5 PhDs and Me

Weekly Recap

Where have I been…

• Last week, our entire class went on a Negev Field trip.
• We visited a legal one-family-farm, Yeruham (a Development Town), unrecognized Bedouin villages, a massive industrial park, a stream of pollution, the first Bedouin woman entrepreneur, and government environmental efforts.
• We met with lots of people along the way.
• I feel that we heard a lot important stories and overall the Institute structured a well-balanced experience.
• At another time I will write about an occurrence with the group that is still being discussed today.
  
  
• We celebrated Thanksgiving with Palestinians, Jordanians, Israelis, Canadians, Australians, and, of course, Americans. Not to mention Christians, Jews, and Muslims. We had a pot luck feast with lots of tasty food. I made cranberry-pineapple aspic and a large jello shot (see photos in AIES album)!
  
  
• Mike Schwartz came for Shabbat and we had a great time. Best of all, he brought a homemade pecan pie!

5 PhDs & Me (and Bill)

This year I am interning with the Tal Fund and personally working with Alon Tal. After he won the Bronfman Prize in 2006, Alon created this fund with the mission of: "expeditiously supporting effective community activism that seeks to preserve Israel's air, water and land resources and to encourage sustainable development in Israel."

On Tuesday I traveled with the board to do some site visits for potential grantees…

• I got up at 5am to travel with Bill, whom I’ve mentioned before (my Kibbutz cycling buddy) and is Alon’s best friend and board member, to meet the group.
  
  
• At times during the ride there were seven of us squeezed into a small Mazda van-type vehicle (definitely not an American minivan!). As intimate as we were, I felt very undereducated. When the first guest arrived, Alon was introducing all of us and it went something like this, from front to back of the vehicle: “Meet Dr. Orr Karassin, Dr. David Tal, Dr. Yonina Rosenthal, Mr. Adi Segal, and Mr. Bill Slott.” Remember, Alon and the guest also hold PhDs. Not that either of us (Bill is a Cornell graduate) is stupid, but it was funny to have these introductions and then see these two dummies crammed into the two back seats…what I called the peanut gallery!
  
  
• We saw (photos to the right):
• Attempts at environmental efforts in Rahat, an underserved Bedouin city. This is a very difficult project, because it will also take a sociological change on the side of the community. The best part here was that we stopped at Ahmad’s home, where we were treated to real Bedouin hospitality in his personal tent…none of this large tent tourist stuff that big groups usually see.
  
  
• Next, we went to Arad where, for the last ten years, they’ve been fighting the building of a chemical factory that will emit large amounts of phosphates. Not good for you.
  
  
• Finally, we saw the very important efforts to ban the construction of a hotel on the beach in Palmahim, one of the only undeveloped areas on the coast. With some funding, there’s a lot of promise for this project.
  
  
• The best part was the picnic lunch Alon packed for us, which we ate in the middle of a JNF forest!
  
  
• As we returned to Ketura, Bill and I were talking about the Fund. He mentioned that as esteemed as the Board of Trustees looks, it’s basically Alon’s birthday party, with his best friends, parents, wife, and kids (and maybe one or two outsiders). But, then Bill realized that this isn’t so strange, because most of the big foundations (which have a lot more money than the Tal Fund – like Ford, Vanderbilt, and Bronfman), began with families sitting around a table giving away money.

Finally, as little attention as she may want, I need to wish my little sister, ORLI, a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

She turned 17 yesterday and now, not only can she drive, but she can run all the errands that I was formerly assigned. MAZAL TOV!

~Adi

Befuddlements

• Is it a good or bad thing that I have been to every rest stop in Israel so many times that as soon as I get off the bus I know exactly where to go to the bathroom?
  
  
• As I traveled through the country on Tuesday, I realized that the development here is very strange. They literally dropped towns and forests in the middle of the desert, with no surroundings, and hoped for the best…it didn’t always work out!
  
  
• I really don’t think kibbutz, at least in the middle of the desert, is for me…
  When Bill and I stepped off the bus at 9pm, after a full day of travel, he said: “And now you have a real taste of what it’s like to live here. And, that’s when you realize it’s easier to never leave!” He was slightly joking, but there’s definitely a lot of truth there…
  
  

Shoutout #40: Evyatar Asher – We met this summer and now we’re GREAT friends. U DA MAN! Thanks for always checking in and taking care of me in your country. And more importantly, THANKS for being the 40^th follower!

Shoutout #41: Becca Farber, how come I have not heard from you yet? Welcome aboard! You are a great environmentalist and it was a pleasure working with you last year as our team pioneered JTS EcoReps. I hope you are having a good time in Israel and hopefully we can hangout when I get to J-Town.

