Shotar The B'nai B'rith Youth Organization Av 5745, August 1985 Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA) B'nai B'rith Girls (BBG) N'SIAH AND GODOL TRAVEL OVERSEAS GAG Visits Israel, Belgium and ADELSHE France Leiner On April 27th, I arrived at Tel Aviv Air- plained that I was the Grand Aleph Godol. port after a grueling 13-hour flight. They would not believe him for a minute! Though I was extremely tired and jet-lag So, I tried to convince them, but they Benassayag was beginning to set in, these feelings of wouldn't believe me either. There I stood, fatigue took a back seat to my elation of short and bearded; dressed in jeans and a actually being in Israel. I met up with Dis- button-down shirt with my Aleph pin and trict President Oren Shenker and Grand my GAG pin, and they still wouldn't be- Aleph Shaliach (Districts) Itai Farber, and lieve me. Finally, they asked me for identi- off we went to Oren's house. I found out fication and when the name on my li- that my schedule would be full and excit- cense matched the name that one of the ing. kids knew, one of the girls finally said to The next day was spent in Haifa, and in me, "Welcome to Jerusalem!" It turns out the evening we went to my first chapter that the reason that they didn't believe me meeting in the Druse Village of Daliat et was that it was April 1st-April Fool's Carmel. The Druse are a non-Arab. Day! Moslem sect who are considered full Is- A few days later I took part in a parent's raeli citizens and therefore are full-fledged meeting with the Givatayim chapter. It members of Noar Lenoar even though was a nice affair, and I think the parents they aren't Jewish. The guys who met me, and their kids have a better understanding Adi and Badir, were very excited and of what Noar Lenoar is all about. rushed me off to a photographer for pic- Pesach began not long after this and I tures of the occasion. We toured the vil- was able to experience Passover-Israeli lage, went to the Maknass (the community style. While many things closed altogether center), the Yad HaBanim, and then had for the week. many things stayed open dinner at Badir's house. The Druse are a and life went on as usual. But the prepara- Members of Lyon BBYO conduct a silent demonstration at the prison of Claus very hospitable people, and everyone that tions for the holiday were similar to Barbie, the Nazi war criminal, during the visit to France by the International I met was very kind and warm. It was those we experience. In other words, every N'siah. truly tough to say good-bye to my new mother in Israel went crazy cooking, friends. cleaning, and getting the house ready for The next few days were filled with the Pesach. I was able to spend the Seder with fun of touring Tel Aviv, Jaffa, and Ramat a very dear friend, Ayelet Bonhe, and her N'siah Tours Poland, England HaSharom, where I learned and saw quite family. I met Ayelet at ILTC '82, and we a bit. Thanks to Oren, Itai, Ayelet, and have stayed in touch these few years since. and France Gabi, I didn't miss a thing. My final chapter visitation took me way I then visited Itai's chapter in Petach up to the North of Israel. All the way to Tikvah. They had a chapter friendship cir- (16-24 years old from around the world) Kiryat Shemona. What a beautiful part of cle, and the candles in the middle of the more aware of the events leading up to the Continued on Page 11 Holocaust as well as the circumstances room were set up in the shape of the Noar Lenoar symbol. The room was illumi- resulting from it. I was quite moved by the nated by this candlelight, and we sang experience, and I encourage chapters and individual members to search for Ho- songs and people welcomed me to Israel locaust survivors in their communities and to Petach Tikvah. Then, I was present- ed a certificate by the chapter; welcom- and to use their stories. It is up to us to learn about the Holocaust, and this is an ing me and thanking me for coming. Not long after, Oren and I were off to Je- excellent way to approach that task. rusalem. I was so excited to be going Preceding my trip to Poland, I spent a and I couldn't wait until the bus got there. month and a half in Europe beginning my travels in Dublin. There I met with about It was a gloomy day with a light rain but Shown with Betsy Winnick during her 20 enthusiastic members of the BBYO it didn't matter. I was going to Jerusalem! ENGLAND tour of Poland are tour leaders and I spent the day with Oren and Meirav, chapter. Led by Lisa Bloom and Jan Mal- other BBYOers from around the world kensen, each member has a certain role in who showed us around the city. We went who took part in the experience. to Montefiorre's windmill, then to the Arab their chapter ranging from an elected board member to a social action chair- Market and the old city. To be amongst Recently my travels as International man. the walls and sidewalks that have existed N'siah took me across the Atlantic on an for thousands of years was an incredible feeling. In one respect, it made me feel in- ISRAEL One of the many events Dublin is par- incredible visit to District 15 (England, ticipating in involves obtaining sponsors Ireland, and Scotland) and District 19 significant and on the other, it made me who donate money to respective members feel very much alive. This is where my (Continental Europe). I had an opportuni- for helping patients or fixing items in a people walked and lived and worked. From POLAND ty to visit BBYO chapters in Dublin, local convalescent home. But the project Ireland, as well as London, Stanmore, does not end there. The "workers" then there we went to HaKotel. Hendon, Hull, Manchester and Not- donate their sponsorship money to a fund The Wall! I was there. It was incredi- tingham, England. In addition my travels which helps a mentally handicapped boy ble. First of all. I never realized it was so took me to Paris, Marseilles, Nice, and in England. Another highlight of belonging big. It is truly a huge construction but its Lyon, France. I was exposed to the true in- to Dublin BBYO is being able to take part size is not what drew me to it. The incredi- ternational scope that is represented by in the England/Ireland chapter conclaves. ble magnetism of the Wall is a feeling BBYO worldwide. Said one member of Dublin, "It is very ex- that I have found nowhere but there. I can- I would be misleading, however, if led citing being able to travel to England- not describe it! You must experience it you to believe that those were the extent another country-and getting a chance to for yourselves. of my travels. In reality my travels over- meet and know new people.' Later that evening, I met with the Jeru- seas also included participation on a tour A hop, skip, plane, and train ride away salem chapter. Another really beautiful of Poland. This one-week facet of my trip is a city known as Hull and a chapter friendship circle, and I really did enjoy million was sponsored by the Youth and known as Hull BBYO. On the night I ar- myself. However, prior to the meeting I ran Hechalutz Department of the World Zionist rived there the members were having their into something of a situation. I walked Organization and took me to such places installations and an all-night dance. Also into the meeting place with last year's as Auschwitz, Birkenow, Treblinka, the invited to the dance were members of the Grand Aleph Shaliach, Amnon Reichman. Warsaw Ghetto and the Warsaw cemetery. Leeds Link BBYO and Whitelfield BBYO When they asked who I was, Amnon ex- Its purpose was to make the participants Continued on Page 11