Daily Living and Special Events
Scroll down below the video to read about routine in Yerucham
VOLUNTEERING: Nativers volunteer four days a week at schools, Magen David Adom, fixing and cleaning up older parts of town, and other organizations to help out around town.
"I am spending most of my time in Yerucham volunteering at Midreshet Kamah, the religious girls' high school in Yerucham, teaching English to girls in grades 7-10. Every time I work with my students, even if they struggle, we get through it together. I love seeing their faces light up when they finally understand something. The girls at Kamah, although crazy at times, are really the sweetest and most open-hearted girls I've ever met. I definitely could not have been given a better job here in Yerucham." -Razie Alter
Picture: Alex Kowler poses with eleventh graders at Ort Sapir High School, the secular high school in Yerucham for grades 7 through 12. Alex, along with the other volunteers, helps students with English on a one-on-one basis.
"I am spending most of my time in Yerucham volunteering at Midreshet Kamah, the religious girls' high school in Yerucham, teaching English to girls in grades 7-10. Every time I work with my students, even if they struggle, we get through it together. I love seeing their faces light up when they finally understand something. The girls at Kamah, although crazy at times, are really the sweetest and most open-hearted girls I've ever met. I definitely could not have been given a better job here in Yerucham." -Razie Alter
Picture: Alex Kowler poses with eleventh graders at Ort Sapir High School, the secular high school in Yerucham for grades 7 through 12. Alex, along with the other volunteers, helps students with English on a one-on-one basis.
MEALS: One of the highlights of apartment living is that Nativers cook all of their own meals. This means grocery shopping with roommates, cooking, cleaning, planning, and eating delicious homemade food every night. There are a number of fast food restaurants here also that feature absolutely incredible pizza, schnitzel, kababs, hot dogs, falafel, and everything else.
"My favorite part about living with other Nativers is the independence and the life skils I am developing. I love being able to cook my own food and learn about other people's recipies, cooking styles, and living styles. Its a great way to learn how to live with other people which is a skill that will come in handy for the rest of my life."-Debbie Kruger
Picture: Ilana Rosenzweig, Jesse Turk, and Jonny Gottlieb make hamentaschen at the girls' apartment before Purim! Several Nativers got together to prepare for the festive holiday.
"My favorite part about living with other Nativers is the independence and the life skils I am developing. I love being able to cook my own food and learn about other people's recipies, cooking styles, and living styles. Its a great way to learn how to live with other people which is a skill that will come in handy for the rest of my life."-Debbie Kruger
Picture: Ilana Rosenzweig, Jesse Turk, and Jonny Gottlieb make hamentaschen at the girls' apartment before Purim! Several Nativers got together to prepare for the festive holiday.
PROGRAMMING: Every Tuesday, Nativers participate in a day of programming planned by fellow Nativers. Each Nativer is assigned to a committee responsible for one Tuesday out of the semester with a certain theme, and the committee plans a day of education and fun about that topic.
"The best thing about Yom Nativ programming is that we do it all ourselves. The activities tend to be really fun because they are planned by people our own age and they know how long we can listen to something without getting bored or the kinds of things we like to learn about." -Jordana Gilman
Picture: LeeAnn Langer and Gabe Cohen clear weeds and trees before planting a garden for Extreme Makeover: Yerucham Edition. Nativers spent time rejuvenating the neglected garden outside of the Afikim BaNegev shul.
"The best thing about Yom Nativ programming is that we do it all ourselves. The activities tend to be really fun because they are planned by people our own age and they know how long we can listen to something without getting bored or the kinds of things we like to learn about." -Jordana Gilman
Picture: LeeAnn Langer and Gabe Cohen clear weeds and trees before planting a garden for Extreme Makeover: Yerucham Edition. Nativers spent time rejuvenating the neglected garden outside of the Afikim BaNegev shul.
RECREATION: Aside from hanging out at the awesome playgrounds and respective apartments, Nativers fill their free time with working in after school student clubs, study sessions, kippah making clubs, a cappella groups, biking, and walks to the lake. The semester in Yerucham is also a great time to catch up on pleasure reading because there is no homework!
"I quite enjoy my time promenading around Tzvi Borenstein." -Lainie Schwartz
Picture: Josh Sacks celebrates the overflowing lake--a great sign in Israel! The free time here in Yerucham provides Nativers with more opportunities to go out and appreciate their surroundings.
"I quite enjoy my time promenading around Tzvi Borenstein." -Lainie Schwartz
Picture: Josh Sacks celebrates the overflowing lake--a great sign in Israel! The free time here in Yerucham provides Nativers with more opportunities to go out and appreciate their surroundings.
TRIPS: Most Shabbatot are open for traveling around Israel, and Nativers take advantage of that by going camping, visiting family, or hosteling in different cities on the weekends. There are also a few Nativ trips during the semester that focus on leadership, advocacy, and holidays.
Picture: Nativers and other MASA gap-year participants enjoy a Subliminal concert in a Tel Aviv club. Subliminal put on a great show for the group.
Picture: Nativers and other MASA gap-year participants enjoy a Subliminal concert in a Tel Aviv club. Subliminal put on a great show for the group.