P.S. For those of you who have been thinking about eating recently, I urge you to read this piece: The Carnivore’s Dilemma

P.P.S. I love all of Eliav's posts, but there's something about this one that really struck an emotional chord in me. For those of you who are camp/Ramah people, I think you’ll really enjoy this... A Return trip to Ramah in New England, an emotional journey

P.P.P.S. So…Chelsea is engaged to a nice Jewish boy…WHO CARES! But, did you hear they were at JTS for Kol Nidre? Apparently, she and Arnie are friends from Stanford!

AYS

Thinking on Thanksgiving

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

This paper discusses the global issue of inner city food deserts. These are areas in which healthy and affordable food options are not available. Research has shown that a lack of nutrition leads to further health problems, cognitive gaps, and unpromising trajectories. This paper reviews the social, health, and environmental impacts of this problem. Here, past research is analyzed and current programs are evaluated. This article focuses on food deserts in New York City, specifically in Harlem. Some field research is also included. Following a detailed review of the situation, practical recommendations are made to alleviate this crisis.

The full article: Food Deserts: A Global Crisis in New York City

I apologize in advance for any editorial errors.

When the editors decide to finally publish Issue III, you can view my article here: Consilience: The Journal of Sustainable Development

And, if you get bored, here are three more articles to peruse:

Remind Me Why We're Doing This

8 Easy Green Thanksgiving Tips

5 Steps to an Eco Black Friday

HAVE A HAPPY AND MEANINGFUL THANKSGIVING!

~Adi

It’s Always an Adventure Here!

I just got back from a great weekend in Tel Aviv and Yehud. I enjoyed Shabbat with Evyatar Asher, Allen Glen, and many other fun people. THANK YOU to the Asher family for hosting me and feeding me very delicious food non-stop.

Everything with Evy

I didn’t stop eating…

• Background: Evyatar Asher is a good friend of mine from Camp. He was a member of mishlachat and we worked together in Shorashim this past summer. He currently lives at home with his family in Yehud and attends Bar Ilan University.
  
  
• On Thursday night we went out with two of Evyatar’s high school friends to a quaint place called Café Gidi in Ramat Gan. There was a line out the door. But, that’s ok, because they brought us free, very tasty, hot coco as we waited outside. Once we entered, it had a lovely ambiance (similar to Max Café on 122^nd and Amsterdam), good/quick service, and delicious food. If you’re ever in the area, I recommend grabbing a bite there.
  
  
• On Friday morning, we did some marketing with his mother and brother at the shuk, during which I bought a finjan, small glass cups, and shuk/homemade coffee blend. My tea/coffee set is almost complete!
  
  
• Then, the two of us headed off to a place where Evy eats every Friday: Birenbaum (located at the top of Nahalat Binytamin)! This was another great restaurant, with a cool atmosphere. Except here, it was like visiting family. Evy gave a hug and kiss to every waitress and chef and we got everything we wanted, plus dessert on the house! The food is all vegetarian, served buffet style, and VERY scrumptious. Another must for your next visit to Tel Aviv.
  
  
• Next, we walked through the famous art fair that happens every Tuesday and Friday.
• I think this is such a unique thing. I’ve never been to another place that has high-quality artists in the same location twice a week. I love it!
• I was able to walk up to the exact table, in the exact place, where I bought a very cool class snake five years ago and found a similar piece of art waiting for another patron.
• I love seeing this street full of creativity.
• However, every time I visit I think, this would be great…but I don’t own a home, so I have nowhere to put these cool fixtures (like toilet paper holders and baskets for newspaper)….I must return…
  
  
• Over Shabbat we went to three different minyanim. Friday evening we davened with a group that Evyatar and his friends help organize. They call it a Carlbach minyan. But, only a few of the niggunim were distinctively Carlbach (at least to my ears). Nonetheless, they had a great showing and now have to look for a bigger place to hold services.
  
  
• As my list of reasons why I wouldn’t make Aliya continues to grow, there are sometimes glimmers of hope. Friday night after dinner was one of those beautiful times. Evyatar’s friends from town came over for a small “oneg.” It was great to see people of all shapes, sizes, colors, and religious observance hang out together as one “chevre.” As some studied a bit of Talmud in one corner, another couple arrived in their car. The memorable moment for me was when Moshe, with his large kippa seruga and flailing tzitzit, said goodbye to Siyum, a secular Ethiopian, holding car keys. They threw a few love punches, gave a great big hug, and discussed the details for Moshe to sign the Ketuba as the eid next week at Siyum’s wedding.
  
  
• Did I mention, Evy’s wonderful mother didn’t stop feeding us?
  
  
• Finally, as my father always says, Israel is “The One Disk Country.” And….now with modern technology, it’s even easier to swap files. Needless to say, I left Yehud with a lot more Israeli music on my computer.

