The road trip has begun and we have spent Shabbat in Nashville.  We arrived Thursday afternoon. The synagogue we are staying at is very nice and they love having us here. We met Jess’s aunt for dinner and she sponsored a pizza dinner.

Friday w e went to two different places that perform a service to society. One of them we will be ordering our tee shirts from when the  sad day comes for that to be necessary. We then went to downtown Nashville for free time. It was a great experience walking all around the block.  We then went to Shabbat services, which were very nice.

Saturday. We went to services and then to Vanderbilt. We went to the chabad house and had a great time. Then Nate took a few of us on a tour because that is where he went to college. It was a great tour and we learned the real facts.

Tomorrow we head to Birmingham. Looking forward to another fantastic week. As AJSS starts to close we can look back and say we have formed incredible friendships.

Shoshi and AJSS 2007

Helloooo family and friends (and Carlos’ Kittens)! Sorry for the delayed blog post- we’ve all just been having so much fun that we couldn’t take a break to write! Last Wednesday, the Springfield group began our deconstruction, or demolition as we liked to nickname it, at Kumler Ministries. We hammered, removed plaster, and watched the walls around us come crumbling down. That night was a free night, with most girls electing to go on a Target shopping spree, giving each other makeovers galore. The next day, half the group went back to Kumler and half spent the day at UCP. The kids at Kumler spent the day finishing demolition and cleaning up the mess, and the kids at UCP went to see Monsters Versus Aliens with the campers and then helped decorate cookies in the afternoon. Both halves felt complete (punny ) because the kids at Kumler knew their demolition was really needed to help expand the Ministry’s basement shelter, and we at UCP (myself included) felt amazing, as always, knowing we were able to contribute to the smiling faces at the camp. The day’s night activity was a long overdue boys’ and girls’ night, with each gender bonding with each other respectively. On Friday, we left for a long awaited, highly anticipated weekend trip to Chicago. On our way to Lakeview, the community hosting us for the weekend, we stopped in Deerfield for our first experience with Mitzvah clowning, also known as therapeutic clowning. We did this at a Jewish assisted living facility, and it was truly a transformative experience to hear about the amazing lives of the people we were entertaining. Then we were off to the Windy City! We arrived in Lakeview and were hosted by a lovely couple who gave us their apartment for the weekend. We went to Anshe Emet synagogue for a barbeque and services later that evening. It was really cool to mingle with the community and meet them. We spent Shabbat hanging out in the apartment and relaxing, and went for a walk along Lake Michigan. Then we went for evening services at a Modern Orthodox Synagogue, Anshe Shalom, and ate Seudat Shlishit with the congregation. It was great to experience a different style of service and be welcomed into the local Jewish community. Once Shabbat was over, we went out to play Whirly ball, which is essentially a mix of bumper cars, basketball, and lacrosse. The next morning, we ventured out of Lakeview and into the “real” city of Chicago. We went to Navy Pier first, and then made our way Millenium Park. Playing with the giant mirrored bean was tons of fun, and so were the water sprinklers. Next, debatably the best part of the trek to Chicago, we went to get deep dish pizza!! AWESOME! Then, we went home. But yay back to Springfield! We had a late dinner of tacos and burritos. The next day, Monday morning, we volunteered at Sojourn Shelter domestic violence shelter, cleaning, maintaining grounds, and helping with some outreach. Two of us, Will and me, even mitzvah clowned again, what fun! Then after some free time at the Y, we went to Kumler Ministries Vacation Bible School for dinner and taught the children about Passover by acting out the story and making seder plates with them. Then, maintaining our Monday night tradition, we went to laundry and the healthiest thing on earth, the one and only Steak and Shake. We went to bed relatively early, in preparation for our day in St. Louis. We woke up early and made the two hour drive to St. Louis. Arriving at The Arch, we went up in the trolleys with so many nerves, but the view from up top made everything worth it though, and we truly learned why the Arch is called the Gateway to the West. Then, we went to work at a place called The Shoeman (search him at www.shoeman.com). The organization had a similar method to Edge, the water purification organization in Louisville. Both collect used shoes and sell them to a resaler and distributor in order to raise money to bring clean water to the developing world, specifically Kenya and Haiti. After volunteering with the Shoeman, we made our way to Washington University in St. Louis, and got a tour from Shosh, with the help of text message tour points from a friend of hers who went there. Then for our last event of the day, we took a stroll on the Loop, a great area in the town, and even got our phones back. Finally, today we went to visit the Governor’s Mansion and the Capitol, and got a private tour of both. Then we split up into two groups and half went to UCP, half went to the Boys and Girls club. Tonight, we had an Interfaith Panel consisting of Rabbi Marks, the Rabbi of the Conservative temple hosting us, the Reform Rabbi of Springfield, a Muslim woman, a Unitarian-Universalist minister, a Priest, and a nun. Interesting questions were asked, and satisfying enlightening answers were received. We finished off the night with cupcakes, and are now packing for our trip to MEMPHIS!! We cannot wait to spend the weekend in the amazing city with the Louisville group and Rafi! Until next time… LOVE YOU ALL, Jordana

