Masa Israel Journey Blog

Good food with sun tan

Published : April 23, 2012

By Laura M., Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies

Sitting in Café B’Gina on Beit Lechem I feel the need to do a review. Fist of all the café is very close to Pardes, located on 74 Derech Beit Lechem it is a 10 minute walk from Pardes.

I first heard of this little small nature loving café from my favorite show Srugim. They go there on multiple occasions in the show and I have always thought it looked adorable. The cafe has the options to sit inside, outside with sun or shade. The chairs are comfortable and the tables are very well spaced so you feel relaxed with your amazing food and good book or friends. Today I am here with my computer and haggadah preparing for Pesach and enjoying some...

What I'm Doing Here: Tikkun Olam in Tel Aviv-Jaffa

Published : April 20, 2012

By Tikkun Olam in Tel Aviv-Jaffa Social Action Track participant Tyler Fishbone

I came here with Taglit-Birthright, which is a free 10-day program for Jewish youth to come to Israel and tour around the country.

I've now been living in Tel Aviv for 6 months, doing a program call Tikkun Olam in Tel Aviv-Jaffa, which means "repair the world" in Hebrew. I am living in a house with 7 other people: 4 Americans (2 New York, 1 Missouri (me), 1 Alabama), 1 Hungarian, 1 Israeli, 1 Brit, and 1 Danish guy whom I happily room with.

The program that I am doing consists of a combination of volunteering and learning about Judaism, Israel and its people. I spend 3 days a week volunteering at 5 different places, ranging from a daycare for babies of immigrant workers to a tandem bicycling...