiful spots. Behind each new turn the city reveals itself with new magical
and unforgettable images. Get yourself ready to explore this amazing city
and I promise you- you won’t regret it!

The Marriage of Chani Kaufman by Eve Harris

                The Marriage of Chani Kaufman by Eve Harris

This book is about the marriage of Chani, a 19 year old, who lives in an Ultra Orthodox Jewish Community in London.