Hi everyone! Sorry it has been a while, we have just been so busy!! This past week AJSS Springfield had a packed week full of fun, service, and Springfield history. Tuesday, we worked vigorously in the scorching sun, weeding and cleaning up the landscape in the community garden and Watershed Park, an environmental educational park, on the state fairgrounds. As the sun went down and the moon made its appearance, we were given the privilege of experiencing a free night on the town. Half the group decided to spend their night in the wonderful store, Target, while the other half splurged at the White Oaks mall.

Early Wednesday morning, AJSS helped out the Salvation Army prepare their newly bought building by weeding the parking lot and partaking in a demolition project of removing ceiling tiles for their new building. As the day continued, we headed to Habitat in the afternoon to lend a helping hand in painting a pod and fixing a fence. Later that night, AJSS was joined by Israelis who run the week-long Jewish federation camp to dinner and they did a program with us about what Israel means to us.

Thursday morning, AJSS split into two groups. One group helped out at the Central Illinois Food Bank separating a huge donation of onions for their mobile food pantry, while the other group continued working with the Salvation Army finishing what we started on Wednesday. We later decorated our living quarters with colorful streamers and posters and cleaned up the Temple in preparation for the artival of AJSS Louisville. To end the night, AJSS experienced pizza from a crane for dinner and reconnected with our childhoods at the wonderful arcade. After we were full from pizza and bankrupt from emptying our money on numerous arcade games, we enjoyed the Lincoln Ghost Tour, where we learned about the ghostly stories of Abe Lincoln and the history of his and his family’s past.

Friday, AJSS Springfield split up into three groups. One group stayed back to help cook and prepare for Louisville’s arrival. We cooked a traditional Shabbat dinner, including home-made challah (YUMMY). Another group went to UCP and spent a fun-filled day fishing with the kids. And the other group enthusiastically enjoyed playing with all the kids of the Boys and Girls Club in the water at a local pool in Springfield.

After much needed showers, we finished preparing for Shabbat and joined our AJSS Louisville friends and Temple Israel for Kabbalat Shabbat services led by Jesse. We had a good time getting to know the congregants and welcoming in Louisville with our delicious Shabbat dinner, joined by Rabbi Marks, the Rabbi of Temple Israel. On Saturday morning we had the option of joining the congregation in services or an alternative service combining meditation and a conversation about Kashrut and Judaism. The congregants loved hearing the AJSS’ers lead services and read Torah as well as getting to know one another during the Kiddush luncheon. After some time to relax and go to the park, we had dinner and an awesome program about Harry Potter and its connection to Judaism that got us super excited to see the movie after Havdalah. Following a ruach-filled Havdalah we set out for the movie theatre for the long awaited last Harry Potter movie. While a good time was had by all, there were mixed reviews on the movie from the audience.