Over Shabbat I read a wonderful article from a recent New Yorker about the current Israel-Gaza situation. I highly recommend it. It’s very detailed and objective (hard to find these days). After reading it, you can come to your own conclusion about an “appropriate” solution: Captives

Food for Thought

I guess going to a food conference has become an annual tradition for me.

Pre-Convention:

• I arrived in Tel Aviv on Wednesday evening. I had arranged a place to stay.
  
  
• While out to dinner with some friends, I received a text message from my original host saying, “Do you have an Alternative? If that’s ok.” So, I asked Joe (name changed for confidentiality) if I could stay with him. Joe, who was staying in a hotel, was staffing the Conference the next day, so it was a perfect arrangement. He checked with his roommate for the night, and all was set for success.
  
  
• After an exciting evening with friends and some new, eye-opening experiences, it was time to catch a few Zs. But, Joe had disappeared. Furthermore, he was not answering his phone or text messages. All I wanted to know was where the hotel was so I could go back on my own.
  
  
• Eventually, we made contact with him and he said to meet on the corner of Allenby and Rothschild, a main intersection.
  
  
• So, I left the group with whom I was walking to find Joe.
  
• But, Joe was nowhere to be found. Thirty minutes later, at 1:25 AM, as I stood in the brisk wind, Joe had still not arrived, and was once again not responding to cell phone communications.
  
  
• It was at this time, that I decided there was nothing else to do, but find a hostel. At one point during the evening, another friend had mumbled “48 Hayarkon” amidst our conversation about places to stay. So I started walking towards Hayarkon St and eventually hailed a cab.
  
  
• I asked the driver if he knew of any hostels in the area, but he didn’t know, so I told him to go to Hayarkon St. During the ride he radioed the dispatcher, who confirmed that there was indeed a hostel at 48 Hayarkon.
  
  
• I arrived and walked into this gloomy lobby with one guy behind the counter. I was in luck:
• With my passport, as a “tourist,” I was able to get a bed in a dormitory-style room for 78 Shekels (~$21). This was perfect as I was just happy to be inside, warm, and have a place to sleep.
• After I paid, he gave me the sheets and told me I could pay to lock up my valuables.
• Despite the warning, I took a chance and didn’t lock up anything.
• But, I did rent a towel for 3 shekels.
• I went up to my room to find two girls and one guy occupying the other bunk beds. I washed up and went to bed.
• A few hours later, after a light sleep, I awoke, showered, shaved, and headed off.
• I’m not sure my roommates ever knew I was in the room.

• While I could have been angry about this situation, I realized it wasn’t worth it. It is just better to laugh about it and tell myself, it’s always an adventure here!

Discussing Sustainable Food and Agriculture:

• The Food Conference, sponsored by the Arava Institute and the Heschel Center, was very impressive.
  
  
• Over 500 people attended!
  
  
• They had a bunch of big names speak including the Minister of Agriculture, the founder of Israel’s Green Party, and a few of my professors.
  
  
• I met some interesting people and reconnected with old friends.
  
  
• Like the Bike Ride, I was the only current student at the Machon to partake.
  
  
• It was another good experience away from the Kibbutz!

I would like to thank everyone for their overwhelming support of my Israel Ride! Feel free to visit my ride site for the latest stats or if you have a last minute urge to contribute.

Now, I’m off with my class on a three-day Negev fieldtrip.

Until next time...

~Adi

Befuddlements

• Do you REALLY have to smoke?
  I just don’t understand: If you’ve grown up and gone to school (with health education) in the last twenty years, especially in the States, how could you possibly want to smoke?
  
  

• Only in Israel will you find a car zipping down the street blasting the song “Yo Ya” by Kveret.
  
  
• Why does every Israeli think they can treat you like a sibling? This can be both good and bad. Often times they are very endearing and you get a lovely homey feeling wherever you may be. BUT, I don’t think a shop owner should reprimand potential customers. Hey, whatever works!...
  
  

Shoutout #38: Ariel Touger – WOW! It’s great to see you out here; welcome! Well, what can I say, you are simply a good friend. In our former years…Be it a quick visit in Milburn or a whole weekend together, we always seem to have a good time with a lot of laughs (usually about other people). Hope College Park is treating you well.

Shoutout #39: Allison Guttenplan (Alli G!) – You are such a kind person. You will go out of your way do anything for most people. Plus, you are a lot of fun! Welcome aboard!

P.S. If you didn’t get a chance yet, take a moment and Vote for the Edot Names at Ramah Outdoor Adventure.

P.P.S. Do you know what you’re eating? Maybe you should think again: Corn-based Meat

P.P.P.S. SERIOUSLY?! Who does Fox think they’re kidding:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Sean Hannity Uses Glenn Beck's Protest Footage
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

I apologize for the plethora of external links above. However, as a fellow procrastinator, I would actually find them helpful…ENJOY!

AYS