From the City to a Bedouin Tent
July 18
We drive back to Jerusalem to perform at the YMCA. It is a massive, temple-like building that stands across from the King David Hotel. The sign says YMCA 3 Arches. We find out that the 3 Arches is a restaurant. There is a Jewish/Arab day camp here that we will be performing for in the morning and then we have a show in the afternoon for the general public.
The room is rather dark, so, Amit decides that the boys should do the fire act. They are very excited.
Elisheva and some of the Jerusalem Circus students come to see the show. We all take a picture together, afterwards. The room fills with day camp aged children. There are about 300 hundred of them. They love the show and are loudly appreciative. After the show, they all want to talk to our young performers.
A number of people come over to tell me how inspirational the show is and how wonderful it is to see Americans, Israelis, Jews, Arabs, kids of all colors working together.
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The kids crowd around the performers after the show. Royi's sistercomes to visit. She is studying at the Art Academy here in Jerusalem.
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We get practically no media coverage. I'm told that the press isn't interested in covering "good" news. I have had the same trouble in the States. What a shame. This is such a great story and it is so heartening to se how fast we have formed a community where language, religion, color and other differences are not barriers to friendship and support. Our common language is circus and our common goal is to put on the show.
Between shows, we go to shop on Ben Yehuda street. Many of the guys buy jewelry for moms and girlfriends back home. Keaton finds a unique tallit (prayer shawl) for his upcoming Bar Mitzvah. Some of the girls buy shoes.
Everyone pitches in. Rabbi Marc helps with the rigging.
The second show is even more crowded. A number of people are sitting in the balcony. The woman who I stayed with when I came to Israel when I was 16 is at this show. We are so happy to see each other. She is 87 but has the same spirit and energy as ever.
Between shows, we go to shop on Ben Yehuda street. Many of the guys buy jewelry for moms and girlfriends back home. Keaton finds a unique tallit (prayer shawl) for his upcoming Bar Mitzvah. Some of the girls buy shoes.
We load up the truck to leave Jerusalem. This is the night we are experiencing a sleep out in a Bedouin tent in the desert near Mitzpah Ramon. By the time we get there it is quite dark. Really, really dark.
We walk (or scramble) up a rocky path to the campsite. I had a fantasy about having internet there to catch up on the blog. There isn't even any electricity!!! Inside the tent we are supposed to sleep in there are tatami mats and foam pallets. The camp is situated on gravel, not sand.
Once again, there are those among us who do not like roughing it this much. Israeli and Americans (mostly girls) complain loudly. There is one thing that everyone does agree on. The stars are absolutely beautiful out here. You can even see the Milky Way.
After a campfire cookout, people go to sleep. Several stay out to stargaze and some fall asleep outside the tent.
1 Comment:
Rabbi Marc and I have been in touch since I visited Shorashim in December. I work for CNN and I have been pitching this story for months. I came very close, but the reporter who showed interest in the story was in Baghdad covering the ongoing bad news there.
But you are right, we don't hear enough about the good news in Israel and that should change, because there are amazing people there of all backgrounds doing amazing things. I'm glad the Galilee Arches was such a success, and I hope by next year I can gather the resources to come shoot a documentary about the Arab-Israeli circus that I tried so hard for this year. As we say, "L'Shana Haba'a b'Yerushalayim", right?
Mazel Tov and Congratulations to all of these kids and their leaders. Keep it going!