Come Sunday morning, we woke up to join Kumler United Methodist Church (we have volunteered with their ministries) for their prayer service. It was a unique and awesome experience that was new and exciting for all of us. The community was extremely welcoming and we are looking forward to helping them with a demolition project to expand their space to serve the homeless on Wednesday and Thursday! Following church, both groups headed to the Lincoln Library and Museum where we had a great time learning more about Lincoln and seeing the incredible exhibits and movies in the Museum. After saying goodbye to Louisville, AJSS Springfield ate lunch and headed to the Weiss’ house (congregants from Temple Israel) to swim in Lake Springfield (which is behind their house!) and have a delicious, meat-filled BBQ.

After a goodnight sleep on Sunday night, AJSS Springfield woke up to do some work at the Helping Hands Homeless Shelter. We helped prepare and serve lunch, mend some mattresses, do some laundry, and clean-up on the grounds outside. Once we had lunch and spoke about our experience at the homeless shelter, we decided to beat the heat by heading to the Knights Action Water Park for a water-filled afternoon. And once we finished our delicious fish dinner, we headed to our weekly laundry night, committee meetings, and milkshake/slushy outing at Sonic!

Last but not least, today (Tuesday) was quite a busy day. We began our day by going to Petersburg, IL, about 20 miles outside of Springfield where there is a reconstructed village of New Salem, where Lincoln spent his years before he entered politics. This reconstructed village was complete with log cabins, animals, and volunteers acting out the parts of local blacksmiths, weavers, and store owners from the time. From there we went to have lunch with the Director of the Department of Agriculture of Illinois who wanted to have us over to show his appreciation for our work in the community garden. The lunch was complete with vegetarian chili, salad and green beans with produce from the garden, and fresh peach and cherry pie (pictures to come soon!). \

Following lunch, we headed back to St. John’s Breadline to prepare and serve dinner. Once back at the synagogue, we were greeted by Rena Convissor, the director of AJSS, Larry Green, the chair of the board, and his wife, and David Kaplan, another AJSS board member. They are all visiting just for the day to see what we are up to in Springfield and to do a little work with us as well. They joined us for another one of our teen philanthropy sessions, followed by dinner, and an ice cream outing, Larry and David’s treat. Thank you!!

Now it is off to bed to get a good night’s sleep before our big demolition day tomorrow at Kumler Ministries! More to come soon!!

Chandler and Shosh

SPRINGFIELD SHABBAT

Friday everyone worked a half day. Some people went to youth build while others worked at habitat. David and Shoshi found themselves on the scaffolding next to youth build. The two of us got to put mortar on bricks and move mortar. It was definitely a new experience for the both of us.  It felt very satisfying to know that we helped build a building. Zoe, Natasha and Spencer swept the building and hung out with the youth build students. The other people went to habitat and destroyed a ceiling.

After a long five hour ride we arrived to Springfield. This time meeting them was not awkward at all and we just jumped into conversation. We also caught each other up on the different work projects we have been doing.

Saturday morning was well spent in services. Shoshi represented Louisville well by reading Torah.  The service was conservative. After services we joined the congregation for kiddish.  Lenny was very social with the congregants and represented us very well. Then we had a nice family meeting in which we strengthened the bonds between the Louisville group. Then some of us went to the central park of Springfield. After that we had an incredible macaroni and cheese dinner. The best part of Saturday was the night activity which was HARRY POTTER!!! Though many people believe that the movie didn’t do the book justice, it was definitely an emotional experience for some seeing the last Harry Potter.

Sunday (aka today). We went to the united methodist church in the morning. It was a totally different experience then shul. We then went to the Lincoln museum. Everyone had a great time. Izzy was teased that the civl war started in South Carolina, where she currently resides. Then we had to say  goodbye to our Springfield friends.  We look forward to meeting them in Memphis in two weeks.

