To build and to be built
By Hannah Robinow, Special to The Chronicle
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Imagine this: you’re strolling along a rambling path in the picturesque Golan Heights, listening to stories about Israeli culture and Jewish history, surrounded by ancient ruins standing testament to the Jewish settlement of old. Now imagine that, while you’re on this stroll, you’re accompanied by a guide who not only knows about the vivid history of the land of Israel, but about what you as an individual Jew can do to connect with it on a spiritual and emotional level.
This past summer, my family and I took that walk in the Golan. We traveled to Israel this summer for a family wedding, and spent two weeks afterwards touring Israel, which entailed hiking the Golan, among other activities. The hike itself was in the rugged backcountry of the Golan, the perfect backdrop for spending time with our guide Michael Firestone. Firestone, once a resident of Kansas City, is currently a tour guide working for Livnot U’lehibanot, an organization affiliated with the Birthright Organization. Livnot U’lehibanot are Hebrew words meaning “To build and to be built.”
As Firestone accompanied us along our hike, he filled it with anecdotes about the history of the Golan Heights and information about local flora and fauna. The rich details of his ongoing narrative gave my family and me a deep impression of his passion for the land, gleaned in no small part from his involvement in Livnot. “What I love the most (about Livnot) is that it integrates so much of Israeli life into its overall program … this helps its participants from all strains of Judaism grasp its uniqueness and get a feel for why it’s important to be a Jew,” he said.
For instance, one activity participants in Livnot’s seminars get to do is participate in archaeological digs, help rebuild and renew the Old City of Safed and its surroundings, as well as build parks in northern Israel and do volunteer service in communities in the north. The group is typically comprised of Jews ages 19 and older, with little to no religious background. Each seminar varies in length, depending on its focus. For instance, one-week seminars typically focus on teaching basic Jewish ethics, Zionism, Shabbat, the Jewish calendar and its history, as well as that of the state of Israel. Longer seminars also involve its participants in community-service projects and hiking in addition to Jewish education.
On its Web site, Livnot U’Lehibanot bills itself as an organization that enables those partaking in it to learn in a “non-judgmental, yet physically and spiritually challenging environment … (to) explore their Jewish identity through interaction, study, hiking and community service.” The organization puts together programs targeted toward Jewish men and women in their 30s and older, as well as a separate one for those who want their Israel experience based solely in and around the Galilee region.
In addition, Livnot puts together a volunteer-specific program for both individuals and groups interested in making a difference with indigent Israelis. No matter whether the participants are involved in a vacation or Bar Mitzvah trip, Livnot enables those interested to practice their responsibility to their fellow Jews by volunteering in community-service organizations in northern Israel.
Indeed, our conversation with Firestone in the Golan was punctuated by this very same idea, that each Jew is responsible to one another. “One of my favorite parts about working at (Livnot U’Lehibanot) is the idea that we’re the facilitators of connections within the Jewish people … regardless of background and religious-observance levels.
For more information about Livnot, you can visit www.livnot.org.il or call their toll-free hotline, (888) 8-LIVNOT.
Hannah Robinow is a sophomore at Johnson County Community College.
This past summer, my family and I took that walk in the Golan. We traveled to Israel this summer for a family wedding, and spent two weeks afterwards touring Israel, which entailed hiking the Golan, among other activities. The hike itself was in the rugged backcountry of the Golan, the perfect backdrop for spending time with our guide Michael Firestone. Firestone, once a resident of Kansas City, is currently a tour guide working for Livnot U’lehibanot, an organization affiliated with the Birthright Organization. Livnot U’lehibanot are Hebrew words meaning “To build and to be built.”
As Firestone accompanied us along our hike, he filled it with anecdotes about the history of the Golan Heights and information about local flora and fauna. The rich details of his ongoing narrative gave my family and me a deep impression of his passion for the land, gleaned in no small part from his involvement in Livnot. “What I love the most (about Livnot) is that it integrates so much of Israeli life into its overall program … this helps its participants from all strains of Judaism grasp its uniqueness and get a feel for why it’s important to be a Jew,” he said.
For instance, one activity participants in Livnot’s seminars get to do is participate in archaeological digs, help rebuild and renew the Old City of Safed and its surroundings, as well as build parks in northern Israel and do volunteer service in communities in the north. The group is typically comprised of Jews ages 19 and older, with little to no religious background. Each seminar varies in length, depending on its focus. For instance, one-week seminars typically focus on teaching basic Jewish ethics, Zionism, Shabbat, the Jewish calendar and its history, as well as that of the state of Israel. Longer seminars also involve its participants in community-service projects and hiking in addition to Jewish education.
On its Web site, Livnot U’Lehibanot bills itself as an organization that enables those partaking in it to learn in a “non-judgmental, yet physically and spiritually challenging environment … (to) explore their Jewish identity through interaction, study, hiking and community service.” The organization puts together programs targeted toward Jewish men and women in their 30s and older, as well as a separate one for those who want their Israel experience based solely in and around the Galilee region.
In addition, Livnot puts together a volunteer-specific program for both individuals and groups interested in making a difference with indigent Israelis. No matter whether the participants are involved in a vacation or Bar Mitzvah trip, Livnot enables those interested to practice their responsibility to their fellow Jews by volunteering in community-service organizations in northern Israel.
Indeed, our conversation with Firestone in the Golan was punctuated by this very same idea, that each Jew is responsible to one another. “One of my favorite parts about working at (Livnot U’Lehibanot) is the idea that we’re the facilitators of connections within the Jewish people … regardless of background and religious-observance levels.
For more information about Livnot, you can visit www.livnot.org.il or call their toll-free hotline, (888) 8-LIVNOT.
Hannah Robinow is a sophomore at Johnson County Community College.
Mike Firestone led the Robinow family on a trek through the Golan Heights this summer.