Today marks the halfway point to the summer. It is very hard to believe that it has been only three weeks and that there is only three left. This week we look forward to the start of our road trip and more work with the three organization we work with.

Shoshi and David

Monday we went to work at Volunteers for America and painted a fence. Some of us went to YouthBuild to tutor kids. After lunch, we split up into groups. Some of us went to EDGE Outreach, a water-treatment plant, and others went to the Boys and Girls Club, a full day care for kids of all ages whose parents are working, and the third group stayed at YouthBuild. Those who worked at EDGE, did inventory and organized storage units.  The other kids who worked at the Boys and Girls Club spent some time with the kids but worked hard to beautify the garden and fence area. At YouthBuild, kids continued tutoring and inventoried a donation of diapers. After the hard work in the hot sun, we all spent a fun and relaxing hour at the JCC. The lasagna for dinner rejuvenated us for our special night watching Grease! We went to an outdoor movie facility and watched this classic movie. If any of you were there you would have spotted the AJSS kids from a mile away because we were the ones who were singing along and even dancing along with the music. In the final scene of the movie, the whole group got out of their seats and with much enthusiasm, danced like maniacs.

On Tuesday, we started out first day at Habitat for Humanity! Twelve kids went to the demolition site and the other four volunteered at YouthBuild, where they continued tutoring and did research for the new gardening system. At Habitat for Humanity, the kids took off the carpet and tore down the walls of a home. We went to the JCC and were able to watch a harsh storm from the cozy couches of the JCC.  We especially enjoyed running out to the cars in the pouring rain. We then got home and had a choice of evening activity: going to a comedy club or staying at the Temple and watching The Next Three Days.

 

Tamar

Hey y’alls (new Midwestern talk)!

Everything’s just dandy here in Springfield! We just got back from a 3-day camping trip. Before we went camping on Friday, in the morning we split up into two groups. Some of us cooked Shabbat dinner while the rest of us worked at St. John’s Breadline serving lunch for a second time. It was beautiful. Then we drove to Florida, Missouri to Mark Twain Lake State Park. We pitched tents and spent a beautiful Shabbat together in nature. We ate chicken for dinner on Friday night which was especially beautiful. We did some Jewish learning with RIT, (Rabbi-in-training) Ze’ev, trust-building activities, and a song session around the campfire on Saturday night. On Sunday morning we woke up early and took a dip in the lake. It was so refreshing and ­beautiful. Then we drove to Mark Twain Caves where Tom Sawyer is based off of! It was so cold in there- 52 degrees! The guide told us the story of Tom Sawyer in the caves which was simply beautiful. He also told us the red writing on the walls wasn’t blood, rather “yokeberry juice”…we didn’t buy it for a second! When we were done at the caves, we came home to good ole Springfield, Illinois (Fun fact: there’s a Springfield in every state except Hawaii – who knew!) When we got back to Temple Israel, we had a BBQ dinner – yum! Then we went mini-golfing, even though it was thousands of degrees outside, it was a blast..and the ice cream was delish! This morning our group split up. Half of our group returned to UCP’s day camp, where we went to a dog show and then out for milkshakes. The other half went to do some work for United Way and then volunteered at the Boy’s and Girl’s Club. Springfield has been out on alert for insane heat and boy oh boy do we feel the heat! But we are drinking tons of water and wearing sunscreen! Monday Nights have become laundry nights as well as committee assignment meetings. So here we are; Jordana, Arielle, Sasha, and Greg, the new SFT (Super Fun Time) committee posting the next blog! We love and miss you y’all and are having too much fun!

 

Until next time,

SFT

Arielle, Greg, Jordana, and Sasha

Check out some of the new photos from our sites. They include Springfield’s visit to Louisville for July 4th, worksites in both Springfield and Louisville, as well as pictures of the Springfield group getting ready for some “Mitzvah clowning”! Check them out here and stay tuned for more photos.

Hey friends and family,

It’s currently Friday afternoon and we are getting ready to embark on a camping expedition.  This week went by really quickly due to the holiday weekend  and our visit from the AJSS, Springfield group.   The fourth of July was great here in Louisville. We went to the waterfront, where almost all of the residents go to enjoy a fantastic fireworks display. It was our first free night and we are looking forward to the next.

On Wednesday we worked with a team of about 50 members of a Nazarene church youth group.  They assisted us in repairing the neighborhood of Smoketown.  Our tasks included weeding, mulching and interacting with the local children. One of the most important parts of this experience was teaching the Nazarenes about Judaism and hearing from them about Christianity.

Thursday was Adam’s birthday. We started the day by finishing the projects we began Wednesday. It was satisfying to see the final product of our work. We celebrated the birthday with a luau party because Adam plays the ukelele. Everyone enjoyed the party and the piñata, which you can see when the pictures go up.

We have had a great week on AJSS and have bonded even more. Have a great Shabbat as we will, surrounded by nature.

Until next time,
Jay, Shoshi, and the rest of AJSS LOUISVILLE 2011

Dear Family and Friends,

The first week was awesome, but our second week has been even better! Bonds between the group have grown stronger and we celebrated our first two (of many) birthdays. This week, we have worked at UCP (a camp for kids with mental and developmental disabilities), the Boy’s and Girl’s Club, and got our hands dirty in the Illinois State Community Garden. Many of these experiences tired everyone out, leading to a lot of naps in the car. Although these experiences may have been tiring, they certainly were eye-opening and loads of fun. Fortunately, this is just the beginning and we are all looking forward to the many service opportunities and fun adventures that are coming our way this summer.

Alexa Poritz

With the excitement of our first week carrying us forward, AJSS Springfield travelled to Louisville, KY to meet up with our other half – AJSS Louisville.  Together, we marked the beginning of AJSS’s new direction – two trips, one mission.  We began our weekend with a Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma’ariv service held at the home base for the Louisville group.  At their home site, The Temple of Louisville, we shared a service with their congregants and choir group known as Shir Chadash.  After services, we gathered for an Israeli style Shabbat meal of Israeli salad, hummus, falafel, pita and of course, challah and grape juice.  Following dinner, we took some time for ice breakers and a choice to relax and get to know one another a little better before we all drifted off to sleep after a long, but exciting day.

After enjoying an especially late but well deserved wake up time, we gathered for an hour and a half of another ice breaker, followed by some free time with ultimate Frisbee, reading and relaxation.  Afterwards, we gathered for Torah study on this past week’s Parashah, Parashat Hukkat, and its relation to the community service we do with AJSS which we then followed up with grilled cheese, tomato soup and an evening of watching the stormy skies of the Midwest and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

On Sunday, making up for our late wake up on Shabbat, we rose early to hike in Bernheim Forest before the weather became too unbearably hot and enjoyed lunch while briefly discussing our roles as Jews and the environment (to be followed up by this Shabbat’s theme of Jews, Torah and the Environment).  We then made a quick detour to the Louisville JCC to shower before heading to the Louisville Slugger Museum.  There, we learned that over 60% of MLB players use Louisville Slugger bats and some of our own staff and volunteers purchased their very own personalized slugger bats.  After enjoying one of America’s favorite past times, we returned for dinner and program preparing us for July 4^th.

To celebrate the 4^th, we got another full night’s rest and then had a brunch of French toast challah and omelets followed by a day of swimming, basketball and relaxation.  After our fun day in the sun, we returned to the synagogue for a barbecue, cake to celebrate Matt and Alexa’s birthdays, and a short prayer service about Jews and America.  Once we were all physically and spiritually filled, we caravanned to the Louisville Waterfront to watch live music and a fireworks display over the water.   After a long, exciting, informative weekend, we fell fast asleep, ready to embrace another week of volunteering, growing and bonding with our AJSS and Springfield community.

 

Ze’ev Weisblatt

Springfield IL staff